Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Spotlighting for deer.

Last night (9:30pm), I was returning home from a VFW meeting. I had an encounter with a small herd of Odocoileus virginianus. Living pretty far out in the sticks I was about 1/2 a mile from home when I suddenly found myself amidst the small herd of Whitetails (7-8) split on both sides of the narrow country road. As you can imagine the pucker meter was pegged. After getting home, I had to force induce a yawn so that my backside would release the seat. I guess this brings up the topic of "WTB: Road lights and light bar." No deer or TAs were harmed in the telling of this tail .

If their brains are the same size as a Kangaroos.

Ride with no lights on.

Kangaroos will run side by side with you then run straight into the headlights.

Deer usually run a random erratic zig-zag pattern, evolution has brought that to be from evading wolves, the better zig-zaggers lived on to procreate more Z.Z s and the ones which didn't became lunch, at least that's the theory I read. They scare the bejesus outa me, when I encounter them on a ride. I seem to hit at least one a year in my cage, regardless of how careful I drive. My insurance company does not approve as well.

Here's an article given by a fellow mc-ist on the topic of deer strike strategy.

http://www.soundrider.com/archive/safety-skills/deerohdeer.htm

It's a good read... certainly doesn't hurt to go over it. I believe that the super best lighting out there can help at night, with one driving light deliberately pointed just beyond the roadside. And those friggin' whistles? Don't bet your life on them. Simply put... do not underestimate the unpredictability of wildlife.

At the end of the day, there is little we can do. Slow down during dusk and dawn especially and be super alert. I like putting myself back a ways from a car if and when I can. But then again, I have an idea for a bazillion dollar product that just might be the answer to the deer problem. Think "wolf" for a clue to what I have in mind!!

Got onto Skyline Drive south at the northern starting line after night fell. 50 miles to go to the cabin, and the rain & fog rolled in. Fog so thick I had to stand on my mid pegs to see the center line over the windshield - first gear crawl all the way. Groups of indignant deer every mile or three seemed to be annoyed by my presence. As they would walk out of the way of me and my over sized mini bike, many would stop & look back as if to say "This is our road at night as-hole." "Go away."

Those deer are my main concern riding round here. I've seen em all hours of the day.
I live bout 60 miles north o'Houston munkst lotsa farms and woods. Those criters love cow feed, and are likely to be crossin a road any time they smell farmer Brown dumpin that stuff into a trough.

Hitting a deer would be bad but dont you guys get moose as well? I reckon that would hurt.

I couldn't ride at night without my lightbar. They effectively double your light output. Once you get used to them, you can't ride without them, it feels like you are blind.

Especially if you add not 2 more, but 4 more.