Bambi strikes again

[lonerider]

Had another kamikaze forest rat impale itself on the front of my old GL1200I on Skyline Drive Oct. 24. Deer died, bike's totaled, I got off with a bruised hip where I landed hard on my right side (ATGATT saved my butt again). That's the third one I've hit since '96, other two bikes were repairable. Gonna try a Hornet deer whistle when I'm able to ride again; currently laid up from rotator cuff surgery (not related to the wreck). The rutting season's started around here (MD); doesn't seem to matter how careful one is, they come out of nowhere in a split second and nail you before you can even think about brakes or horn. I sincerely hope no one else has any close encounters with these pests.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Sorry to hear of your incident with one of these pests -- they're a plague -- the scourge of the highways.

It's been said that there's more deer in America now than when the Pilgrims landed in 1620.

Can you believe that people feed these forest rats?

Even as bad as it is..., it appears that nothing can be done to rectify the problem? :angry:

 

[El Toro Joe]

Wow...that kinda sucks. Glad your still here.

 

[Bugnatr]

Sucks big time, tons of them around here too. I say we breed more Mountain Lions!

 

[lonerider]

In this area, hunting is about the only viable means of controlling the herd. Unfortunately, fewer young people are embracing the shooting sports and, as the older hunters quit hunting, there are fewer young hunters to replace them. The DNR keeps raising the bag limit and still claims not enough deer are being harvested. More farmers (also a dwindling population around here) are not allowing hunting due to liability and property damage concerns. I've heard talk from some of the PETA group about birth control, but haven't heard a practical method for administering it. Skyline Drive is especially lousy with deer; being a national park, no hunting has ever been allowed (that I know of), so it becomes a refuge for the pests whenever there is any hunting pressure in adjacent areas. They adapt to just about any area; I've seen plenty of dead ones around the D.C. beltway. If I had the $$$ to do it, I'd pass out free spotlights and .30-30 shells in Wal Mart parking lots and let Bubba thin out the herd.

 

[juniorfjr]

Sorry to hear of your incident with one of these pests -- they're a plague -- the scourge of the highways.

It's been said that there's more deer in America now than when the Pilgrims landed in 1620.

Can you believe that people feed these forest rats?

Even as bad as it is..., it appears that nothing can be done to rectify the problem? :angry:

The lowest deer census was during the "Great Depression". People were poaching deer as an only means of survival. It took nearly 50 years for the population to rebound. What with the looming recession and unstable economy, that means of population control may be in vogue again.

 

[Bugnatr]

Never was a big fan of Venison until a buddy gave me some of his homemade peppered Venison Jerky-Yum! A bag of the jerky plus a few cold ones and your good to go.

Seems the urban deer just get worse every year, they come through my yard like they owned the place.

 

[FJRay]

Never was a big fan of Venison until a buddy gave me some of his homemade peppered Venison Jerky-Yum! A bag of the jerky plus a few cold ones and your good to go.

Seems the urban deer just get worse every year, they come through my yard like they owned the place.

You are the pest control guy. Just expand your market to include deer and sell the jerky. :lol:

 

[Big Sky]

I put three in my freezer in the last two weeks. Good healthy meat for a year. A local rancher lets me hunt, but deer populations this year were about 25-30 percent compared to last year, according to my seat-of-the-pants reckoning. The cause? Not sure but it could be the small pack of wolves now seen roaming this stretch of river bottom. We have way too many wolves now (FWP claims 550 but I'd say its probably three times that) so, your solution: Get your state to come and get 500 or so of our surplus wolves and turn 'em loose. Of course, they'll thin your pet and livestock populations, too.

 

[Bugnatr]

I put three in my freezer in the last two weeks. Good healthy meat for a year. A local rancher lets me hunt, but deer populations this year were about 25-30 percent compared to last year, according to my seat-of-the-pants reckoning. The cause? Not sure but it could be the small pack of wolves now seen roaming this stretch of river bottom. We have way too many wolves now (FWP claims 550 but I'd say its probably three times that) so, your solution: Get your state to come and get 500 or so of our surplus wolves and turn 'em loose. Of course, they'll thin your pet and livestock populations, too.

Good idea! With all the green heads out here in Ca they would fall for the "natural wolf deal" in a minute.

Then when they scare off the deer they will start to eat the local cats and dogs like our big Kitty's do around here.

Have read and heard for years we have many more forest rats than before 5 acre ranchettes became popular. Hard to hunt them around the kids :lol:

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

Just curious...

Now that you have a wealth of experience clashing with the Forest Rat's...

.

.

What's the best move when you don't have time to stop or blow-horn?

Meaning...what evasive (split-second reaction) action did you take?

.

Hang on tight,

Steer and dive,..etc..??

.

In case one pops out, I'll have some subconscious plan stored in the noggin.

 

[lonerider]

Just curious...

Now that you have a wealth of experience clashing with the Forest Rat's...

.

.

What's the best move when you don't have time to stop or blow-horn?

Meaning...what evasive (split-second reaction) action did you take?

.

Hang on tight,

Steer and dive,..etc..??

.

In case one pops out, I'll have some subconscious plan stored in the noggin.

If you spot them in time, the best course, in my experience, is to hold the horn button down while braking. The sound seems to annoy them and, if they perceive it's approaching them, they will usually go the other way. Unfortunately, the last one I hit came from heavy brush so quickly I didn't have time to even think about braking or horn; all I could do was brace on the bars and try to steer straight. When it happens that quickly (less than one second), there's absolutely nothing that can be done. I've known for years that Skyline Drive is over run with deer; riding there that early was a foolish move on my part.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Had another kamikaze forest rat impale itself on the front of my old GL1200I on Skyline Drive Oct. 24. ... I sincerely hope no one else has any close encounters with these pests.

Not since Thursday. Oh what a coincidence, that's the last day I rode. Doe took off from next to a beautiful 8 pointer at the bottom of Canal Road INSIDE DC! Close but no venison this time.

 

[dcarver]

Just curious...

Now that you have a wealth of experience clashing with the Forest Rat's...

.

.

What's the best move when you don't have time to stop or blow-horn?

Meaning...what evasive (split-second reaction) action did you take?

.

Hang on tight,

Steer and dive,..etc..??

.

In case one pops out, I'll have some subconscious plan stored in the noggin.

This was several years back.. but I would, hopefully, perform the same actions again given an imminent strike..

Clicky

 

[Fred W]

+1 - I had almost the identical experience to Don's.

I think the most important thing once you realize that impact is immenent, is to ride the bike straight and stay on the pavement. Most of the damage in deer strikes happens if/when the rider goes off road when attempting to miss the deer.

I am sure that there are times when the impact with the rat is enough to. Knock a rider off the bike, like at highway speeds, etc. But in most highway situations there is more open space along the roadside, and so you should see the deer sooner.

When you first see a deer on the roadside you should hit the brakes then, don't wait to see what they are going to do. There is a big difference in survivability of smacking bambi at 40 mph and hitting one at 65 mph.

 

[kolonial72]

On the subject of deer whistles, I have one on my '05. I have never seen a deer anywhere near my MC. Now, maybe that's just luck, or maybe they hear me coming and bug out. I do know this, though - I won't take the whistle off any time soon.

 

[user 6393]

Had a buddy and his wife take one out of the general population one sunny afternoon just south of Nakusp 2 summers ago.

As usual, it came out of nowhere. They were on a straight bit of road headed back to the ferry, so the bike was stood up. He knew he didn't have time to brake, so he powered up just a bit and hit it head on. The bambi hit, went up and over, scaring the crap out of his wife, it's hooves marking up the back of her helmet as it went down and off the ass end.

Not sure if that's the best thing to always try to do, but it worked for them. They stayed upright through the entire event and came to a controlled stop of their choosing.

Mind you, neither the Bambi or the brand spanking new Connie14 survived. Bike was totalled by his insurance company.

 

[Bungie]

What's the best move when you don't have time to stop or blow-horn?

Meaning...what evasive (split-second reaction) action did you take?

Aim for its ass.

The theory is that deer are prey animals, and their instinct when being 'attacked' from behind is to evade. With any luck, they jink to the left or the right. If it doesn't well, you're probably hurt, but that deer took one in the ass and, well, **** HIM!

 

[Big Sky]

Had a buddy and his wife take one out of the general population one sunny afternoon just south of Nakusp 2 summers ago.

As usual, it came out of nowhere. They were on a straight bit of road headed back to the ferry, so the bike was stood up. He knew he didn't have time to brake, so he powered up just a bit and hit it head on. The bambi hit, went up and over, scaring the crap out of his wife, it's hooves marking up the back of her helmet as it went down and off the ass end.

Not sure if that's the best thing to always try to do, but it worked for them. They stayed upright through the entire event and came to a controlled stop of their choosing.

Mind you, neither the Bambi or the brand spanking new Connie14 survived. Bike was totalled by his insurance company.

Barb, I've heard this theory, to gas it when a deer collision is imminent. An HD rider I know claims he did this (full power)and split the critter, stayed upright and survived. I doubt he lies, but it all seems so improbable. I mean, if you have time to make a decision and to then act on it (gas or brakes), it seems brakes would always be the better option. Less speed in an impending collision simply MUST be better than more speed ... except perhaps in specific and extremely rare cases of incredible luck. Just my opinion ...

I few years back we had a rider here hit a deer and broken bones (a rib?) from the deer slashed his jugular and he bled out before paramedics could save him.

By the way, that area of B.C. (Nakusp, Ainsworth, Kaslow, New Denver, Vernon, etc. is fantastic and among my favorites.