Hitting Deer or Other Animals

Ive had to do it a couple of times. I mostly drive at night and the 1st month by myslf I hit 5 deer. 2 were at once but I was also in the north east and I dont know if its just me but I swear I see more deer and a little bit of everything else in the north east. When I was in Arizona a few weeks ago a horse got loose and was walking in the road. Alot of people didnt seem to care and I may not care to much about a deer but a horse I wouldnt even try. I was actually only one bold enough to go up to the horse and walk him to a safe area. For some reason I will hit a deer but to be honest if a dog a horse or a cat walked across the road I would try to safely avoid if i could probably bc I have pets.

 

You'll be just as dead if you wreck avoiding a pet and just as liable if you leave your lane and cuse damage or injury to someone else .

 

I agree if you are on a busy highway, I will slow down if it means I can avoid damage to my truck, my deductable is high so I don't want to make a habit of hitting things. I am not saying to slam on the brakes or anything but if I can slow down I will, I have hit alot of deer, bears, wolves, coyotes, all kinds of animals and I will hit the animal if I have to, I will never, ever swerve to avoid hitting something, even cars, I am not going to put my truck in the ditch over an animal

I run a lot on hwy 11 up in northern Ontatio, and it is full of moose, and they are all over the road at night and it is so dark up there you won't see it until you are on it , I have seen what a moose can do to a truck so I have moose bumpers and big bright spotlights on my trucks, I aim the spotlights at the sides of the road so hopefully I might see the moose in time to be able to avoid major damage.

 

On 11 I worry more about the TransX drivers than I do about wildlife

 

I agree, especially when it snows, those guys scare me more than anything up there,

 

I've bounced more deer than I care to count off my trailer. Moose, Elk, Cows I will serve to avoid. The first animal I hit in the semi was a pheasent, hit the A in MACK and took out the entire grill. Thankfully the company had gravel shields behind the grill or it would have take out the intercooler.

My '00 Mack, truck was a month old and I hit a baby deer (about the size of a great dane) on US287 on the So. side of Hugo. Bounced him off, bent the heck out of my left bumper piece. The #### thing got revenge though, after I hit him he ended up laying in the NB lane with his front feet up in the air. A NB Dick Simon (a blast from the past) hit the carcass, one of the upended legs busted his cross-over line off.

Same truck, we used to do two week runs back and forth from from Denver to Ulysess, Ks twice a year. I used to wipe out starlings by the dozens everyday, in one instance I think I killed 30 to 40 of them, my grill, hood, windshield and roof were covered with feathers and blood. Also wiped out 2 owls, a hawk, and several rabbits.

The worst one, I almost took out a bald eagle, that would not have been good. It was feeding on a moose carcass on the side of the road. As I approached, he lifted off, we were side by side. My only thought, if he makes a hard left he's coming through the windshield, and I'm going out the drivers door (I was doing 75 mph), becuase there is no way in hell I'm sharing the cab of a semi with a pissed off bald eagle.

 

I'd be jumpin' right after you, Striker.

I met a driver in Salt Lick, Utah who had the scars on his arm to show what his encounter with a pizzed-off Baldie was like. He related how that eagle came outta nowhere and crashed through his windshield, --- winding up in his bunk. He figured the impact killed it, but he was mistaken. It was just stunned, and began flappin' it's wings and tearing at him with talons and beak. He was barely able to get pulled over and stopped, at which time he bailed and left the eagle in the Big truck.

He called his company and informed them what happened and the company took it from there. Soon thereafter, the highway patrol arrived, followed by deputy sheriffs, a game warden and and some federal so-and-so accompanied by a Native American.
Between them all, they managed to capture the wounded eagle, and even cleaned up all the feathers from inside the Big truck interior.

He said he figured it'd be cool to keep a feather as a reminder, and asked for one. That's when he was informed that it's against the law to be in possession of any Bald Eagle feathers, ...... unless you're a Native American.
So, all he has as a reminder are the scars on his arm.

A Bald Eagle is definitely not a bird y'all wanna run into.

 

do those little deer whistles that you stick on your front bumpers work at all?

 

Well, let me answer it this way,
when I hit Bambi Buck during rutting season in Kansas, he broke one of the deer whistles off my right front fender.
For all I know, that's what he was aiming for.

My advice?
Save your money.

 

I had a road rage incident this year when I was loaded, saw a farmers hand coming across the median very slowly pulling a field hopper to turn onto the highway. There was a large dog (obviously knew the person driving because he kept jumping up at the drivers side door) following him. I started slowing down thinking "just my luck the dog will cross the highway..." and he did. I hit him with my right front tire and saw him roll in my mirror obviously hurt bad he took off across the field. I came to a stop, the guy still coming my way slowly and he was actually laughing. By then I was standing on the steps of my truck and just couldnt believe he was laughing!!??? I gave him the one finger wave, I'm sure he could read on my lips too.

What's wrong with people these days? I've never, ever been so angry in my entire, on top of being very tired. it wasnt a good combination. I'm thankful he didn't stop that day................