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Deer Whistle for Motorcycles
- Thread starter mudcat100
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Alk8944
US Veteran
There was a study of deer whistles done several years ago, and the conclusion at that time was they were totally ineffective. Unless they have been redesigned there is no reason to believe they would work now any better than then.
No they do not work, many people up here have tried them.
Where I live we have more deer than people.
Where I live we have more deer than people.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
There seems to be no science to support their effectiveness.
And meaningful individual “experience” is hard to imagine. Somebody who sticks these whistles on their vehicle and hasn’t hit a deer proves nothing, since most folks without whistles never hit a deer either.
Well I KNOW they DO work but the questionn is are they a good idea. Me and a friend (he on a Honda Goldwing and me on a Honda V-65 Magna were riding on a paved county road in South Texas. It had been raining and the asphalt road was very very slick.
He had them (they were called Deer Alert back then) on his Goldwing and I didn't have them on my Magna. He was a few yards ahead of me and there were two yearling bulls on the right hand side of the road OUTSIDE THE FENCE.
The little bulls instantly went ape. They got that deer-in-the-headlights look in their eyes and took off across the road...right in my path. I dared not hit the brakes too hard for fear of going down. I was reluctant to accelerate too hard for fear of breaking traction. I started to lay it down but decided to just accelerate as much as I could without spinning the rear and get past them before they got to me.
I saw from my peripheral vision that the one in the lead passed be hind me just as I went by. His eyes were wild and I doubt he even saw me..
I gave my friend the choice of taking them off his bike or staying behind me. I think they are a bad idea. They don't make animals run AWAY from you, They run OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
He had them (they were called Deer Alert back then) on his Goldwing and I didn't have them on my Magna. He was a few yards ahead of me and there were two yearling bulls on the right hand side of the road OUTSIDE THE FENCE.
The little bulls instantly went ape. They got that deer-in-the-headlights look in their eyes and took off across the road...right in my path. I dared not hit the brakes too hard for fear of going down. I was reluctant to accelerate too hard for fear of breaking traction. I started to lay it down but decided to just accelerate as much as I could without spinning the rear and get past them before they got to me.
I saw from my peripheral vision that the one in the lead passed be hind me just as I went by. His eyes were wild and I doubt he even saw me..
I gave my friend the choice of taking them off his bike or staying behind me. I think they are a bad idea. They don't make animals run AWAY from you, They run OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
GypsmJim
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Many years ago when they were new and untried, the Iowa State Police put them on their patrol cars and reportedly reduced car-deer collisions by 90%. My friend in Iowa worked at a factory and the company car hit deer about every month. They put them on, and after a year had no incidents.
Good enough for me. I put them on and have not hit a deer. When I drive down the highway and I see deer at the grass line, they stop and look at me, but don't run. Good enough for me.
My buddy tried them but they always fall off in the car wash. I think car washes are stupid. He hits many deer, I don't.
For 6 lousy bucks and 30 minutes to drill 2 holes and mount them permanently with 2 SS screws, why would anyone who lives in deer country NOT want to put them on.
Good enough for me. I put them on and have not hit a deer. When I drive down the highway and I see deer at the grass line, they stop and look at me, but don't run. Good enough for me.
My buddy tried them but they always fall off in the car wash. I think car washes are stupid. He hits many deer, I don't.
For 6 lousy bucks and 30 minutes to drill 2 holes and mount them permanently with 2 SS screws, why would anyone who lives in deer country NOT want to put them on.
I had them on the one pickup that I hit two deer and a horse with. They didn't do much to stop the deer, but my heavy built grill guard seemed to help.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Best way we've found to avoid hitting deer is not to ride past dusk. The one time we hit a deer with hubby's Goldwing was at dusk on a narrow twisty road with close treeline. Luckily we lowered our speed enough that the impact didn't drop us, just picked up a clump of fur on the fairing.
Good luck keeping the shiny side up.
Good luck keeping the shiny side up.
PeterJ
US Veteran
We owned a body shop for 30 years and fixed many vehicles that hit deer that had those whistles on them,,, count me as a non believer. In the same vein,,, deer are the main reason I quit riding motorcycles. You can somewhat deal with the clowns on the road who try to kill you by expecting them to do it. Deer are a whole other story,,, jump out to nowhere and take you out as they have done to 3 friends of mine.
vonn
US Veteran
If you drive the roads in the Texas Hill country at night enough you will hit a deer! Doesn’t matter what you put on your vehicle.
A long time ago, in a century now past, I was informed that at 60 MPH, I was going faster than my siren. ie, I was driving faster than peoples ability to hear and react before I reached them.
Three rules to keep safe on a motorcycle
1] Never ride while drunk.
2] Never ride at night
3] Never let rule 1 interfere with rule 2
Three rules to keep safe on a motorcycle
1] Never ride while drunk.
2] Never ride at night
3] Never let rule 1 interfere with rule 2
Marshwheeling
Member
Two words: snake oil.
Inusuit
Member
My Law Enforcement sources agree with this statement, when I asked why the HP wasn't running a siren when he passed me going about 90 mph. I think the same applies to deer whistles. While the bull story is interesting, the animal's reaction may have had nothing to do with the whistle.
During the "rut" you could have flashing strobe lights & an air raid siren on your vehicle and deer would still run in front of you. They are simply just too preoccupied with procreation to notice anything else.
In regards to deer whistles ....... I personally don't think they work at any time of year. JMO.
Don
In regards to deer whistles ....... I personally don't think they work at any time of year. JMO.
Don
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Aggie1906
US Veteran
Deer Whistles
I go along with my insurance industry buddy:
"The Perfect Product, you can't prove they don't work
and they come off in the car wash."
Of course I have had some, and as a joke have a new, unused
set. Not the fancy chrome ones I fooled my self into buying all
those years ago. And, living in Michigan and only ever hitting one deer makes me feel lucky. Neither of had whistles.
I go along with my insurance industry buddy:
"The Perfect Product, you can't prove they don't work
and they come off in the car wash."
Of course I have had some, and as a joke have a new, unused
set. Not the fancy chrome ones I fooled my self into buying all
those years ago. And, living in Michigan and only ever hitting one deer makes me feel lucky. Neither of had whistles.
...or too early in the morning. I was t-boned by a young buck at 5:55 AM on April 12, 2012.
meaneyedcatz
Member
I don’t think they do any good but I will use this verbiage,
You can’t say they do not as there are people who use them who have never hit a deer but you cannot say they do as plenty of people who use them have hit deer.
In a previous job I traveled over Illinois and Missouri inspecting wrecked vehicles. I have seen plenty of deer whistles clogged with deer hair.
You can’t say they do not as there are people who use them who have never hit a deer but you cannot say they do as plenty of people who use them have hit deer.
In a previous job I traveled over Illinois and Missouri inspecting wrecked vehicles. I have seen plenty of deer whistles clogged with deer hair.
Hillbilly77
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I have observed deer and their behavior enough to know that they are, if nothing else, unpredictable.
Deer are a lot like humans - they have different personalities and react differently to different things.
What will send one deer running for cover at full speed may draw another deer in to satisfy its curiosity. I have seen deer get hit by vehicles after carelessly running into the road and I have seen deer run away in a panic at the mere sound of a car approaching.
Sure, MAYBE some deer MIGHT possibly run away from the noise created by a deer whistle. However, you know an old deer hunter trick that often works to stop or slow down a running deer? A loud whistle. Or a yell. Or a bark like a dog. I have used these methods personally with mixed results. Some deer keep running at a loud noise, some deer stop to see what it was.
A deer is just as likely to run away from the sound of your approaching motorcycle as it is to run from the sound of a whistle. Or it may stop to see what the sound is.
I do not believe in the advertised effectiveness of these deer whistles. In fact, I’ve seen plenty of vehicles that had whistles on them that hit deer.
In my personal observation, save your money.
Deer are a lot like humans - they have different personalities and react differently to different things.
What will send one deer running for cover at full speed may draw another deer in to satisfy its curiosity. I have seen deer get hit by vehicles after carelessly running into the road and I have seen deer run away in a panic at the mere sound of a car approaching.
Sure, MAYBE some deer MIGHT possibly run away from the noise created by a deer whistle. However, you know an old deer hunter trick that often works to stop or slow down a running deer? A loud whistle. Or a yell. Or a bark like a dog. I have used these methods personally with mixed results. Some deer keep running at a loud noise, some deer stop to see what it was.
A deer is just as likely to run away from the sound of your approaching motorcycle as it is to run from the sound of a whistle. Or it may stop to see what the sound is.
I do not believe in the advertised effectiveness of these deer whistles. In fact, I’ve seen plenty of vehicles that had whistles on them that hit deer.
In my personal observation, save your money.
