another Honda bites the dust

[Watered Garden]

Well, another Honda, this time a CR-V has gone the way of all vehicles. My husband hit a huge buck on the way home from work in a rather populated area near a Cracker Barrel restaurant. The deer did sufficient damage that the vehicle has been totalled. This is the 4th deer we've hit in 3 years, two vehicles were totalled, the other being a Dodge Dakota.

What a pain in the anatomy, expense, etc. The insurance adjustor said he had had 8 car-vs-deer claims in 5 days, and 5 of those were totalled. (The cars, that is, no word on the deer).

Mostly what I hear around work is "Oh that poor dear lovely creature! He was the one who had the right to be there, not YOU!"

My only satisfaction is that the SOB stumbled off into the trees and brush and died.

Anyone else with deer encounters?

[Lori]

Yes, I hit a deer about 7 years ago.....I can empathize with you the cost of replacing vehicles.....

geez.....this is your fourth deer?

And phooey to the animal rights activists....."the deer had every right to be there, not you!"(I may not be an animal rights activist, but I'm also not an abuser....)

There's just too many deer out there.....at least that's the case here...Sounds like hunting season needs to be a little longer....There's so many deer getting hit and people killed, too...

After I totalled my car, I found out you can purchase some deer whistles that go on the front of your car....

The deer hear it, and they steer clear.....The sound hurts their ears....I got mine at Auto Zone.....

Even now, I'm wary, especially in the wee hours of the morning, if by chance, I'm out.......

I'm just glad your husband wasn't hurt!

Edited November 7, 2006 by Lori

[templelady]

not deer stories but lots of close encounters with moose.

A 3000+ lb moose does a lot more damage than just total the car--often the occupants end up totaled too.

Don't know if it's the movement or the noise or the lights but members of the deer family just seem to have this compulsion about runnning into traffic.

Why did the "deer" cross the road? To scare drives to death!

I too am glad that it was only machinery that was hurt in this wreck.

[Tom Strange]

wateredgarden!!! not again!!!! ...at least no humans were harmed...

[Shellon]

Definetly the time of year when hunters are driving the deer and they're crossing the roads.

lol the deer had the right of way..........pfffft to that.

We have to watch for them constantly, all year, but now is the worst and indeed it's a very good thing your husband wasn't hurt.

Hitting deer is what collision insurance is for in Michigan I'm told.

[Jim]

As Lori said, you might want to try a deer whistle. Motorcyclists use them (where a deer collision is a lot more painful) and seem to think they work.

[VeganXTC]

Watered Garden, I'm sorry about your vehicles, and I'm glad your husband is ok. Lori's right about the deer whistles, they work extremely well, and not just for deer.

But as far as the huge populations of animals, you can blame that on your local, state and federal governments. To get more hunters, and their money, they have wildlife management or consevation programs in order to raise the number of hunted animals. The more animals, the more money from the sale of hunting licenses.

In Alaska, the Department of Fish and Game is trying to increase the moose population by controlling the wolves and bears. They are either relocated, or slaughtered.

To really control the population of game animals, a TNR (trap, neuter, return) program should be implemented.

Watered Garden, again, I am so sorry for what happened. The people who you work with may be well meaning, but they're wrong. Deer don't want to be around people. Something is terribly wrong when so many people have so many accidents. Its horrible for the people and the deer.

Stupid government and their love of money.

[rhino]

They say if you see a deer or two cross in front of you, don't watch them, watch for the others that are following along behind them. I honk honk honkk hoooonkkkk when i see them in front of me ... and slow way down ...

mixed reviews on those deer whistles ... but they are cheap insurance ...

deer are on the move now ... crops are out, hunters are hunting, its near rut ...

Edited November 8, 2006 by rhino

[coolchef]

sorry vegan

my idea is shoot kill eat that is why God put them here for. but i don't hunt but have friends that do

i am looking foward to that first deer heart!!!! sorry that's just me and i also understand how you feel

[Kit Sober]

Thanks for the reminder. My friend's daughter had an encounter with a bull in the road. And insurance was limited to some huge amount, but my friend was afraid that even that might not be enough because she was liable for the value of the thing, and the owner could claim "loss of income," etc.

On deer, Oh dear: We drive to Wendover from Reno an average of once a month plus (3 casinos there, one audit each a quarter, plus "special" audits). No one else driving has ever encountered a deer. I drive very seldom, usually I ride, but I have had a deer in my headlights a couple of times and only just barely escaped hitting one.

I think the devil has a happy time scaring and hurting us any way he can. A hard-a** wouldn't care if he hit a deer.

You are in my prayers.

[ChasUFarley]

There was an article in Yankee Magazine some years ago about a study that was done on what exactly happens when there is a collision with a large animal, such as a moose. The researchers reviewed hundreds of accident reports from several states. I remember their findings were that the legs of the animal worked like rubberbands, twisting around the vehicle, and entering the passenger compartments through the windows and the like.

Yeah, pretty gorey.

They talked about some of the safety measure that are being taken to prevent the collisions. Road signage noting moose crossing areas, more guardrails, fences, etc., were all talked about. But the interesting thing, to me, was that there's a car company who has designed cars to withstand a collision with moose - and many more - but it was the only one who had focused on that outcome. I believe it was Saab - I can't find the article now.

When I know moose and deer are more active, like this time of year, I always drive much more cautiously than normal. I live in a very rural area, so I'm careful when I'm out at night or in an area where deer or moose might be found in more abundance.

[dmiller]

Hey Watered Garden -- get a pair of those *deer alert* warning devices,

that you can attach to your front car grill, or bumper.

I've got a pair of them on both my truck, and car -- and swear by them.

More deer up here than you can shake a 30.06 rifle at.

Even so --- I almost think more deer are *harvested* via automobile, rather than rifle.

(Not really -- but the statistics are *up there*).

Deer react to sound. If you drive with your hand on the horn ---

you'll not have an accident. They hear you coming, and move away from you.

Since it isn't feasible to drive constantly honking,

the Deer Alert is the next best thing.

You can get a set at your local K-mart, for 5 bucks (there-abouts),

and I for one, can tell you they work, and work well.

Driving up and down the North Shore of Lake Superior,

MANY deer are along the highway, grazing on the grass by the side of the road.

I've seen them in the headlights -- looking up as I approach,

and move away from my oncoming vehicle.

Not guaranteeing that they COMPLETELY alleviate accidents ---

but it's cheap insurance, and works purt near all the time.

The last time I was in Indiana visiting the folks,

I took a drive through Brown County State Park.

Coming to the entrance closest to Nashville, (North entrance???)

there were two deer there who IMMEDIATELY stopped grazing by the gate house there,

looked at me, and ran into the woods.

Like I say -- cheap insurance, that works.

I did hit a deer once, and it totalled out the front end of the car I was driving.

It was a big buck, and all I saw was a body, hooves, and antlers

flying over my windshield, and roof of the car.

He came out of nowhere -- and no -- I didn't have the deer alerts on that auto.

Get a set -- eh??? ;)

Edited November 8, 2006 by dmiller

[dmiller]

Mostly what I hear around work is "Oh that poor dear lovely creature!

He was the one who had the right to be there, not YOU!"

Whoever said that --- Fuggem. I'm willing to bet they would feel just a *mite* different,

if it had been their Volvo, or otherwise-economy-efficient-non-SUV-gas-guzzling-behemoth

that impacted the deer.

I have ZERO respect for any that say an animal has a right to be somewhere,

and the human does not.

I'm proud to say -- that despite the Greenie Advocates which proliferate up here in

both Minney-soda, and Wisconsin ----

that TWO extra deer hunting seasons were opened -- within city limits.

Bow hunting only. No rifles.

There are herds of deer (literally) 50 or 60 strong,

wandering through both town and neighborhoods.

They are a hazard -- plain and simple. I've seen them.

Had to brake for them. Hard to avoid them.

I don't care if they have been *pushed* from their natural habitat, or not.

Someone in city hall had the temerity (meebe *balls* would of been a better word),

to see that they are a threat,

a hazard, something that needs to be removed.

(Sorry to relegate this post as an --- but I thought it fit in a way.)

Edited November 8, 2006 by dmiller

[Watered Garden]

Bumper sticker for hunters:

I SHOT BAMBI'S MOTHER....AND SHE WAS DELICIOUS!

[Watered Garden]

One of the deer-huggers here at work told me about the deer alert whistles. I will definitely buy some and put them on our vehicles.

We are going to look at a car or two tonight. We just want something reliable and safe and cheap for a couple years, while we save up for a newer car. My husband said the entire motor components on the driver's side of the car, where Bambi impacted, is about 4 inches lower than the rest of the stuff under the hood.

How can animal that can hear a hunter breathing for 500 yards not hear a vehicle going 60 mph? Must be that Y chromosome, I guess he had something else on his mind!

Watered Garden, puttin' the BAM! in Bambi since 2003

[Twinky]

Dang, you should have gone after him. Would have filled your freezer for a year.

Ed Horney would have loved the roadkill. (Well after several months he told us to stop the roadkill jokes.)

Seriously - glad you weren't hurt. Lots of good advice here. Locally, in deer areas there is a speed limit off 40 mph which it seems I alone observe.

[ex70sHouston]

I hit a deer on the average of once every two years.

I missed a nice one saturady morning and another monday night in front of my neighbors house.

My answer is called a grill guard. It may be ugly but I win every time. They are also very effective against chevy cavaliers. They do not help when the deer jumps and tries to go through the windshield.

It was in the paper yesterday here that 2000 deer a year are picked up by either the highway dept., the county, or the city. That does not count the ones that are hit and run off and die in the woods.

The thing to remember when they run out in front of you is not to try and avoid it. Your insurance will pay more for a deer collision(less deductible) than if you run off the road and hit something.

I think it was 2000 and I hit an axis deer at 50mph with 0 damage. The only significant damage was to the windshield and roof that one time.

The first thing I buy once I buy a truck is a grill guard. Current one is from Frontier Truck Accessories in Center Point Texas cost about $1000. Knowledge that I won't be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a busted radiator. PRICELESS.

A billboard in town use to say "It's not if you'll hit a deer. It's when?"

Edited November 8, 2006 by ex70'shouston

[DrtyDzn]

We don't have deer here in the city. It makes for poor hunting though. If you eliminate the problem of deer running out on the road, you too will have nothing to hunt. Humans don't share territory with wild animals very well. But if I want to see deer, I can always go to the zoo. LOL

Jerry

[dmiller]

But if I want to see deer, I can always go to the zoo. LOL

Good one!!

Or (an alternative for you here ---)

You could come visit the group home I work at.

Just before supper last night --

we watched 8 of them walk through our back yard,

taking their time, grazing as they went.

And when the show is over, you could go shopping.

The local mall is a little over 1/2 a mile away from us. :)

[Linda Z]

David, you just watched them? Gosh, shouldn't you have gone to get a vehicle and mowed the "SOBs" down? I'm sure they were all scheming about whose cars they could wreck next. /sarcasm off

I'm no radical animal rights person by any means, and I've seen the damage done by a deer vs. a car or truck. I've also come very close to being wiped out by one myself, on more than one occasion. So I understand the frustration. I'm not opposed to culling the herds to keep overpopulation in check.

Despite all that, the saddest sight I've seen in a long time was a couple years ago. A beautiful, majestic buck had been hit by a car. It was rush hour and the roads were icy. I passed just after it had happened. That poor deer had a look of pain and absolute terror in his eyes as he tried over and over and over again to get to his feet on the icy pavement. He had a huge wound on his flank and it looked like his pelvis was broken.

The memory of that beautiful creature struggling and frightened still saddens me. I'd have been even sadder if WG's hubby had been hurt or worse, but please don't make it sound like these pretty, peaceful creatures are out to "get you." And I'm sorry, but a bit of crushed metal, though aggravating, can't be compared to seeing the life going out of an innocent animal in such a slow, painful way. Getting shot would have been a walk in the park by comparison. So, I'm sure it wasn't such a great day for the deer that was hit, either.

Let the flame throwing begin.

[Watered Garden]

Here where I work, the sentiment is that the deer were here first and we are the interlopers. Some ladies even feel it would have been fine if my husband had been mangled and dead on the highway, but what a pity that that beautiful, innocent deer had to suffer and die.

Allow me to disagree.

I would gladly hire a pack of wolves from Alaska, pay for their airline tickets round trip, if they would cull the herds. What puzzles me is that the two that have taken out our vehicles completely have been huge, multi-pointed bucks in a mindless hurry to cross the road.

I will certainly find some deer alert whistles and install them on our vehicles so these beautiful, innocent creatures won't be harmed by mean, hateful, nasty, worthless humans, namely my husband and me, who drive through their rightful homeland on the way to work and back, so we can pay our taxes and keep the tree huggers supplied with food to spread out for them in winter like my next door neighbor does.

WG

[Linda Z]

WG, I don't think you and your hubby are any of those things. Not at all.

I simply think there is a middle ground somewhere between being a "tree hugger" and believing poor, dumb deer are "SOBs" for having the gall to get in our way.

[RumRunner]

When I was growing up it was legal in NY state to shoot deer as a crop predator. Central NYS has a large agricultural economy based on various fruits mostly tree bearing,, eg apples, peaches, etc. Some years later the bambi folk decided this was cruel. The deer population grew out of control, the herds were becoming weak because of competition for food and the agri-economy was in terrible shape.

The population got large enough that deer began to encroach in urban areas, even large urban areas in search of food. Now along the those increasingly weaker herds came more susceptibility to blacklegged ticks; i.e. the primary vector for Lyme disease.

If you go here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_rp...asesbyState.htm

you will see a table of incidents by state for a number of years. The critical stat is cases per 100,000 of population. Just counting raw indicidents tells little but cases per X tells a lot.

Take a look at where NY state ends up.

So much for protecting Bambi....hurt the deer population at large, hurt the NYS economy at large, and hurt humans at large...

Edited November 9, 2006 by RumRunner

[VeganXTC]

Nature takes care of the size of the herd. Natural predators, like wolves and bears, go after the weak and the young. Starvation and disease also kill the weakest.

But human hunters kill any game animal that crosses their path, including the large, healthy 10 point bucks that are needed to maintain the survival of the herd.

If you look at Wisconsin on the link RumRunner provided, you'll see Lyme disease has skyrocketed. Hunting has never been outlawed here.

Hunting is not the answer to smaller, stronger herds of deer. I doubt if people would like to live with bears or packs of wolves in their area either. The only alternative that I can think of is TNR. (trap, nueter, return)

[dmiller]

From Linda Z;

David, you just watched them? Gosh, shouldn't you have gone to get a vehicle and mowed the "SOBs" down? I'm sure they were all scheming about whose cars they could wreck next. /sarcasm off

Linda -- I would never do that.

Unless I'm mistaken, I think you missed the intent in my previous post.

Perhaps I stated my point poorly, therefore the fault is mine.

When I said ---

I'm proud to say -- that despite the Greenie Advocates which proliferate up here in

both Minney-soda, and Wisconsin ----

that TWO extra deer hunting seasons were opened -- within city limits.

Bow hunting only. No rifles.

There are herds of deer (literally) 50 or 60 strong,

wandering through both town and neighborhoods.

They are a hazard -- plain and simple. I've seen them.

Had to brake for them. Hard to avoid them.

I don't care if they have been *pushed* from their natural habitat, or not.

I was talking about the HERDS of deer in town -- that are a danger.

The size of some of these herds (now acclimatized to *city living*),

are the hazard I'm referring to -- rather than the individual animals.

I like watching wildlife as much as the next person,

and feel lucky to be able to do so at work.

Sadly -- our house is 1 short block from a major thoroughfare here in town,

and quite a few get hit. Tragic? Yes. But the human's fault?? No.

I reserve my ire for those who think that animals are better than humans,

and in this case (with WG), actually accuse the human of being a predator on 4 wheels.

I don't like to see any animal hurt, or in pain, or killed needlessly.

Sorry if you got that impression -- it was one I never meant to portray.