i need opinions here. i ride ocala nat forest a lot. mid day bike week i came within feet of hitting a deer (unfortunatley a few days later one of us died in the forest after hitting a deer). i will probably install a deer whistle (cant hurt-may not help) and of course slow down but i was wondering bout use of my air horns.i would not use a horn if i saw one on the side of the road for fear of spooking it into my path but what do u think of giving the horns a good blast every mile or so on the worst stretch of the ride???

 

Ever hear the word motorcyclist use all the time, Risk !. Pray before hopping on your bike, take your chances, pay attention and ride defensively.

Air Horn, Deer Whistles or any other devices you can think of won't work at all. Basically, Deer's got a mind of it's own...Like if it wants to go on a Suicide Mission.

I work for NYSDOT. There's no such thing as the worst stretch of the ride/road cuz deer moves around frantically all over the place.

Deer's our worst enemy,

Thorey

 

Save your energy as far as blowing the horn....
I live in rural Tennessee (Florida Transplant) and will tell you that deer are most active early morning,and late afternoon thru dark and in to the night. Best advice Slow down they have a mind of their own. I have an encounter with them dogs,possum, racoon's and a slew of every thing under the sun,on a daily basis Hope this helps Put a rabbit foot on your key chain for good luck

 

I am always happy to see a dead deer on the side of the road. I feel for who ever hit it, but its one more that I don't have to deal with.

I live in the Ozarks, nice ridding but deer are everywere!

 

The deer population has exploded in the area I live in the last 15 years or so. One thing I have learned is that in the fall during the rut, there isn't much you can do to avoid hitting a buck deer other than ride a little slower and be more alert. He will ignore your horn, the pipes or anything else if he is tracking a doe in heat.

It is just as bad in the spring when the fawns are born. The does leave the fawns for the first few weeks of their life while the doe goes out to feed. When a doe gets the feeling she needs to get back to her fawn, she makes a hard straight path back to it.

Without the rut or the fawns involved, you at least have a chance the deer will pay attention to their surroundings and try to avoid you. No matter how careful you are, there is always going to be that chance of a collision with a deer or another animal, car, etc.

Dennis

 

that's why they have the deer crossing sign..they only cross there NOT! I ride in the Sam Houston National Forrest a lot and there are a ton of deer. Dawn and dusk/night are the worst times so I try to not ride at those times. Also, you have to keep an sharp eye out, look far enough in advance to see if there's anything but most of all pray!

 

gotta thank a tree hugger

 

Hey Relli
I was riding on 42 heading towards 441 last weekend and know how you feel. Wife and I rode from St. Augustine down to Clerement via 19 then 27. Was detoured due to the forest fire and was redirected to 314 from 19 South. Heard of Cactus Jacks but had never been there.Getting diverted or lost has it's rewards. Great Bloody Mary.
About 3 miles from 19 and 314, I came across a flock of those damn Turkey buzzards/vulturs dining on the side of the road.
I have stock exhaust but I guess this was enough for them to spook.
I'll be damned if they dont have Kamikazi blood in em! I came so close to one that did a mid air U-turn that I could see the mites on it's azz. I guess it goes with the territory. I feel your frustration because I ride through there alot myself.
This encounter slowed me down significantly. From about 55/60 to 40/45.
See ya at Cactus Jacks one day! Let me know if the air horn blasts work.

 

I hit a deer a few years ago. I even had a deer whistle on my bike that my insurance company gave me. I knew it wouldn't help, but stuck it on anyway....Just in case. LOL...Let me tell you there was no time for horn blowing, yelling, screaming, flashing lights or any other tactic. That sucker was right there. Right then. I also hit him during at the time you expect it.....In July. In the middle of the afternoon.

 

here ya go...watch this video...it repeats and gets slower...check out the guy coming towards the camera...deer goes over his head....I personally would have had to change my underwear and jeans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6VS6qsLJeY