Worried about Deer

[Newbie46]

Where I am do most of my ridding, (back roads of Maryland) there are tons and tons of Whitetail deer. I try to be watching for them but I keep hearing of Motorcyclists either running into deer or themselves being run into by deer. Any tips out there for staying safe? How about deer whistles? I'll try anything.

Thanks,

Newbie46

[Redbrick]

Take a look here:

 

 

 

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/sh...true#Post855561

 

Haven't heard of anything to stop the stupid creatures from jumping out in front of vehicles....

My idea is to breed mountain lions in captivity in great quantity and turn them loose in deer country......

 

 

Phil........Redbrick

[Couchrocket]

Eyes wide open.

Try to train your peripheral vision to see "anything deer-ish" as far ahead as you can. Learn to scan w/o moving your eyes side-to-side... just take in a wider vision.

Don't ride at (or be EXTRA careful) times when deer are moving, typically just after sunrise for an hour or two, and in late afternoon evening.

Don't outrun your sight lines.

Don't let familiarity breed contempt. You'll run a local section 999 times w/o ever seeing a great horned rat, and then powie!

 

There are no guarantees, for sure. And I'm sure that at some level it is a matter of dumb-ass luck (good and bad). But the above general rules kept me deer-strike free for 8 years in extremely deer infested country. Not "close-call-change-your-shorts" free, just strike free.

 

Oh, and deer and mourning doves are proof positive that the theory of natural selection isn't right! Both species should have been extinct a long time ago.

[David]

Try to train your peripheral vision to see "anything deer-ish" as far ahead as you can. Learn to scan w/o moving your eyes side-to-side... just take in a wider vision.

 

This is important, but there's a scientific reason for it. Your peripheral vision is much more sensitive to detecting movement, first, so looking straight ahead, or generally straight ahead enhances your ability to catch movement. Second, you'll be able to see both sides that way.

[Agent_Orange]

Try a 30-06. That is, before and after every ride.

[NoLongeraK1200RSRider]

Try a 30-06. That is, before and after every ride.

Glad that you qualified that.. I was wondering how on earth I could mount one AND sight it in!

[keithb]

+1 with what Scott said. I had a 125/150 lb. doe run across in front of me on Lockwood Valley Rd. here in SoCal between me and my buddy coming home from a camping overnighter Sunday morning. She crossed at a 45 degree angle about 20' or so in front of me. It was a bit scary for 2-3 seconds. As Scott said early morning and just before/during sunset is the most vulnerable times to be riding.

[Knifemaker]

Ride only during hunting season...the suckas seem to vanish that time of year...but is is harder to duck bullets.

[loflyby]

My experience has been the exact opposite. Hunting season brings deer out of the woods at strange times of the day, rather than the "heightened awareness" times of dusk and dawn.

 

Newb, what tactics do you use to avoid them w/ the car? Or are you more concerned about them now that the consequences of hitting one will be much higher?

 

Remember, they're pack animals, so if you see one, you're probably going to see another.

[Ken H.]

Don't outrun your sight lines.

Yes, that's the key one. At any time for that matter.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

Deer certainly due present cause for concern. I don't have to deal with them when I am at home but, this week, for example, I'm up in the Syracuse, NY area where they are large and plentiful. In fact, as I was checking into my hotel on Monday, a guy who had just checked in before me and then gone to dinner came back with a banged up GTO as a result of a collision with one just outside of town on the local highway. This, around 7PM or pre-dusk.

 

It has been my experience so far, 3 near misses on the bike and a couple in cages along with one kill to my credit, killed both the deer and my 300ZX, that deer more or less just friggin' happen. I rarely worry about deer grazing alongside the road, they seem acclimated to cars passing nearby and don't often panic. All the ones I have encountered just bounded out of the surrounding shrubbery/woods and where just THERE and then gone, or not in the one case. Little time to react and little to do other than apply the brakes and hope, it is hard to even register direction. Seems if you do have time, the thing turns out to be a non-event with the deer passing some 20 or 30 feet in front.

 

I do remain alert and try to avoid, when I can, riding during the danger hours. I have seen the darn things on lawns in town, in the middle of bridges running along with traffic, bounding over big fences, peeking out of the woods on the border of the road (scary that) and in full flight mode heading across the road with no concern about what might be coming. Basically they are unpredictable and more than a little dumb when it comes to things that move as fast as we do on a bike. Run down the road at night at 20 mph and I doubt you will ever have a problem with deer, of course, you'll get flattened from behind by a drunk or cell phone yakker, but that is a different issue.

[Albert]

I'll second what others have said about awareness, vision, etc. but to me the single biggest deterent that YOU have control over is the time you choose to ride. Ask any seasoned deer hunter in your area when the peak times for deer movement are and avoid them whenever you can. Unlike many areas in the west, here in the east the summer months mean lush dense vegetation encroaches right up to the edge of our rural roads. The likelyhood of "seeing" a deer and avoiding a collision is more luck than skill in most situations (IMHO). Take action to put yourself somwhere else when the deer choose to roam and you'll get more bang for your buck.

[E30TECH]

Ride only during hunting season...the suckas seem to vanish that time of year...but is is harder to duck bullets.

 

I know (atleast I think) you are joking. Hunting season is worse as they are driven out of the woods by hunters.

 

I had a doe jump about 40' in front of me last Saturday at 2pm. Thankfully I was able to stop and nobody was behind me as that was my first emergency brake.

[Couchrocket]

Take action to put yourself somwhere else when the deer choose to roam and you'll get more bang for your buck.

OK, so I know you're just begging for this....

 

"Or, less bang-from-a-buck as the case may be!"

[Mike]

I'll second what others have said about awareness, vision, etc. but to me the single biggest deterent that YOU have control over is the time you choose to ride.

 

I agree with that. This Canadian website discusses wildlife collisions, both in terms of the time of day and the time of year when they're most prevalent. You can drastically improve your odds by avoiding the hour or two before and after sunrise and sunset. Of course, remember that the Canadian statistics are specific to more northern areas.

 

Like the OP, deer scare the bejeezus out of me. I've been lucky so far, but there have been a few times when I've seen them close to the road only when I'm nearly abreast of them. A few thoughts:

 

-Pay attention to the "Deer Crossing" signs; they're based upon actual accident experience and are there for a reason. Slow down in these areas.

 

-Avoid riding near dawn and dusk. If you have to ride then, keep your high beams on and use auxiliary lights that illuminate the shoulders of the road.

 

-Cover your brakes with a couple of fingers. The fraction of a second you save in braking may help you avoid a collision or reduce your impact speed.

 

-If you see a deer anywhere near the road, slow to a crawl. Their reactions are erratic and unpredictable; they may run from a position of safety directly in front of a moving car. Also, remember that where you see one, there are likely others nearby.

 

-Keep scanning and make a real effort to look for hazards well down the road. Deer are naturally camouflaged, so your best hope is to catch their movement, rather than being able to pick them out amid natural vegetation.

 

-Attend church on a regular basis.

 

I know that I can improve my odds, but it seems to me that wildlife collisions are the most difficult highway hazard to manage.

[philbytx]

Good advice here

I ride in one of the nations finest deer infested areas (we have a herd of 32 that include our street in their territory).

 

IMHO, it is better to keep upright, brake hard and PERHAPS, hit the bloody thing than trying to swerve to miss. You and 660lbs of steel at x mph hitting 200lb of deer is somewhat of a mismatch. Sacrifice the equipment, not yourself !

[T__]

Where I am do most of my ridding, (back roads of Maryland) there are tons and tons of Whitetail deer. I try to be watching for them but I keep hearing of Motorcyclists either running into deer or themselves being run into by deer. Any tips out there for staying safe? How about deer whistles? I'll try anything.

Thanks,

Newbie46

 

Newbie46, I live smack in the middle of Deer country.. If that isn’t bad enough the yuppies around here feed the darn things to make them larger & less afraid of people & machines.. As a rule I dodge at least 10 deer every morning & not seeing one is the exception).. The good news is most times of the year they are just grazing & not running or jumping across the road.. I have their usual areas pretty well defined but you just never know..

 

As of late most of my real close calls are at under 5 mph as I have a herd of about 17 living on my property & they like to lay along side my driveway at night..

 

About the best advise I can give you is to not become complacent & let your mind wander while in deer country.. Those buggers can & will pop out from almost anywhere at any time..

 

Pay particular attention to low swampy areas,, river areas,, road sides with dense brush coming right up to the side of the road,, ANY farm fields being worked (that scares the deer up so they run wildly & without caution),, very hot days as the deer will sit tight all day then really move at dusk or dawn,, look for signs of dead deer along the road & if you see very many EXPECT them to be there for you also (something hit them to kill them),, look for deer crossing signs as those are usually put there for a reason,, basically EXPECT a deer from anywhere at anytime.. If you see (1 deer) -EXPECT MORE TO FOLLOW one runs usually they all do..

 

Seeing as I usually run the deer gauntlet daily I have learned a few things.. Not a positive life saver but can help..

 

Fist off, if no oncoming traffic then ride the center line of the road.. That way if a deer pops out of the side or bounds across the road you have 2 directions to go & PLENTY of road to do it in.. You don’t want to be on the shoulder side & have to dodge right as that is certain to ruin your day.. Watch oncoming cars as not only can a deer get you as the car goes by but most times a driver will dodge a deer even if it involves crossing the center line & if that car hits the deer it can flip it into you..

 

Next, I usually practice quick dodges of imaginary deer as I travel back roads.. Do quick reaction lane changes of leaves, turtles, painted lines, etc.. Anything to quicken you & your bike’s reaction time IF you ever need to.. You won’t have time to think, or make a decision, IF that deer jumps out it has to be automatic, subconscious, & RIGHT NOW!. Your reaction MUST be from muscle memory & not just a quick decision.. Someone throws a baseball at you, you duck quickly (without thinking what must I do here) you just duck from muscle memory.. It must be the same when riding in deer country.. While slow moving deer or road edge deer can be handled with braking or slowing,, fast movers or surprise appearance are usually handled with a QUICK lane maneuver or possibly some braking while dodging.. CAN you brake, counter steer, seek a new & proper line, & watch for the next three deer following that one? You can with much rehearsal.. If you are not practiced & it isn’t automatic you will probably be unhappy with the results of a SUDDEN deer encounter.. If you basically steer your bike by leaning GET OVER IT.. Learn to use the handlebars to quick counter steer (no leaning now as it takes WAY too long).. PRACTICE counter steering daily, hourly, minutely,, every time you ride (It Can Save Your Life)..

 

Twisty

[Paul Mihalka]

I'm afraid in this discussion I have to disagree with a couple of things. In my daily commute I ride through deer country and on my Sunday rides I ride through deer country. It is probably true that deer move more at dawn and dusk, but if that scares me enough to not ride at that time of day, I just would have to stop riding. On my Sunday rides I can see as many deer on the road at noon than at 6am. I consider deer the biggest danger to riders, as they are completely unpredictable. Deer warning signs: I go more by looking at the environment than signs. I don't consider areas without warnings any less dangerous than with warnings. I have the gut feeling (if Mr. Chertoff can have one I can too) that by the time the powers decide to put up signs the deer are somewhere else. I see it around our house. For month a herd comes through every day on the same track, we called it the deer freeway. Then they are gone.

My point: continously watch out, do all the right things, and keep your fingers crossed.

PS my deer track record: 1) 10 years ago, 9am riding to work on a loosely residential road, a deer hit. Deer dead, bike totaled, I got a few broken bones. 2) 6 years ago, 11am in rural West Virginia, a deer hit. Buck is dead, bike front and side seriously damaged, but I did not go down. The darn buck pushed a antler through the oil cooler of the R1100RT. Yes, they are a danger!

[Lion_lady]

Where I am do most of my ridding, (back roads of Maryland) there are tons and tons of Whitetail deer. I try to be watching for them but I keep hearing of Motorcyclists either running into deer or themselves being run into by deer. Any tips out there for staying safe? How about deer whistles? I'll try anything.

Thanks,

Newbie46

 

Hi! I commute from Reisterstown, MD to Jessup, MD daily. At 3:30 am. The first half of the commute is thru state parkland (Soldiers Delight), etc. on two lane windy roads, few houses. I've had only one 'near miss' - a deer lept from a front yard across my path... missed it by mere inches.

 

I've seen plenty of "deer butts" as they stand bums toward the road, watching me ride by. I've learned to expect them to run from field to woods. If they're in brush, they generally stay put. Fog lamps mounted below my oil coolers makes seeing into the ditches much easier.

 

Don't bother with deer whistles, eyes scanning is your best defense.

 

P

[outpost22]

Aw you guys are wimps. You should feel the pucker factor when an ELK jumps out in front of you

 

My buddy uses "deer whistles" and swears by them. I think they're a joke. Of course he's had great luck with them he claims. To make matters worse, he takes out his new KLR without "deer whistles" and promply plows into and kills a deer and bends his bike up. Now the KLR has "deer whistles"

[Newbie46]

I agree that deer are more likely to bolt across the road around dawn or dusk or at night. Except during hunting season or the rut (mostly in November around here). Then they get really crazy.

About all I can do is try to be alert and maybe slow down a little.

Rich

[AviP]

I rode in Newfoundland, Canada at dusk. I was warned not to but I had no choice. It was crazy. There were so many moose feeding beside the road and jumping off ever so often in front of me. It was one of the toughest rides I had done in terms of awareness and preparedness but I finally made it in one piece. I counted 12 moose in 60 miles with about half of them jumping out in front of me. There were a few close calls but the ABS worked great.

[RocksforBrains]

Some great advice from all the posters on this thread. My only comment is that I start my ride early mornings during the summer on weekends and I see more deer around mid-morning than right after dawn. Go figure. I am not a deer behavior expert, but a friend of mine said that they sometimes will move around a little during the day to get a snack. So my advice is be careful, and not just around dawn and dusk.

 

Kurt

[Stan Walker]

The closest call I've had yet was in early afternoon. Those little buggers aren't to be trusted to take a nap just so you can ride without worry!

 

Stan

[T__]

Some great advice from all the posters on this thread. My only comment is that I start my ride early mornings during the summer on weekends and I see more deer around mid-morning than right after dawn. Go figure. I am not a deer behavior expert, but a friend of mine said that they sometimes will move around a little during the day to get a snack. So my advice is be careful, and not just around dawn and dusk.

 

Kurt

 

Kurt, basically deer need to eat about every 2 hours or so but will usually graze close to where they rest (if food is available there).. They do wander throughout a given area to keep from overgrazing specific areas & do need to seek out a water source.. By nature they are a hunted animal so try to bed away from danger then travel to food..

 

The thing that seems to bring them out to the road edges (at least in the northern regions) is the salt along the road side from winter road salting & high field grass that grows road side.. As long as the deer are NOT in a scared state they usually move at a very predictable & most times slow pace… It’s when they are scared or chased that they become unpredictable & appear in font of you from out of nowhere.. In most cases it’s not the deer that you see that will get you it’s the ones that you don’t see coming that are the problem.. Remember that at any time of the day or night someone or some other animal can frighten a resting deer & make them run with no thought to where the roads or vehicles are.. They just run until danger is far behind them..

 

Twisty

[Redbrick]

We rode up the California coast a couple of days ago and over to Jalama Beach south of Lompoc...A great hide-a-way by the way...Different world out there.....Saw a number of deer and all from about 10 AM to 3 PM....Middle of the day.....

On our Big Ride to Canada through Idaho and Montana Kathy and I had 2 incidents each with deer, a couple relatively close as they ran in front of us, and all of them were in the middle of the day.....And singles, no fawns or others....

I guess continued vigilance is vital...Forget what time of day it is...

Oh yeah....Riding down Hwy 1 toward Hwy 101 on the Jalama ride Kathy and Motogeezer both saw an albino deer with a normal colored one right next to the road...I've never seen an albino deer and still haven't...I was leading and am always looking for the critters but didn't see them... ....

 

Phil.........Redbrick