Deer season - aarrgghhhhh

[pomtzu]

My DIL got a 5 point buck.
Last night.
With her SUV!!!
Just a couple of miles from here.

Thankfully, she was not hurt and her vehicle sustained relatively minor damage, considering what it could have been. The grill is busted up and one headlight is destroyed, and some scratches on the hood from the buck's antlers, but that's about it. It's completely drivable. If it had been my little car, it would have been totaled! She ran off into the ditch as it happened, but was able to get out without a tow. Not 5 vehicles went by after it happened when one stopped and asked if they could have the deer, so I guess that's better than leaving it to rot along side the road. The state police came out to the house and took a report since she will need that for insurance purposes.

She was pretty shook up and upset that she killed the poor deer, and of course my son didn't help when he was joking with her and told her that she killed Bambi, even tho he was trying to get her to lighten up. MEN!!! Hey - he hit a cow once, but that's another story.

Country living is great, but this is just one not so great thing we have to be careful of - especially this time of year. I avoid driving before dawn and after dusk if at all possible, tho the deer are even around in the daylight anymore.

RIP Big Buck...........

[Karen]

Thank goodness she's okay. Tell her it is not her fault, as we know there are deer overpopulations in some areas. At least the animal likely did not suffer, and will be put to good use by the folks who took it. I hope the insurance covers the needed repairs, but again, am glad she is okay.

I've moved this to the Dog House, just as it was upsetting to your DIL and could be to others.

[happylabs]

That is unfortunate. I can relate to that whole scenario. I live in a rural area too. I have seen a lot of deer in the last couple weeks.

Glad your DIL is okay and not much damage to the vehicle.

[caseysmom]

I live in the suburbs, definetely not the country and we have deer, turkeys, raccoons, coyotes all over.

Hubby hit a dear once, the deer ran off but the car had lots of damage.

Someone gave me the idea of driving with once finger ready on the horn, not sure if that would help or not...

[chocolatepuppy]

Someone gave me the idea of driving with once finger ready on the horn, not sure if that would help or not...

Caseysmom, I was told never to beep at a deer, it might panic and charge right at you! Not sure how true, but was told that.
I also hate driving certain places this time of year, always afraid one will run out in front of me!

[sasvermont]

I hate driving at night this time of year. The deer are all over the place where I live. It is not uncommon to find a herd in my back yard. Prue, the dog is terrified of them and will run in the opposite direction if she sees them. So much for the dog protection I thought I signed up for when I got Prue!

I have never hit a deer, but know lots of folks who have. I drive SO slowly, at night, expecting a deer to run into the road! I try to NOT be out at night or early morning. Of course, sometimes I have to drive, but make sure to keep my eyes looking at the side of the roads!

Glad to hear your relative is unharmed. She will relax about it eventually, I am sure. She did nothing wrong. Things like this happen all the time. I am glad someone was able to use the deer for it's meat. Many just stay there in the road or side of the road, and spoil.

We all need to use this as a lesson and take care when driving at night.

Thanks for sharing the story. It will keep me a little more alert.

P. S. One night I was walking Prue and we headed for the back of the property. I had a flash light and shined it to the very back, near the woods. There was a herd of deer and their eyes glowed in the flash light. Prue was horrified. She barked and ran in the opposite direction, away from the deer, pulling me along with her. It took her days to get over it when I walked her outside. I think she thought they were aliens that had landed. Their beady eyes were dotted all along the wood's edge....two here, two there. It was funny - well sorta. She nearly pulled my arm out of the socket!

[Randi]

It's awful for both the deer and the driver. I hope people will drive slowly and be alert on roads with forests around.

It happens here, too.

Fences along the roads, at least in some places, might be a good idea.

[Grace]

Been there; done that. I'm glad she's okay and the car is usable.

What's worse, I'm told, are the moose in Maine. About a month ago, a police officer in Maine was critically injured after a collision with a moose. And that was in the daylight hours.

[Karen]

Wherever moose are, in northern New England, they are a big problem, especially give their size and build. Their eyes are above the level the headlights may strike, and their darker color makes them even harder discern at dawn and dusk, when they are most active. They are tall enough that cars generally hit just their legs, and their massive bodies then strike the car, and people are often killed.

One thing to remember is "always watch for the second deer" - often if you see one bounding across the road, another will be right behind it.

[pomtzu]

If this thread makes even just one person more vigilant and aware of the unseen dangers out there - especially at night and in areas where potentially dangerous encounters with wildlife can occur - then it has served it's purpose. Be careful out there, everyone.

[kitten645]

"If this thread makes even just one person more vigilant and aware of the unseen dangers out there - especially at night and in areas where potentially dangerous encounters with wildlife can occur - then it has served it's purpose. Be careful out there, everyone."

Absolutely agree. I've never hit anything thank goodness. I'd be traumatized I'm sure. I've swerved to avoid a squirrel on occasion. My ex husband hit a deer and the car was totaled. Scary stuff. I'm thankful your family didn't suffer anything worse.

[wombat2u2004]

She's a very lucky girl.
I hit a cow once....killed the cow, killed the car, and almost killed me.

[Bonny]

She's a very lucky girl.
I hit a cow once....killed the cow, killed the car, and almost killed me.

I hope you were wearing your seat belt MR.

[wombat2u2004]

I hope you were wearing your seat belt MR.

Nope. I don't think the car had seat belts.
Wearing seat belts became law here in 1974.
It was my first car, happened in 1967 or thereabouts.

[cassiesmom]

I also hate driving certain places this time of year, always afraid one will run out in front of me!

Me too! The deer blend in well with the trees along the road. I try to avoid certain stretches of road where it's not too well lit. I've swerved to avoid squirrels, too.