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So now that I'm in Rural Road country, one of my car buddies down here said deer are an issue. After he hit one he installed deer whistles and said he hasn't had an issue since, and recommended I look into this.
Has anyone here had and experience with deer whistles, and if so, how/where did you mount them?
I've lived in deer country my entire life. I don't think deer whistles work. Even some car horns won't make a deer move off the road, in my experience. I had a Honda Fit and the horns on that car only made deer look at me funny. I switched them out for horns from a Subaru and those made the deer skeedaddle. (Country bumpkin word added for authenticity.)
I also live in deer party central in N. East Georgia. I've hit many and considered a resident expert on the subject.
Seriously, all "deer horn" and noise gadgets (note: I've tried them) do NOT work.
Some helpful thoughts:
1. Deer are easily spooked, but freeze at night when confused (e.g. "Deer in the headlight") about the location of the threat. Therefore, SLOW down as quick as possible!
2. The expression "deer hearted" is true, usually they'll run back to a place of safety and that's usually where they came from. That could mean others following the leader and crossing the road in front of you.
3. Where there's one, there are many! Slowing down is your best defense. Trying to outrun them will only lead to an accident. Ask me how I know. haha
4. It's good to use high beams at night because you can spot their eyes from further back which will allow you time to slow down, but as mentioned, deer freeze when they see bright lights hence the expression "deer in the headlights".
5. Blowing your horn may be helpful from a distance, but avoid it when close because a spooked deer does NOT think logically (duuuuh) and could end up jumping onto or hitting your car in an effort to escape danger in their little minds.
6. Dusk and dawn are your most commons times you'll see deer. This is because they feel safer from predators when searching for water.
7. Fall is breeding season and the party usually happens arounds the roads! Yeee Hawww! Therefore, if you're NOT into crashing a party, then drive extra careful at these seasonal times of the year.
8. Know your area. Deer travel daily for water and food. If you have local ponds, rivers, or fruit trees, farms, etc., extra careful around those areas. Be alert!
Last edited by ZuffenZeus; 09-06-2022 at 10:28 AM.
Great stuff @b3freak well done. We've been seeing them more and more in the middle of the day, not sure why. They just seem to be assuming that the road is a normal place to be no matter when. I've also been hit by deer twice, rather than hitting them; once when trying to ease my way through a herd that simply refused to leave the roadway, and once when a young buck raced out of the woods straight into the side of my car.
None of which is as bad as my niece's story. A car in front of her hit a deer, which went up over the roof of that car, landed on her hood, and came in through the windshield. It ended up in the back seat, thrashing away. Totaled the car from the inside. My niece escaped with scratches.
Great stuff @b3freak well done. We've been seeing them more and more in the middle of the day, not sure why. They just seem to be assuming that the road is a normal place to be no matter when. I've also been hit by deer twice, rather than hitting them; once when trying to ease my way through a herd that simply refused to leave the roadway, and once when a young buck raced out of the woods straight into the side of my car.
None of which is as bad as my niece's story. A car in front of her hit a deer, which went up over the roof of that car, landed on her hood, and came in through the windshield. It ended up in the back seat, thrashing away. Totaled the car from the inside. My niece escaped with scratches.
Your niece got seriously lucky!
B3freak did a good write up and I agree with most everything he said. The one thing I will add is I would avoid honking at bucks during the rut or any deer relative any time of year (i.e. moose or elk) because they may straight up attack your car. I've seen moose and elk do it. I saw a semi once that the driver got impatient and honked at a moose and the thing tore the entire front end off his truck in a fit of rage. Moose especially are not friendly or gentle creatures.
Spent summers in NH on my HD Fatboy....installed what I thought were ant moose horns ....useless.. some the most intellectually challenged animals on earth and responsible for many a fatal mc accident
Never used a whistle, maybe maybe I should have? A deer is why I'm now a 996 owner. Oct. 2018 I was riding to work on my Triumph Speed Triple early morning and took the scenic route to work (my commute is 60min, so I had numerous routes). It was still dark out, and had my high beams on. I'm coming out of a bend and rolling on the throttle doing about 60 when I suddenly see antlers and a head an inch from my headlight. Over the handlebars and rolling down the road I went. He literally appeared out of thin air. Bike totaled, broke some ribs and now have a metal plate on my collar bone. Helmet saved my life. Decided to hang up my leathers and get a fun "cage".
Fast forward to March 2020, driving to work and boom - a deer runs full speed into the side of my 996: Oh deer.
A guy driving behind me pulled over to check on me. He was like "that deer came out of nowhere!". So moral is, I have no idea if a whistle works, but I do know when these things are at full gallop, they aren't checking for on-coming traffic!
09-06-2022, 09:00 AM
Deer whistles/horns. Anyone use them?
