I've dodged (no pun intended) several deer and escaped with nary a scratch.
Until today! I never saw her coming. The only sight of this grown doe was after impact when she skated just under the passenger door mirror next to the glass. I was traveling at 45MPH so I expected minimal damage, but as you can see I was wrong. I was pulling an empty 4x8 enclosed trailer so it took me 90-100 feet to get stopped. She must have been running at full gallop at impact. Poor animal was torn nearly in half.
Nat

 

God is telling you to hang steel on the front of your truck. A six hundred dollar steel bumper would have saved you its cost plus some depending on your deductable! Good luck.

 

Where are the pictures of the critter??

 

Ouch.
Bet that hurt (the dear, anyway). Glad you're oK.

Where I live, I see deer crossing the highway 'bout once/week and that was one reason for the winch and grill guard - I'd like to think that if I have no choice and have to hit one, it would be front and center - the winch carrier I'm told acts as a tenderizer for the venison...I've seen all kinds of road kill and unfortunately most vehicles (and drivers) take the brunt of it.

Hopefully, the moose will keep off the roads this winter. They really do spoil the day - especially if you drive a compact.

 

I totally agree, from experience, don't try and dodge them, you'll just break your turn signals and ruin a $400 fender. Hit front center and pray you bought a quality built grill guard. And don't hit your brakes at the last second, it will just dive the front of your truck and you'll be also buying a new windshield.

 

I hit one doing 80+ mph in the old truck chevy a few years ago. Thank god they put real bumpers on back then. Insurance company says hit the deer, don't try avoiding it. She was at a full run hit her on the front passenger/door side also. Make sure the insurance company can plainly see it was a deer you hit.

 

I have been planning on a Ranchhand for several months now.....and will have some OT coming on my next check.........I gotta do it.

Sorry about your truck! That is definately gonna cost some bucks. But thanks for your motivation to get it done.

 

Yeah, out the $500 deduct. Farm Bureau told me to pick a body shop and get it done. The body shop promised to have parts in day after tomorrow. The body shop estimator said, fortunately no air bags to replace. There's deer dung from one end of the truck to the other.
Nat

 

Don't they sell whistles to keep deer away?

 

Yes they are going to miss her.

 

Yep, had that happen to a '79 stepside GMC I used to own. Luckily, it came away w/ alot less damage than that.

WARNING: Rut is coming on, so deer get stupid this time of year. Especially a buck that follows a running doe across the highway... they won't even notice the car or truck about to smear them across the road.

 

Good one Kauai!

 

How about ROAD ARMOR?

 

Loud pipes save lives. I see approximately 20 deer per night, they are very, very thick here. I only drive 6 miles to the house and see at least that many every night. The key to keeping deer away is to make noise. Those whistles do not work. Loud exhausts, honking the horn, even loud tires like Boggers will scare a deer away before you even see them. Also, don't use your brights, keep the lights low... or if you see a deer, go to low beam and honk your horn several times, or romp on the exhaust.

That Road Armor bumper is gawdy. I can't even see the truck behind those bars. I have the stealth series on my 01 Ram but I also have 16 inches of lift and 44's. IMO, it takes a big truck to make those bumpers look normal. They are freaking huge. But yeah, no deer would ever screw up the front of your truck!

 

Road Armor! WOW. Great Scot! How much does that thing weigh?
Nat
...but if the doe is in rut and being chased by a buck it'll rush headlong into the side of anything, even if it makes lots of noise me thinks.