My 675-riding buddy had a close encounter of the furry kind last night. He was riding home from work about an hour before sunset and got that 'something's not quite right' feeling. He consequently slowed down, then spotted a large group of deer by the road. Before he really had time to process the sight, he felt an impact. A deer had jumped in front of him, and from his description, it sounded like the head and neck of the deer rode up over the right mirror, hit him in the arm and helmet, and then flipped off. He caught a glimpse of a breakdancing mule deer in the road behind him with his left mirror. Hooves everywhere. He stayed upright and on the road (cue applause) and pulled over to check things out. He had a lot of fur and snot on his jacket (his daughter told us this morning that he looked like a teddy bear when he got home), and the mirror was the only visible effect on the bike. It's the lowest-consequence deer strike I've ever heard of. The deer ran off; he couldn't find it to exchange insurance information. He still had some fur on his jacket when we rode into work together this morning. Like the good, supportive friend that I am, the sight made me laugh myself stupid when I pulled up next to him.

This happened on the scenic route home, and we see some form of ungulate about one day in three on that road. He also saw some elk after he collected his wits and rode off. They aren't an uncommon sight either.

So, who do we call about encouraging higher hunting limits for deer?

Keep a sharp eye out, folks!

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Squirrels love to argue. They put their whole body into it. Their arguments would tear down entire forests if they just had bigger brains. Actually, if they had bigger brains they'd just get jobs in advertising and blow all their money on megaphones.

My family have lived in NM b4 statehood. We were between Reserve and Soccoro coming out of the Gila Wilderness in our VW bus and saw the god awfulless herd of deer I'd ever seen. Took close to 15 mins for them to clear the road.
Scary.
I've hit three deer here in Austin, causing major damage to my vehicles.
Insurance hates it. They can't counter sue the deer.

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"Are we having fun yet"?

Yeah, we've discussed the dangers of wildlife a couple times before. Hitting a deer while riding is a potentially lethal accident, and I don't mean for the deer. Since most of my riding is on remote country roads I worry more about them than other vehicles.

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Barry
"Ride a motorcycle, not a bandwagon."

Good job, and staying upright is good riding.
Here I have to watch out for horse riders, one day I was coming down my street, and two riders were on the side. Likewise, I slowed down just as one of the horses came back onto the road in front of me. I braked hard and(probably too hard on the rear brake) the back skidded. Released and it straightened out. I could almost picture myself ducking and going between the legs. Good learning lesson for me.

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Raymond
San Fernando Valley, Calif
07 America

I'm wondering how well the Shu-roo I've got on my Scrambler would work on Deer? It doesn't work too well with cattle. They hear it & look up, but it doesn't seem to bother them at all. But it spooks the hell out of horses, & they run a mile from it. So I'd be interested to know if it worked on Deer.

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"They told me I was goin to have to work for my living, & all I wanna do is ride." Jackson Browne (the Road & The Sky)

I know this should go into the classifieds, but can I interest anyone in my patented Clear Deer Deluxe?

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Guy

Guy, you are too much! LOL! I just hope we never have to use it.

Oh, and hidesert, kudos to your friend for staying upright!

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Life. Fill 'er up. It's all we got.

http://www.armchaircommando.org/benn...Bash/Home.html
Bennington, VT May 31, June 01 2008

Now that's a badge of honor I would rather not wear - Well done to your friend for keeping his head (literally and figuratively)

I am much more worried about those kamikazes than any car driver.

It two years ago next month that arguably one of the most capable and competent riders in the country Larry Grodsky died in Tx at the hands of said beast.

And rode to work the next day - good for him. Think it would have taken me a bit more time to clear the jitters.

Glad it turned out to be a story we could all have a good laugh at - scary stuff

Anybody who can die at the hands of a deer and ride to work the next day certainly is the most capable rider in the country. Heck, I'll give him credit for the whole world.

We rode the same route yesterday. Saw five deer as soon as we turned onto the road. Luckily we've never seen them in the twisty bits. I'm off to ride the road home again. Live to lean!

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Squirrels love to argue. They put their whole body into it. Their arguments would tear down entire forests if they just had bigger brains. Actually, if they had bigger brains they'd just get jobs in advertising and blow all their money on megaphones.

Scary!
The odd cow and PITA dog - see threads passim - but not many deer around these parts. I have a good Kiwi mate who, in the UK, managed to write off two Hondas with deer strikes. And they weren't bikes, they were cars.
Ride safe, HiD!

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Believe those who search for truth. Doubt those who claim to have found it -André Gide (1869-1951) Nobel Laureate 1947