What the **** ! (deer behavior tip)

[ejshotgun]

Very scary, glad you made it ok.
Got to agree w/what was already mentioned always more afraid of someone behind running over you.
Lots of critters around here. At night, another thing to keep in mind is, you keep a look out for shinning objects on the side of the road this usually means some sort of animal is there (it's there eyes shinning).

[The549]

Here are some stories that didn't turn out so well:

Motorcycle vs. Sheep

BMW K75 vs. Deer

I only got a chance to read the first one, but that sheep story is damn funny!

[p00tRulz]

kind of makes you wonder how good of a leader the first deer was if he gave the all clear with you coming up on him.

[andrwhock]

I'm glad all you you made it out without a scratch, that could have been potentially devastating. Thanks for the heads up about the behavior. Deer are not unheard of in my area so I'll definitely be aware of the look back should I come across one in my travels.

[warren]

They definitely won't always look back and I have even seen the same deer dart back across the road. You should always slow down when passing any type of wildlife on the road.

[HP12C_Guy]

I had a close encounter with an elk last winter while driving in the Colorado mountains. I was driving a mini-van at the time rather than a bike, but those elk are so dang big that if I'd hit him it would have totalled the van. Scared the daylights outta me.

[RocketGirl]

it will be pretty much the same for any pack or herd animal, if you see one there are more. glad you didn't find out the hard way though.

This might be a silly question, but I'll ask it anyway. We have deer here too, but driving around in my car I've encounter more geese and ducks crossing the roads in this area. Are they just as hazardous as the larger animals when they cross as a group like that? Should I just plow through rather than risk having a driver run into the back of me?

[Lion_Lady]

I ride regularly thru wooded parkland and suburbia. At dawn/dusk when deer seem to be most active.

A couple things I've learned about their 'crossing habits.' USUALLY:

1. If they're standing in/near cover, and there's little on the other side, they'll stay were they are.

2. If they're standing in an open area, and there's cover on the other side, they'll cross.

3. If they're more than a couple bounds from the edge of the road, they'll stay put.

4. A group of deer will usually stay together. One/a few will cross to join others.

5. In spring and summer, beware Momma looking over her shoulder across the road... Junior is usually about to cross.

P

[Meanie]

Reminds me of a story I read in one of the motorcycle mags I subscribe to, I think Motorcycle Cruiser.

A couple were riding on a Goldwing on a rural road when the woman (passenger) was reaching back to get something out of the sidebags. When she turned back around, her husband was gone and the bike was still cruising down the road on cruise control. She managed to climb forward and control the bike to a stop then looked back to see what happened to her husband. He was laying on the side of the road along with an injured deer who was trying frantically to get up and run. She ran back to the hubby, who was injured, but ok and taken to the hospital. Basically, the deer jumped over the bike hitting the rider and knocking him off and completely missing the passenger. Deers can be unpredictable creatures.

[Dragon on Wheels]

I encountered deer once so far on a bike(more instances in a car). I stopped on the side of the road and waited for the deer to move before continuing. They are too unpredictable to chance riding forward into them. It took a while since they stood there staring at me for a long time, but they finally left the road.