Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Deer

A lifelong friend and Harley rider had a run in with a deer on the Blue Ridge Parkway last Sunday. Both lost the battle. My buddy lost some hide and some $$$$ on the Harley and the deer paid the ultimate price. He said it happened so fast that he couldn't avoid, hardly time to brace for the impact. I had a similar experience with a large dog some years ago. One minute I was riding along, not a care in the world and the next I was flying through the air (for a very short period of time) like Superman.

Just got off the BRP Thurs and saw a number of deer along the way. Fortunately I was able to avoid them even in pea soup fog where one appeared and wisely decided to re-enter woods.
My close call was with a wild turkey who walked out in front of me and then took flight just before I arrived in his space. Had to duck to avoid him...wait a minute, poor choice of words...you shouldn't have to duck for a turkey...goose for a turkey? I don't know, just glad we didn't connect as they're big.
So: wildlife, fog, rain, failed starter switch, food poisoning. Typical for me on an extended trip and unlike Steve's HD friend, no crashes.
Keepin' the rubber side down,
SteveB

Just returned from 5 days in NE TN. I was amazed at the number of deer - particularly just after dusk. They came out into the open like fire flies, had absolutely no fear - almost as though defiant. Rarely saw one at a time and often saw herds of 10 or more. I never made it onto the BRP, but seeing what I saw, for sure I'd be hard pressed to ride down there after sundown

A few years ago my brother totaled his Harley in a collision with a deer and spent the night in the hospital with a concussion. Good thing he was wearing a helmet. It was his third deer/ motorcycle collision in thirty years. I’ve had a few close calls in the last several years, only one on the bike.

My closest call was with a turkey buzzard. I crested a hill on a county blacktop to see several of them feasting on a dead deer. They all started to liftoff and clear the area when one of them turned back toward the road still flapping like crazy to gain some altitude. I guess he was gorged on rotten deer meat because he turned right into me about four feet off the road. I ducked and went under him with no apparent contact. I once saw, and smelled, the remains of a turkey buzzard spread through the cockpit of a T-2 Buckeye jet trainer. I don’t like thinking what he could have done to me on the BA. The stink alone could have been near fatal.