Scoot 0, Deer 0 - Whew....

BigJohn · 08-11-2005

This past weekend Naomi took Miss N and I for a little weekend excursion over the North Cascade Highway (US20). Saturday was uneventful ending in Winthrop, WA...Sunday morning was a whole different story.

We woke up early (about 5:00 AM), got cleaned up and on the road by 6:00 AM headed towards Chelan to spend the day on the Lady of the Lake II. While gassing up at edge of Winthrop a local was insistent that we watch out of deer on the road. ....Yeh, yeh, yeh... Should'a taken it more seriously when we watched Bambi and Bambi, Jr. sauntering across the parking lot of the grocery store...

Long story even longer...we were about 12-13 miles out of town on Hwy-20 watching the sun starting to come up behind the hills off to the left. The road has gentle turns, marked for 55 or so, on the left is a broad valley with a nice river flowing through it, there is a galvanized guard rail on the left side of the road protecting you form a drop off of some 30 to 50 feet. There is a vertical embankment on the right. About this time a car is approaching from the front. Can you guess what happened next?

Bambi Sr comes bounding up from the valley/river bed, over the guardrail and right in front of us and the on coming car. I see the deer when he, yes it was a he...materializes in the left lane making a dash across the road. On the binders, front and rear, swerve left/right, stay upright, count hairs on rump of the worlds largest white tail buck, and avoid becoming a hood ornament for a white Toyota. I can still hear the scraping sound of four hooves slipping on the pavement, the smell of frightened buck, and see the individual hairs on his rump....

I have seen and swerved to avoid deer before. But, never have I been close enough to hear, touch and smell one while riding. We could a' smacked him on the a** as we went by.

On the return trip that evening I saw a sign in the village of Mathow. It states that hunters took over 1,100 deer out of that valley alone last year. Doesn't say how many were hit by cars/motorcycles.

Lessons learned? Yep...a bunch of 'em.

1. When you see a deer sauntering across the parking lot in town, be cautions. There WILL be others.

2. In early morning and evening BACK off the twisty thing...that 55 or 60 MPH sign is the MAXIMUM speed limit. It's OK to go slower.

3. When there is a valley and/or rive on either side, back off and be extra observant/ready to stop/maneuver. They are there and they are waiting to get you.

4. Deer don't understand that they shouldn't cross over guard rails...

5. Deer can magically appear on the roadway.

6. Beware of "confined spaces" on the road way. Large animals, cars/trucks and motorcycles need room to maneuver.

7. Be especially cautious in the early morning and evenings.

8. US-20 has LOTS of deer...

9. Washington white tails are REALLY big....

The good side is that Miss N, myself and Naomi made it through the experience without damage.

oophie2 · 08-11-2005

Glad to hear you made it thru alright, it just goes to show you have to be prepared for any thing, Mother nature doesn't care if you are on two or four wheels.I to had a close call with one of her animals, no not a deer,but a black bear, nothing scares you more than the thought of hiiting it ,probably get his attn, or make him mad

BigJohn · 08-11-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by oophie2

Glad to hear you made it thru alright, it just goes to show you have to be prepared for any thing, Mother nature doesn't care if you are on two or four wheels.I to had a close call with one of her animals, no not a deer,but a black bear, nothing scares you more than the thought of hiiting it ,probably get his attn, or make him mad

Remind me to telly ou about one of my trips through Yellowstone, one of these days....

oophie2 · 08-11-2005

As long as it has a happy ending,go ahead

*trikebubble* · 08-11-2005

Good to hear a truce was called between you and the deer without casualty.
You are tight, there are a lot of deer on/around/part of the Highways in that part of Washington. We see what seems like an inordanite number of roadkill every time we head south of the border.
One of the problems is the quantity of orchards and vineyards that border the highways.

**Spok** · 08-11-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Remind me to telly ou about one of my trips through Yellowstone, one of these days....

I'm sure I have no idea what your are talking about John

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...e/DSCF2793.jpg

oophie2 · 08-11-2005

Even up here we have alot of trouble with deer,they say they try to get out in the open to get rid of the bugs,DNR(DO NOTHING RIGHT) I say they just want to scare the sh** out of you

tnhunter · 08-11-2005

There is a place in this world for all of God's creatures....................Right next to the mash potatoes I believe!!!

oophie2 · 08-11-2005

the only bad thought about that is if you hit one of GODS creatures on a bikedoing any speed you'll be mashed potatoes

tnhunter · 08-11-2005

Yes, but if more people would let me hunt those little killer deer there would be less of them out there trying to take you out....

Wanted: Hunter needs place to hunt.

oophie2 · 08-11-2005

Can't argue with that.But instead of dodging deer, We'd be dodging bullets,I think deer are easier to see

BamaBob · 08-11-2005

Glad your story had a happy ending BigJohn! A guy I knew hit a deer in his Ford F250 pickup truck on Highway 64 in Tennessee two years ago. He and his son and nephew were returning from work in Winchester, TN, where he owned a boat manufacturing plant. It was right at sundown and a huge buck jumped a 6 ft. fence and land ed right in front of his truck, turned towards the truck and jumped right through the windshield and decapitated him. It was awful. That truck looked like it had hit a solid rock wall! Imagine what it would do to a motorcycle.

The Vol-can · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by spok

I'm sure I have no idea what your are talking about John

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...e/DSCF2793.jpg

That there be one heckuva lotta bull....in Hayden Valley, it appears?? Course, wouldn't expect one of those to come leaping over a guardrail anytime soon, would you?

**Spok** · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penguin

That there be one heckuva lotta bull....in Hayden Valley, it appears?? Course, wouldn't expect one of those to come leaping over a guardrail anytime soon, would you?

funny thing about this picture. that is Whistle Clean there with the buffalo, i am obviously behind taking the picture. Well, in the leadup to the red lodge trip this year, we spoke of buffalo alot and turns out that lone bulls are like guard dogs to the herd & such and don't like to be startled by loud noises.

Big cruisers have loud pipes...Cary fired up his 1500 and mr bull buffalo lifted his head, snuffed out a big grumph thru his nose and looked at him with dissastifaction. Cary pulled along and rode off and left the miffed buffalo there, I start up MY bike and it rumbles to life and mr buffalo looks at me with anger in his dark eyes....

time to go......

**2WheelFun** · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by spok

funny thing about this picture. that is Whistle Clean there with the buffalo, i am obviously behind taking the picture. Well, in the leadup to the red lodge trip this year, we spoke of buffalo alot and turns out that lone bulls are like guard dogs to the herd & such and don't like to be startled by loud noises.

Big cruisers have loud pipes...Cary fired up his 1500 and mr bull buffalo lifted his head, snuffed out a big grumph thru his nose and looked at him with dissastifaction. Cary pulled along and rode off and left the miffed buffalo there, I start up MY bike and it rumbles to life and mr buffalo looks at me with anger in his dark eyes....

time to go......

And that ain't no bull...

*ispeed77* · 08-12-2005

looks like a nice list of lessons John, glad to hear it ended nicely

BigJohn · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ispeed77

looks like a nice list of lessons John, glad to hear it ended nicely

For us it did end well. During that ride we must have seen over 40 deer. About another 15 miles down the highway we encountered a doe and two fawns crossing the road. Fortunately, I had enough time to slow down and watch the back fawn stop and do that "deer in the headlight" thing. They are incredaably stupid creatures, when it comes to motor vehicles.

I believe that that valley has one of the highest deer populations in the country.

The attached photo is a graphic example of the damage that a deer can do to a vehicle. Not pretty....Somewhere, I also have a photo of a moose doing the same trick.

**Spok** · 08-12-2005

thats some photo john

1400pilot · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by spok

thats some photo john

I have seen the whole series of that deer/dodge wreck and may I say very graphic, seems, if I remember right the deer jumped off an overpass to the road below just when said durango was traveling under it,

*ispeed77* · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohn

For us it did end well. During that ride we must have seen over 40 deer. About another 15 miles down the highway we encountered a doe and two fawns crossing the road. Fortunately, I had enough time to slow down and watch the back fawn stop and do that "deer in the headlight" thing. They are incredaably stupid creatures, when it comes to motor vehicles.

I believe that that valley has one of the highest deer populations in the country.

The attached photo is a graphic example of the damage that a deer can do to a vehicle. Not pretty....Somewhere, I also have a photo of a moose doing the same trick.

that is definitely a nice ending. yeah, they are pretty stupid when it comes to cars. i know when NYcruiser and i were riding through Wyoming at night we were watching like hawks for Deer. at first i was more concerned with Buffalo, but then he pointed out that at least the Buffalo are less likely to move and you can go around them, as opposed to the Deer that you never know where they are going to go. i started thinking more about the Deer !

08-11-2005	#1 (permalink)
BigJohn Power Hungry V2K Rider Forum Supporter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Posts: 6,393	Scoot 0, Deer 0 - Whew.... This past weekend Naomi took Miss N and I for a little weekend excursion over the North Cascade Highway (US20). Saturday was uneventful ending in Winthrop, WA...Sunday morning was a whole different story. We woke up early (about 5:00 AM), got cleaned up and on the road by 6:00 AM headed towards Chelan to spend the day on the Lady of the Lake II. While gassing up at edge of Winthrop a local was insistent that we watch out of deer on the road. ....Yeh, yeh, yeh... Should'a taken it more seriously when we watched Bambi and Bambi, Jr. sauntering across the parking lot of the grocery store... Long story even longer...we were about 12-13 miles out of town on Hwy-20 watching the sun starting to come up behind the hills off to the left. The road has gentle turns, marked for 55 or so, on the left is a broad valley with a nice river flowing through it, there is a galvanized guard rail on the left side of the road protecting you form a drop off of some 30 to 50 feet. There is a vertical embankment on the right. About this time a car is approaching from the front. Can you guess what happened next? Bambi Sr comes bounding up from the valley/river bed, over the guardrail and right in front of us and the on coming car. I see the deer when he, yes it was a he...materializes in the left lane making a dash across the road. On the binders, front and rear, swerve left/right, stay upright, count hairs on rump of the worlds largest white tail buck, and avoid becoming a hood ornament for a white Toyota. I can still hear the scraping sound of four hooves slipping on the pavement, the smell of frightened buck, and see the individual hairs on his rump.... I have seen and swerved to avoid deer before. But, never have I been close enough to hear, touch and smell one while riding. We could a' smacked him on the a** as we went by. On the return trip that evening I saw a sign in the village of Mathow. It states that hunters took over 1,100 deer out of that valley alone last year. Doesn't say how many were hit by cars/motorcycles. Lessons learned? Yep...a bunch of 'em. 1. When you see a deer sauntering across the parking lot in town, be cautions. There WILL be others. 2. In early morning and evening BACK off the twisty thing...that 55 or 60 MPH sign is the MAXIMUM speed limit. It's OK to go slower. 3. When there is a valley and/or rive on either side, back off and be extra observant/ready to stop/maneuver. They are there and they are waiting to get you. 4. Deer don't understand that they shouldn't cross over guard rails... 5. Deer can magically appear on the roadway. 6. Beware of "confined spaces" on the road way. Large animals, cars/trucks and motorcycles need room to maneuver. 7. Be especially cautious in the early morning and evenings. 8. US-20 has LOTS of deer... 9. Washington white tails are REALLY big.... The good side is that Miss N, myself and Naomi made it through the experience without damage. __________________ '00 Nomad '06 V2K LT Because RED is the fastest color... Last edited by BigJohn : 08-11-2005 at 05:50 PM.

08-11-2005	#5 (permalink)
trikebubble Slow Guy on a Fast Bike Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Okanagan Falls, BC Posts: 22,557	Good to hear a truce was called between you and the deer without casualty. You are tight, there are a lot of deer on/around/part of the Highways in that part of Washington. We see what seems like an inordanite number of roadkill every time we head south of the border. One of the problems is the quantity of orchards and vineyards that border the highways. __________________ 08 Midnite Sapphire Blue ZX-14

08-11-2005	#8 (permalink)
tnhunter Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville "music city" Posts: 1,320	There is a place in this world for all of God's creatures....................Right next to the mash potatoes I believe!!! __________________ 87 vn1500b 88se Jardine pipes stage 1 jet 87 Gl1200I Goldwing load up, head out.

08-11-2005	#10 (permalink)
tnhunter Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville "music city" Posts: 1,320	Yes, but if more people would let me hunt those little killer deer there would be less of them out there trying to take you out.... Wanted: Hunter needs place to hunt. __________________ 87 vn1500b 88se Jardine pipes stage 1 jet 87 Gl1200I Goldwing load up, head out.

08-11-2005	#12 (permalink)
BamaBob 2008 HD Ultra Classic Forum Supporter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Meridianville, Alabama Posts: 6,779	Glad your story had a happy ending BigJohn! A guy I knew hit a deer in his Ford F250 pickup truck on Highway 64 in Tennessee two years ago. He and his son and nephew were returning from work in Winchester, TN, where he owned a boat manufacturing plant. It was right at sundown and a huge buck jumped a 6 ft. fence and land ed right in front of his truck, turned towards the truck and jumped right through the windshield and decapitated him. It was awful. That truck looked like it had hit a solid rock wall! Imagine what it would do to a motorcycle. __________________ BamaBob *BTK Womens Azz Size Study Rep, U.S. Dept. of Posterior* Last edited by BamaBob : 08-11-2005 at 10:07 PM.

08-11-2005	#2 (permalink)
oophie2 Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Spooner,Wi Posts: 44	Glad to hear you made it thru alright, it just goes to show you have to be prepared for any thing, Mother nature doesn't care if you are on two or four wheels.I to had a close call with one of her animals, no not a deer,but a black bear, nothing scares you more than the thought of hiiting it ,probably get his attn, or make him mad

08-11-2005	#4 (permalink)
oophie2 Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Spooner,Wi Posts: 44	As long as it has a happy ending,go ahead

08-11-2005	#7 (permalink)
oophie2 Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Spooner,Wi Posts: 44	Even up here we have alot of trouble with deer,they say they try to get out in the open to get rid of the bugs,DNR(DO NOTHING RIGHT) I say they just want to scare the sh** out of you

08-11-2005	#9 (permalink)
oophie2 Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Spooner,Wi Posts: 44	the only bad thought about that is if you hit one of GODS creatures on a bikedoing any speed you'll be mashed potatoes

08-11-2005	#11 (permalink)
oophie2 Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Spooner,Wi Posts: 44	Can't argue with that.But instead of dodging deer, We'd be dodging bullets,I think deer are easier to see

08-12-2005	#16 (permalink)
ispeed77 RIP Deron Harden :-( Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Gardner, MA Posts: 32,523	looks like a nice list of lessons John, glad to hear it ended nicely __________________ David - Moderator 2002 Suzuki DRZ400 2003 1500 Meanie, scraping pipes and frame :-) In loving memory of Deron Harden, forever in our thoughts :-(

08-12-2005	#18 (permalink)
Spok RIP Deron - 1400Pilot Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mount Vernon, Washington Posts: 36,673	thats some photo john __________________ AUGUST 2006 MOM In Memory of Deron Harden - 1400 Pilot. You are missed. Official Cup Holder Inspection Officer

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