Ever hit a deer?

[Gerr]

How did you come out? I've seen dead deer along the road before, but I never thought it would happen to me until last night. I hit a deer last night coming home. It was dark and it came out of nowhere. I kept driving for probably another 5 miles in spite of warning that coolant was lost and the engine temperature started to creep up. Also when I stepped on the gas, the car lost power to accelerate. The front end of the car is a mess. But thank God, we were not hurt.

[Tom Wetmore]

Glad you are OK. A deer can do serious damage. But drivers are usually worse off trying to avoid hitting them, ending up in oncoming traffic or wrapped around a tree. And often it is the second deer that gets hit because deer tend to blindly play follow the leader and drivers attention is instinctively diverted watching the first deer. Teaching us to drive, my father drilled it into us to watch for the following deer.

It is a very common problem here, an urban area with increasing deer population and decreasing habitat for them. It is common when driving through our neighborhood to see deer roaming, even in broad daylight.

I haven't hit a deer yet, although a few close calls, even a couple very close calls while on the motorcycle. But I remember as a kid being in a car a couple times when we hit a deer. I grew up in northern PA where there are more deer than people. It was not unusual to go out at night with a spotlight and see 50+ deer together grazing in a farmer's field, like herds of cattle.

[monty]

How did you come out? I've seen dead deer along the road before, but I never thought it would happen to me until last night. I hit a deer last night coming home. It was dark and it came out of nowhere. I kept driving for probably another 5 miles in spite of warning that coolant was lost and the engine temperature started to creep up. Also when I stepped on the gas, the car lost power to accelerate. The front end of the car is a mess. But thank God, we were not hurt.

...........Yes you can be very thankful! Two individuals were killed here last year when a deer leaped from the side of the road. Some cars are shaped in such a way that a deer could land on the hood or come right through the window. Going at at speed that can be lethal. Last year I hit a deer square on at seventy miles an hour. I have a deer guard on the front but it still did $6000 worth of damage. I did the repair myself and cleaning the excrement from everywhere was not pleasant. Where we live I have almost hit a bear, moose and elk often cross the road. It can be dangerous. Good luck on your repair.

[abelisle]

Glad to hear you're okay. I'm seeing some deer here in the outskirts of NYC of all places!

[Stan]

We are all glad you are ok.

[Gail]

Whew! Glad that Gerry and Mrs. Gerry (assuming it was Mrs. Gerry that was with him!) are okay!

[phkrause]

No can't say I ever have, but I'm glad to hear you and the miss's are OK.

[nuff sed]

No good deed goes unpunished...... Fifteen years ago I was visiting a friend in Virginia. I knew that her 17 yr, old son was just drooling and 'chomping at the bit' to get behind the wheel of my brand new '96 Impala SS (with the Corvette Engine).

I decided to let him go down the road a few miles with me in the co-pilot seat and his brothers in the back. About five miles down the road, out jumped a deer which we hit head on. He rolled over the hood and windshield and crashed into the ditch at the side of the road. We fixed up the car but it never was like it had been.... I still have it.... Nuff sed

[Gail]

Wow! You're lucky you didn't get hurt but what a cool ride for a 17-year-old!

[Guest]

How fast will it go?

[Dottie]

I've never hit or been with someone who hit a deer. But we have bear. A mama and two cubs roaming around our HOA neighborhood broke down our next-door neighbor's fence a couple of weeks ago. We are quite close to a state park. Guess the bears didn't read the rules that no animals are supposed to be off leash.

[M. T. Cross]

Was right behind a workmate that hit a deer the other day. In my area if you see less than 20 deer a day you wonder if something is wrong. Her car was ok - just a broken headlight, but that poor doe. Two broken legs, trying desperatly to get off the road.

My buddy and I went back to try and kill it to put it out of its misery, but wow that thing moved fast for a creatur with two broken legs. As far as I know the cops came along and shot it.

[Dr. Rich]

I didn't hit a deer, but had one jump inside my car one night headed up to our Ranch in Colorado. Went right thru the passanger window and what a mess it made trying to get out!

Then near Flagstaff AZ, after bowhunting for elk in Colorado and headed back to California, a bull elk slamed into the driver's side smashing the windows doing 8k worth of damage to our 4Runner. Yep, we got an elk alright, but now with an arrow.

Thing is, we actually need more bow hunters to hunt in city and rural areas to keep the deer frightened of people and away from the roads. Look what is going on in Estes Park and towns near Yellow Stone! That meat is healthy and when taken care of properly, tasts great.

As a member of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals), I believe people who allow deer to live in cities should be held liable for the damages to cars--if they don't allow people to hunt with archery.

[Gail]

Funny you mention bow hunting... Last night I went to a bow hunter's house to pick up some fresh deer legs for my dogs. He gave me also the neck which was HUGE but I managed to fit it into my oven. I figure that should keep the 2 big ones busy for a day or so...

I asked him to toss any old antlers he had my way, too, so he said he'd go through his collection and give me his rejects. Deer antler pieces are expensive to buy and our one dog can go through a piece in a day.

[Amelia]

No deer. Bull. Big black bull. At night in eastern Oregon open range. Totalled the car and had to pay the rancher for the bull.

[Amelia]

Quote:

I asked him to toss any old antlers he had my way, too, so he said he'd go through his collection and give me his rejects. Deer antler pieces are expensive to buy and our one dog can go through a piece in a day.

I use to pick up antler while out hiking. I put them in the garden for the squirrels to gnaw on in the winter.

[Dr. Shane]

I have had a few close calls but haven't hit one yet. The deer population in this area of Texas is sparse but an hour north or west of here they start to increase. I was in the car as a kid when my mom hit a deer.

[olger]

Had some near misses with vehicles and a couple with the 30-30.

Years ago of course

[Guest]

I hit one on the way to work this morning. I hit the deer and another car, who also hit a deer. I killed the one I hit, but his got up and ran off. Tore my car up, but I was able to drive it home.

It's hard to assign any blame for what happened. I blame the person who started this "ever hit a deer" thread. Thanks a lot Gerry, look what you've done!

Photos at 11:00

[Gerr]

Sorry about, Richard.

I just received the estimated cost of repair - $8300! Well, insurance is not just all about paying in after all.

[Gail]

Sorry about, Richard.

I just received the estimated cost of repair - $8300! Well, insurance is not just all about paying in after all.

WOW!!!