Close encounter with a deer...

[mjcraft]

Hello all,

Just getting used to my bike and the roads up here in Blacksburg, VA and took a (moderately paced!) ride at dusk last night. I had a deer (one of many that I've seen since riding around here over the last couple of weeks) step out in the road that took me by surprise...I locked up the rear brake which made for several exciting seconds, but the bike performed gracefully under these conditions.

Other than keeping my speed down and avoiding riding at dusk, I was wondering if there was anything else that I could do to minimize encounters with deer, specifically, has anyone had any experience with those deer whistle things? Do those actually work? And can they be mounted on an R such that they look ok?

Thanks,
Michael

[Canyon Runner]

Can't speak to the deer whistle issue, but I will voice a bit of jealousy on the location for your rides.... used to live outside of Blacksburg, for a short while. Beautiful territory.

Oh, and I agree about the bike being very graceful in quick reaction situations. I had to dodge/ emergency brake for a particularly misguided dog, not too long ago, that came spinting out in front of me from a blind driveway. As you say, a couple of exciting moments, but very stable and predictable.

Sorry to not be more help on the deer whistle. I know I used to see them in Indiana a lot, but I have never seen any objective information concerning their effectiveness.

Cheers!

[challey]

keeping my speed down and avoiding riding at dusk

I think you've hit on the most effective things you can to avoid hitting Bambi. Deer are active in feeding just before sunset and that seems to be when their suicide urge telling them to run across the road in front of you, is highest. I know that I've had a couple if ungulate close encounters and am now very, very careful on secondary roads at dusk.

I'm sure you could mount one of those whistle thingies on the R but they are not effective - you can read about them here:
http://www.ibmwr.org/prodreview/deerwsle.html

Glad you are OK - continue to ride safe.

Charlie

[mjcraft]

Challey,

Thanks for the link. Looks like there is no magical cure for deer avoidance...I'll just have to keep on my toes!

Canyon Runner,
Yes the roads up here are great. I've really enjoyed taking the long way home on most days. In Atlanta (where I just moved from) I couldn't wait to get off the roads!

Michael

[KeithC]

Michael,

I think your best bet, and what I do, is to avoid recreational riding in rural areas early in the morning and at dusk. Those are typically the peak times for deer movement.

There was a local guy not too long ago that left his home about dusk for a recreational ride. He did not come home. A few days later a county worker spotted his Triumph, and then him, in a creek bed along a straight stretch of rural road. The authorities postulated that he was trying to avoid a deer, and lost control.

Keith

[wncbmw]

Avoiding peak deer times (dusk and early mornings) is becoming less valid in some parts of the country. My last back road riding in the Virginia, we often saw deer just off the road, in the woods at all times of day. And this past weekend in WV, same thing - several deer bounding around in the broad daylight. Sort of disconcerting.

[MikeCam]

The Five Deadly 'D's'

Deer
Dogs
Drunks
Driveways
Day-Dreamers

Pick your time of day and your priority/risk from among these and you'll be at least a step ahead of the game in anticipating trouble.

[Biff's R]

The Five Deadly 'D's'

Deer
Dogs
Drunks
Driveways
Day-Dreamers

Pick your time of day and your priority/risk from among these and you'll be at least a step ahead of the game in anticipating trouble.

We had a couple of run ins with the first 2 on the list last weekend.

[wncbmw]

At least until deer and dogs start driving, we can be relieved that certain combinations won't be out there.

However, a day-dreaming drunk pulling out of a driveway is a real possibility!

[Sunbeemer]

Biggest threat around our city are "Dialers"!
Maybe a 6th D??

[KHaynes]

I have great concern about hitting a deer. We have very few of them here (Australia) and those that exist are descended from farmed animals that have escaped and gone feral.
I have hit a kangaroo and that is bad enough. The roo's centre of gravity is low due to the mass of the body being close the ground but the deer is another issue. With it's body closer to eye level they could destroy a both rider and bike at relatively low speed. I hate the thought of a deer collision. But.... just like kangaroo, they are so stupid.
After hitting the roo I completed extensive reading on animal deterrent devices. It appears that the claims made or deer avoidance are the same as for kangaroo. The hearing range of kangaroo is very close to the hearing range of deer so they can be similarly treated in terms of audio devices. Basically, all the objective data I read pointed to the fact they they do work.
Send me a PM if you want me to forward you a thesis written by Dr Helena Bender following her 7 year study of animal deterrent devices.

[jfbarron]

The deer whistles are a necessity for me.

I had a huge one leap out of a ditch - right in front of me- beside a grassy field NE of Toronto. It was a few minutes before noon on a hot sunny July day. I realised these things can be anywhere! It doesn't have to be dusk or in a forest area.

They come two to a package at automotive supply places and I mounted mine on either side of the beak front fender. There is a black plastic support frame holding the beak that they can stick on to. Since the whistles are black they are somewhat unobtrusive.

I was riding in your area last September and you could see the deer changing their minds when they heard the whistles. I think that you have to be going at least 25 MPH for them to work.

I also have not had any dogs or raccoons wander out in front of me lately either-not sure how it affects them.

At less than ten bucks a set these are cheap protection!