Almost got my first deer

[Capt Steve]

Coming home Thursday night around seven, not quite dark but well past sunset. I didn't see the doe in my headlights as she was coming at me from about ten o'clock. I caught the movement to my left, stood on the brakes and swerved right just in time. The bumper was a clean miss but the mirror on my side nearly grazed her head. I am sure the F150 would have killed her and it wouldn't have done the truck much good either. On the plus side it got my heart rate up to about 4 digits in a nano second.

 

[Capt Steve]

Coming home Thursday night around seven, not quite dark but well past sunset. I didn't see the doe in my headlights as she was coming at me from about ten o'clock. I caught the movement to my left, stood on the brakes and swerved right just in time. The bumper was a clean miss but the mirror on my side nearly grazed her head. I am sure the F150 would have killed her and it wouldn't have done the truck much good either. On the plus side it got my heart rate up to about 4 digits in a nano second.

 

[tom turner]

Always look for the second, and sometimes third, deer--for the "ladies auxiliary" typically travel in groups.

Late this spring the twins will drop and then you'll see momma crossing the road in late summer with the twin fawns. That's when it gets real interesting on the highway.

Worse is during the rut in late fall/early winter when the bucks are horny and moving does around trying to get them to stand still. When she finally can breed for a day or so, the old fella who hasn't gotten any all year gets real stooooo-pid. That's when the most does and bucks get nailed by a car! She's got her mind on his antlers stickin' her in the tail to keep her standing and moving . . . and he's got tunnel vision too!

Are you sure it wasn't a buck you almost hit? A month or so after the final rut (early in the year), their hormone levels return to normal and the antlers shed. At this time of the year the bucks look like the "slickheads" again!

In any event, I'm glad you didn't get your truck "killed."

 

[Spotteddog]

One of the most hideous wreck's I recall deer related, was one that leapt at just the right moment, to cause it to enter the P/U cab through the windshield and exit it, out the rear slider. I'm glad your OK.

 

[M28]

Originally posted by tom turner:
Always look for the second, and sometimes third, deer--for the "ladies auxiliary" typically travel in groups.

This is really good advice.

The only deer I ever "grilled" was number two of a pair. I only backed off the gas when I saw the first one as she was almost across the road. Had I hit the binders, I might have missed number two as she came out of a ditch by the side of the road.

Brian~

 

[JayCeeNC]

I almost smacked one Wednesday morning about 7:00AM down near Carthage, NC, on a rural road.
Gotta keep your eyes open at dawn or dusk.

 

[indiandave]

Try riding a motorcycle. Deer can make your ride an adventure.

 

[tom turner]

Ouch!

Ouch 2

Fly Me To The Moon!

 

[Ohio Outdoorsman]

Big buck on a dead run hit my right rear tire knocked me sideways and we rolled. We then Slid 90 feet down the road on the top with my right hand through the sunroof and between the top of the car and the pavement. Other than that me and my son walked away from it.

 

[Sneezer]

One of my old professors up in Wyoming was bringing his newest grad student conquest out of Yellowstone in his sports car when they took an elk through the windshield.
What a mess

 

[Capt Steve]

"Are you sure it wasn't a buck you almost hit? A month or so after the final rut (early in the year), their hormone levels return to normal and the antlers shed. At this time of the year the bucks look like the "slickheads" again! Wink
"

I'm pretty sure it was as a doe as I got an up close and personal (like ABC Sports), look at her as her head wizzed by my mirror. Chances are good that she is pregnant as they mate in January and pop out the bambi's in July. We have nothing but Mule deer here and they are by most accounts dumber than a box of rocks. My hunting buddies say that hunting them is like shooting cows in a pasture. You're right about when you see one there are often several others in trail. I see them on the golf course everyday. We found a large hind quarter, still bleeding the other morning off the third tee box. It must have been a pretty big mountain lion to carve off a leg like that.....nice kitty!

 

[Beaver]

Aim for the head, and throw them in the trunk. beaver.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I've hit three in the last two years. I drive a lot at night. All of them made it to the freezer. I finished two of them off with a Glock 22 loaded with 180 grain Rangers. Their legs were broken and I wasn't going to let them suffer. There's a lot of them around here and I watch for them. All three were a total surprise. If you see one of them slow down or stop. They frequently travel in groups. We work rural areas. Most of our deputies have hit deer one or more times.

 

[Jst1mr]

They really litter the sides of the road here in WI. You MUST be observant at all times - I have never hit one in 35 years of driving, and that puts me in an exclusive club in this area. A critical word of advice to the OP : Instincts sometimes take over, and braking is OK, but try and avoid the swerve. Most people seriously hurt or killed in deer collisions are due to going off the road aand rolling over or hitting another object. Better to take some damage to the vehicle than to risk a more serious accident.

 

[windjammer]

Capt Steve writes;

I'm pretty sure it was as a doe as I got an up close and personal (like ABC Sports), look at her as her head wizzed by my mirror. Chances are good that she is pregnant as they mate in January and pop out the bambi's in July

Whitetail deer seem to have young anytime during the year. I have deer in my back field daily. More young in late spring, but I see them all year long.......I live in mid-Tennessee