Deer Suddenly Leaped Out in Front of me...

[iowabikerider]

This was a close one

[Hoovooloo]

Funny that you should post this today...  On my way into work this morning, I spotted two young deer feeding on the grass on the left side of the road.  I slowed down and sounded the horn a couple of quick toots and they took off.  Not into the forest, but accross the road in front of me and then into the woods.  That I didn't expect.  By that time I was down to about 15mph, so there was no real threat.  The take away lesson is...  don't assume they will run directly away.  They may take an unexpected route.

We have a LOT of deer around here.  Anyone have any road proven ways of scattering deer before they become a threat?  Laser guided motion and thermal targeting disrupters are out of my budget.

[trophied]

Had a spotted fawn run across the road in front of me in the middle of a curve so it was obscured from the "early warning system", and it was quite unsure of what to do.  Both of us panicked a little bit and both of us made the right decision thankfully and cleared each other by less than a foot.  Later on as I entered the edges of Fredericksburg, Texas I saw pickup brake lights and an even smaller one ran across  the four lane road of him.  It was Sunday, before church let out so no oncoming traffic to smack the little guy.  It's that time in Texas and all the newborns are out that are too young to know squat about vehicles, they're just following mama as fast as they can go.

Ride Safe folks,
Glenn

[silverstripes]

A few years back on my Tiger 955, I used to have deer whistles fitted. These are small plastic blocks with two holes in. Apparently as you are moving the air enters and they emit a high pitched whistle. We can't hear it but the deer can.

It does not scare them away, but rather make them stand still (where is that noise coming from) that way you can avoid them.

Don't know if they are still available. Might be worth a search   

[1675]

We have a lot of old dears around here who often cross the road without looking. A real hazard they are.
Oh, sorry. You said Deer

[tdragger]

A lesson that I have learned over the years is if the deer are simply looking at you and not moving, DO NOT sound your horn!!  That startles them and they start doing unpredictable things. 

Think of it from the animal's perspective. 

"Oh my, that predator is slowing down to come after me.  Run!" 

"Oh my, that predator is making noises to come after me.  Run!" 

The more you appear as not a threat, deer will tend to stay where they are unless they were already in the process of crossing the road.

[cecilt]

Originally Posted by tdragger

A lesson that I have learned over the years is if the deer are simply looking at you and not moving, DO NOT sound your horn!!  That startles them and they start doing unpredictable things. 

In some areas in Europe, the deer become much more skittish during the hunting season. But there are many examples of unpredictable behavior on our roads. Do not assume that a stationary driver at an intersection is simply looking at you, and not through you

[Hoovooloo]

Not to shift topics...   I learned that lesson last year on my Bonneville.  Now I have a Trophy.  I wear a Hi-Vis jacket and am working on an attention grabber for the front of my bike.  Too many drivers say they didn't see us.  I WILL BE SEEN FROM NOW ON!  Maybe my little project will help with the deer issue also.  see, back on topic.