Hey, I like the coast also.
I spent many a pleasant hour on Heceta Head beach.
Lovely place.
Posted on 04/04/2022 5:13:07 PM PDT by SamAdams76
Well it finally happened. After decades of commuting to work during the dawn and dusk hours of the day through heavily wooded areas, this morning, my automobile struck a deer.
I always looked forward to seeing the deer during my commutes, usually standing around in meadows and fields, sometimes crossing the road in front of me. Always took care to avoid them when I could, though I did have a close call here and there when one hurtled across the road right in front of me.
This morning was different. I was near the Easton/Westport line in Connecticut on a rural road when one leaped in front of me with no time to take evasive action.
At around 35mph, my Subaru Outback sent that deer in a total 360 across the road where it skidded on the pavement to a rather inglorious landing, leaving a skid mark of fur.
The deer was not killed (yet) but was rather angry. I came to a complete stop and that deer got up and attacked my car. That is to say, it hobbled, obviously in intense pain, and smashed its body against the driver's side of my car. I had to drive down the road a bit until the crippled deer limped away into the woods.
Unfortunately the deer is probably a goner. If it did not die later of internal injuries, it is likely being made a meal of tonight by the local coyotes.
The damage to my Subaru was surprisingly minor. The grille and front bumper cover was cracked pretty good in several places but no hood damage at all. Headlights fully intact and still working.
The local police had no interest in the matter as nobody was hurt and there was no deer carcass in the road to deal with. I called my insurance company and they told me that this happens all the time and that they are glad there was no other personal or property damage involved. I'm to take my car into a body shop tomorrow morning for an estimate but in the meantime, the car is totally drivable and other than the cracks in the front part, still looks brand new.
I guess I was lucky. Although I can't say the same for the deer. I wish they would not jump out in front of cars like they do.
Wife had a similar incident back in the 70s, but she was riding a dirt bike with leathers, down on a mountainous winding dirt road in Honduras, ... and it wasn’t a deer, but a Brahma Bull. Luckily a British patrol was coming up on the opposite side and was able to graft on some NewSkin and made repairs.
I have never hit a deer but after scraping rubber off my tires on the road a couple of times I bought some deer whistles for my truck and noticed quickly a difference. If there are deer on the side of the road a hundred yads or so ahead they look up and at me and turn around and go back into the trees. One was running toward the road in front of me and as he exited the trees his head popped around toward me, his forefeet planted and he pivoted ninety degrees to run along the road. Deer whistles are CHEAP and do the job. Amazon has a variety of packages of them and they are available from a lot of other places on the web. I have four of them on my bumper and roof with two different tones.
I worked two summers as a forest fire fighter for the CA Division of Forestry. We supplemented our food budget with road kill about every other week. Venison is very tasty.
I rounded a curve and nearly plowed into a small herd of does just standing on the road...beside the road...probably having a nice chat. Luckily I wasn't going all that fast and avoided any collision. They just took their time about moving out of the way. 'Twas odd. I could swear I heard one of them mutter, "Cheeky bastard."
My wife and I were driving at night through Nevada - on the way to Tonopah from Rachel. That's open range country. You drive EXTRA carefully there. Sure enough, there was a herd of cattle lazily crossing the highway. All you can do is stop, put your flashers on (to alert anyone behind you), and wait for them to finish.
If you hit a steer in Nevada, not only will you have damage to your car, you'll get sued by the ranch owner for BIG bucks.
If you drive and deer are around, eventually one (typically more) will jump in front of you. Thankfully only the deer was injured.
After 50+ years of driving, I hit my first deer last year. It put a dent in my hood, and took off a plastic guard on the front, but that popped right back on.
I kind of closed my eyes when I heard the THUMP, but Beau said the young buck flipped in the air, stuck the landing and ran off, so I didn’t feel too bad.
We drove back the way we came, just to make sure it wasn’t laying in the road or anything, and then on THAT return, there was a doe waiting in the weeds at the EXACT SAME SPOT where I hit the young buck - but she stayed put.
Glad you’re OK. Hitting animals can be a BIG DEAL.
Well I took my car to the body shop this morning and got an estimate of $1,050. So the damage was not that terrible. Definitely the grill and bumper cover needs replacing. They will disassemble the entire bumper later on to look for additional damage. Also, the front camera was knocked out of place but still working otherwise.
So all in all, was very lucky with this deer collision. Usually damage is much worse with injuries as well.
When I went to the city I used to get on 95 until I couldn’t go anymore then take whatever train station I was near.
I could make it to Southport or Westport sometimes.
Then parking. I’m getting anxiety recalling it. Lord it sucks.
Then my friend got an apartment near the Fairfield station and my life changed.
God bless ya man.
Got me 8 total confirmed deer kills. 6 in my old 4Runner. Life in Western Nevada is full of critters on the road.
I’d pay cash or fix it yourself and keep the insurance company out of it.
I believe at least here in MA you will have to pay a surcharge for a few years on a collision accident.
Two stories, both probably not as exciting as some of the others.
1. Three weeks ago on I-72 just east of Monticello, Illinois, on the way to men’s Bible Class in the first week of Daylight Saving time, I caught sight of a deer in the passing lane (headlights on dim). Too late to do anything and the deer seemed to kind of aimed the other direction. Thought I was clear. Bang - Tinkle!!! (1984 Toyota pickup bought from widow next door after she retired and because of health reasons moved nearer to her son & family.) Driver’s side mirror was gone. Replacement = $18 from Partsgeek. Don’t know what price the deer paid.
2. A few years ago at the end of my morning run while approaching my turn off on the sidewalk by the street past the high school, a small deer came by running by from my back on the same sidwalk. It ran into the street, across the empty traffic lane on our right and into oncoming traffic. I was hit and knocked down. Being a school zone and near the turn off to the school, traffic was slow and the car stopped. The deer got up and quickly left the area between the houses on the other side of the street. As far as I know, all was good.
In Connecticut there are no points assigned for collision with deer, at least that’s what my insurance company told me. Not considered an “at-fault” accident.
We also had the, ‘Three Deer and a Steer Year.’ Within the space of four weeks Beau hit two deer on his way to work in the wee hours. Both times the cops said he could take the deer. He drives a battle tank of an F350 truck, so no damage.
Then, when he got to work one morning that same month and a co-worker had hit a deer on the way in, too. He was so p*ssed, because his was a BRAND NEW truck, that he threw the dead deer into the back, and then gave that one to Beau. (All three deer were made into dog food for the hunting dogs.)
Then, again, that same month, Beau rounded a corner and there was a half-grown steer in the road, and of course, he hit it. Fencing had broken. He checked with the farmer who had insurance on the animals and he gave Beau the steer.
We butchered and ate that one and shared a little with the dogs. ;)
Right you are.
But even with only one 'S' I still consider Douglas county
to be the most beautiful place I've ever lived.
And there have been quite a few.
I prefer Coos, but it is a coast vs. mountains thing.
Hey, I like the coast also.
I spent many a pleasant hour on Heceta Head beach.
Lovely place.
Road Rats. They are nothing but Road Rats.
I’ve never hit a deer and I’m in deer country, can’t say that about feral hogs. A big one will launch a small vehicle. I’ve hit 3 but they well all with a truck. The smaller ones tend to go under but the big one’s 200 lb + will send you flying.
A deer here in Nashville lept into the highway and went through the windshield killing a 14 year old girl. I didn’t know her.
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