Advice needed, Deer safety

[Alien]

Hi All,

We will be moving out of southern California to Spokane, WA in the next year.  Do you have any safety tips or precautions that I can take for riding in a deer-rich environment?  I'm assuming that all of the deer whistles and such are snake oil?

Ride Safe,

Alien

[Serk]

Deer whistles are pretty much religious talismans at this point, some swear by 'em, some swear they attract deer, some swear they have no effect whatsoever....

I personally avoid riding at dusk or dawn (Not really, but in theory I do), and always keep scanning tree lines for the little bastards.

And keep good insurance and wear safety gear...

Wish I had better advice, but IMHO that's like trying to avoid left turning cages. You keep your head on a swivel and hope for the best.

On my summer crazy trip I saw a whole family of 'em dancing around on the side of the road barely 10 miles outside of New York City...

[Jersey mike]

Beware of Deer Crossing signs…apparently this is where the deer cross. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFCrJleggrI

I have no real advice, never encountered a deer to avoid.

[Rams]

My opinion on deer whistles is they do make noise and alert the deer that you're coming.   The problem is, deer are so stupid and flighty that they don't just run away, they simply run and one never knows what direction that's going to be.

Long ago in my flying days, my unit would get tasked to take Wildlife Managers out to do herd counts, was a  fun mission.   We'd go out and find the herds/groups and when we fly over, they would scatter all directions.   Elk were more reliable in staying together but with deer, there was no way of knowing what direction they would go.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

I rode by a few of them bunched up together along side the road once.

At about 2mph.  Staring at each other.  As quiet as I could make the bike.

Several times, I've seen them on the roadside and just braked to a stop and waited for them to go somewhere. 

And I've told this story before, but once riding in a group on a steep hillside 2-lane, a deer came flying down the hill, took a great leap, and went right over the head of the guy ahead of me.  Close enough he could have kicked him in the helmet.  The deer went clear over the road in one leap and continued down the hill. 

When we stopped for a break, I told that guy about it.  He never saw the deer, and wasn't sure if he believed me.  Dude, I'm not making it up.  He went right over your head.

[Hook#3287]

There really isn't any thing that can be done to avoid them, outside of staying home.

Many states and towns in rural areas are cutting back vegetation a good distance from the roads.  I noticed it first up in northern Vt, nh and Maine some years ago.

I believe it was mostly for moose up there, but down here in southern New England, many highway depts are following that example.

I've read that deer actually have poor vision, but great movement detection and hearing.

Sometimes they flee, sometimes they freeze.

[0leman]

I have ridden most of my time in "deer rich" environment.  AS Serk said, keep looking around and slow down if you see them.  I have extra car horns and they do tend to stop deer that I see.   Dusk and dawn ridding is also avoided.  Though "hunting season" will cause them to move around more during the day, so take heed. 

[Rams]

I have ridden most of my time in "deer rich" environment.  AS Serk said, keep looking around and slow down if you see them.  I have extra car horns and they do tend to stop deer that I see.   Dusk and dawn ridding is also avoided.  Though "hunting season" will cause them to move around more during the day, so take heed. 

Unfortunately for me, dusk and dawn are my favorite times to be on a Valkyrie.   But, you are correct.

Rams

[GiG]

Those concerned with deer safety can rest easy with Rams confined to his sweet new shop   

[Alien]

Thanks all.  Deer are the one real fear I have about riding.  When I was 5 years old (1980) , a deer decided to bolt across the road at the exact moment that my dad crossed it's path on his CB750.  He was leaned into a corner and the deer knocked the bike out from under him.  Many surgeries, bone grafts, plates and screws followed.  He never rode a motorcycle again.  He also made me promise that I'd never ride one but that promise didn't exactly work out.    Well, I guess I'll just wear my gear like always, try to avoid dusk and dawn and keep a sharp eye out.

Ride safe,

Alien

[f6john]

Thanks all.  Deer are the one real fear I have about riding.  When I was 5 years old (1980) , a deer decided to bolt across the road at the exact moment that my dad crossed it's path on his CB750.  He was leaned into a corner and the deer knocked the bike out from under him.  Many surgeries, bone grafts, plates and screws followed.  He never rode a motorcycle again.  He also made me promise that I'd never ride one but that promise didn't exactly work out.    Well, I guess I'll just wear my gear like always, try to avoid dusk and dawn and keep a sharp eye out.

Ride safe,

Alien

I’ve never ridden in the area you are heading into but if it’s anything like the Appalachian Mountain region of Eastern Kentucky all the above applies, just know that with the greenery we have a deer can be standing just inches from the road and you won’t see it until it makes its move. Happened just a few days ago, I was traveling with my wife in our car and we came around a bend in the road, and the wife says did you see that! My reply was yes but it would have been way too late to do anything, if it had decided to bolt into the roadway instead of head back into the woods. Another thing we have to deal with in much of rural Kentucky is Johnson grass everywhere. I have some currently growing on the right of way near my home that is over my head in height, talk about concealment for critters. So as you said wear your gear!

[LadyDraco]

We  use  to swear by  deer whistles,
But the only ones  we  liked  that worked were  the  ones that looked  like  tiny megahorns.
Can't find or  get them anymore.

 I blast my outside  speakers  to 30 on the  Interstate,
People  have  asked  me  why do I blast my speakers.
I tell them it's  not for  me. It's for the  critters.
They do hear me . And  they don't panic .
Been doing that for  umteen years.
I  know  it works  as  folks  on side  walks  can hear  me  well..
As  they are  looking  before  I even show  up.
The  sound  is  different then pipes. I don't  believe  in the  pipe thing.
I do believe  in music sound travleing better. For  Critters.
Folks  that drive  are  in sound proof  rigs  nowa days.

[GiG]

I blast my outside  speakers  to 30 on the  Interstate,
People  have  asked  me  why do I blast my speakers.
I tell them it's  not for  me. It's for the  critters.
They do hear me . And  they don't panic .
Been doing that for  umteen years.

Yes, it is possible to hypnotize deer with music!
Some LED Zeppelin might just make them lay down & sleep  :

Antelope prefer The Who!   

[thedon]

Deer hear the sound of your motorcycle from the woods. That's why they run out in front of you. Being from Wisconsin I know. Lots of them here. Just be aware and keep scanning both sides of the road.

[Moonshot_1]

Never put much faith in any gizmos that say they deter deer or critters on the road.

The best defense against deer and other critters in the road way is to practice emergency stops and evasive maneuvering at every opportunity so that is becomes instinctive, immediate, and reflexive because every millisecond counts when it hits the fan.

Every time I ride, when the opportunity presents itself like a stop sign on a county road with no traffic, I practice emergency stops with the front brake. I use the front brake for damn near all my braking needs.

I can say this has made a number of sure accidents into close calls and even not even close calls.

So keep alert. Look farther down range on the road, and practice practice practice all the time your emergency stopping. 

[h13man]

I was a night rider for ten years thus a slight adjustment up on the HL with a regular Silverstar, the high beam really extends really well especially to the sides. The parabolic reflector in the HL works really well. On low I have a twin set of LED spots mounted on top of the engine guards. Full on deerdar all the time.