Dangers of Deer

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:47 am

Was reading in the local Newspaper last night about an experienced motorcyclist (age 55) who was killed yesterday in an accident with a deer. Last week I was also out for a spin and rounded a corner right into the path of a deer which had darted out of tree cover. These things are a bloody hazard and danger up here. The trouble is there are more and more of them.

For god's sake you guy's from down south be aware of this hazard if you are taking a biking trip up to Scotland this year. Most open roads are ok with the risk being mainly on the back roads with tree cover at the sides. The worse times for deer on the road is in the morning or dusk/dark period.

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Wed May 23, 2007 1:51 pm

We have the same problem with Scousers darting about from here to there.
Worst time for them is early morning about 4am

JamesL · Post by **JamesL** » Wed May 23, 2007 2:25 pm

One of the guys on the RS forum got caught out last year:

http://www.bikersoracle.com/rs/forum/sh ... php?t=2491

They're a menace in Warwickshire as well - bounce out into the road and then stare gormlessly at you as you try to miss them.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Wed May 23, 2007 3:03 pm

A lot of these in Oxfordshire, especially summer evenings when it's just getting dark.

Remember hitting one in our Caterham one evening at about 70mph - deer was well and truly mullered (it was very messy) but more importantly it bent a track rod and front r/h suspension wishbone.

If I'd been on the bike then lord knows what would've happened.

BockingBandit · Post by **BockingBandit** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:40 pm

Its not just a 'Rural' issue. The courier standing in for my contract after i bent the Bandit got knocked off by a deer at 7:00am the very next day. It was on the A12 in Romford, ... needless to say,.. his contorller thought he was taking the pee when he called that one in.
Joking aside, .... not a lot you can do about keeping them off the road and as the original post states, ... hitting one is not a good thing,.. for either of you

Twodogs · Post by **Twodogs** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:11 pm

The A12 you say? Thats not five mins from my house...gulp...i have been known to travel quite quickly on that road

Thanks for the heads up guys,i'll keep my peepers skined for sure

Stevie · Post by **Stevie** » Thu May 24, 2007 5:16 pm

I've had a couple of close ones with roe deer round our way, and generally, you don't get much warning, they just bounce out in front of you out of a hedge or tree cover. In my experience, watching out for them isn't enough, you actually have to slow down

around areas where they are likely to be. Oh, and they usually travel in small groups, so if you see one cross the road in front of you, expect another two or more to follow.

In more rural parts of Scotland the problem is bigger - red deer stags can weigh 300Kg - and they are in abundance. Worst time for them is around dusk.

box-doctor · Post by **box-doctor** » Thu May 24, 2007 5:38 pm

We have a similar problem in Worksop - Nottinghamshire, but it's SMACKHEADS - on the plus side though for every 5 you kill you get a £100 reduction in your council tax

decisivedave · Post by **decisivedave** » Thu May 24, 2007 8:05 pm

Nearly hit a deer myself on way back from Winchester last week - It's early evenings that are the real danger time.

Did hit a deer a few years ago when I had my TRX. Was doing a steady 60, saw the deer, took avoiding action, deer ran out of my way (phew) changed it's mind and ran right into me (sh*t). It collided with my right foot, pressing the rear brake on, sending me into tank slapping, fish tailing slide down road. How I didn't lose it is still a mystery. All there was to show for the collision was a tuft of fur in my Sidi, and a bruise on my shin.

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Thu May 24, 2007 9:05 pm

hit something similar a couple of years ago. It was stationary and from the startled looks it gave me I dont think that it saw me approaching.

still no eye deer what it was!

I'll get me coat!

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Thu May 24, 2007 9:07 pm

Obly deer-related incident I had was local to here near addingham, when one ran right accross me when I was in teh subaru. Stood the bloody car on end and sideways but just missed the thing.
Saw a massive one hiot by a car, or the aftermath on the autobahn once. ewwww