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I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 5:37 pm
by Sir Henry
I was on my way to get my eyes checked this morning when I hit a deer. I didn’t see it coming and my first knowledge of it was when the airbags deployed. I hit the deer broadside from the cars front end.

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All the airbags deployed and blocked my view for several seconds. It didn’t really slow me down so I steered straight while braking briskly. I couldn’t hear for a few minutes and stumbled because my equilibrium was shot. Then ten minutes later I was fine. A passerby disposed of the deer which was still alive and the deputy gave him a slip saying it was road kill.
The deputy told me it was his third call in 30 minutes along a one mile stretch. I’ll remember that place.
I called a friend and continued on to my eye appointment. My cataracts are so bad I was told not to drive till after my scheduled January 12th surgery. This getting old sure inst fun.

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I took a picture of the yearling doe but chose not to post it.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 5:59 pm
by RetiredSeabee
Man that deer made a mess out of your car. A neighbor tried to avoid hitting a deer several years ago. It was raining hard and she slammed on the brakes. Lost control and rolled the Bronco. The deputy advised her to just hit the deer if it ever happens again.
Hope you have as much improvement in your vision as I have with my left eye. Still waiting for the right eye to be done January 2nd. Lopsided vision is getting on my nerves.
Absolutely agree that this getting old is…..well, getting old.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:00 pm
by cooperhawk
Damn Gene, I didn't you cheese heads had a auto hunting season over there.
I'm glad you're OK.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:21 pm
by Sir Henry
RetiredSeabee wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 5:59 pm
Man that deer made a mess out of your car. A neighbor tried to avoid hitting a deer several years ago. It was raining hard and she slammed on the brakes. Lost control and rolled the Bronco. The deputy advised her to just hit the deer if it ever happens again.
Hope you have as much improvement in your vision as I have with my left eye. Still waiting for the right eye to be done January 2nd. Lopsided vision is getting on my nerves.
Absolutely agree that this getting old is…..well, getting old.
I’ve been told the same thing about hitting a deer. Brake hard and steer straight. Keep us posted on your surgery. I’ve been following that thread.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:23 pm
by Sir Henry
cooperhawk wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:00 pm
Damn Gene, I didn't you cheese heads had a auto hunting season over there.
I'm glad you're OK.
It lasts from January to December.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:36 pm
by JEBar
sorry to hear a deer attacked your car .... I've been there and done that a couple of times .... in short. I didn't hit those deer, they hit me .... also been in cataracts surgery twice (once in each eye) .... hope you recover from both quickly and completely
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 7:54 pm
by markiver54
Wow...glad you're ok!
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:05 pm
by Headhog
Glad to hear you came through this fine. Cars can be fixed or replaced and usually fairly quickly. Us mortal folks, on the other hand, take time to repair and cannot be replaced.
Paul
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:27 pm
by Shakey Jake
Glad you're okay! I'm sure your insurance will treat you right but it still sucks!
Jake
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:40 pm
by brm4450
Glad you are ok, I’ve had this thought: when your hunting deer, they belong to the state but hit one with a vehicle, it is your deer
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:59 pm
by BrokenolMarine
Sorry to hear it happened to you Sir. We have hit a number of them over the years. Totaled the little Festiva hitting a 14 point buck back in the early 90s, then whacked one with one of the old frontiers, but I had a nice brush guard on the front and only the deer got banged up. Back around 2015 Tina got HIT by a deer that was being chased by a pack if illegally run dogs. It ran into the side of the 2010 Titan in the right front quarter panel and rolled the full right side of the truck. $8,000 in damage. Truck was out of commission for about five weeks waiting on parts.
Deer jumped up, shook her head, and ran off. Dogs in hot pursuit. No problem with insurance, there was hair, poo, and damage down the side of the truck. She didn't miss a panel on the right side. We have been saying we were going to put brush guards on both the Nissan's but haven't yet.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:43 pm
by clovishound
I was on my way to get my eyes checked this morning when I hit a deer. I didn’t see it coming
Glad it was only the Subaru and the deer that took damage.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:55 pm
by Sir Henry
clovishound wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:43 pm
I was on my way to get my eyes checked this morning when I hit a deer. I didn’t see it coming
Glad it was only the Subaru and the deer that took damage.
I went over to the deer and apologized for hitting it. I wish I could retrieve the footage from the camera as I never saw it coming and when hit I had zero visibility. My main concern was to not cross the center line. It took a few seconds for the airbag smoke to clear and I was hoping it was only a deer that I hit. Then I couldn’t exit the car and had to slide out all while hoping no car was coming. Once outside I looked for what I hit and sure enough it was a deer. It appeared to be unharmed yet wasn’t moving and barely breathing.
Odd thing is I wasn’t alone. I know of four other people that hit a deer this morning.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:19 am
by Sir Henry
PJM wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 5:54 am
Back in the 90;s had a doe come through my windshield at 50 mph. Never touched brakes. Bent steering wheel and only the front roll bar saved me from a broken neck. Not fun,my sympathies.
It’s no fun at all. Worst part for me is the doctor told me I can’t drive because I don’t meet state DOL vision requirements. January 12th please hurry up and get here.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:37 am
by cooperhawk
Sir Henry wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:19 am
It’s no fun at all. Worst part for me is the doctor told me I can’t drive because I don’t meet state DOL vision requirements. January 12th please hurry up and get here.
Gene, I wish I lived closer so I could help you out but now you'll find that all the kindness you've shown to your new neighbors will pay off.
My guess is all you have to do is ask.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:52 am
by GunnyGene
Lot of damage on your car. The old 1950's land yachts didn't suffer nearly as much damage from a deer strike.

Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:55 am
by Hatchdog
Wow, when those airbags went off it must have been frightening and disorienting. Happy you didn’t suffer any injuries other than the shock of the event.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:03 am
by Redthies
Sir Henry wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:55 pm
I wasn’t alone. I know of four other people that hit a deer this morning.
Around my place, you can see big blood stains on the highway pretty much every morning. We have elk and moose as well as bears, white tail and mule deer. I’ve had a couple of close calls, but (touches wood while typing) not hit one yet. I’ve hit black ice and birds, but nothing worth eating.
Glad you’re ok Gene! Bigger truck with a proper bumper (ARB or similar) is the way to go in deer country. My wife doesn’t like the looks of the big bumpers, but they are life/vehicle savers.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:26 am
by clovishound
GunnyGene wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:52 am
Lot of damage on your car. The old 1950's land yachts didn't suffer nearly as much damage from a deer strike.
True, but the occupants didn't fare nearly as well in an accident as they do in modern vehicles. In a bad accident, I don't really care about the car, I care about the people in it. Not sure how much crumple zones and air bags help in a deer strike, but they really make a huge difference in car vs car/tree/bridge/etc. FTR, deer kill more people in North America than any other animal, mainly due to being hit by vehicles.
Re: I hit a deer.
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 11:55 am
by Sir Henry
cooperhawk wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:37 am
Sir Henry wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:19 am
It’s no fun at all. Worst part for me is the doctor told me I can’t drive because I don’t meet state DOL vision requirements. January 12th please hurry up and get here.
Gene, I wish I lived closer so I could help you out but now you'll find that all the kindness you've shown to your new neighbors will pay off.
My guess is all you have to do is ask.
Thanks. I’ve already gotten offers from three women and two men. I transport five people to their appointments and another five to outings so now I’m getting paid back.