Oh deer ....

[levad]

yes, that is the correct spelling.

I hit one coming in this morning. It was pitch black and I could just make out a shape in the hedgerow (AYUP lights are fantastic!), got closer and it had disappeared, next moment a Muntjac deer ran across, I had time to hit the brakes and swerve but caught its behind with my front wheel. The deer ran off so I guess it is OK just bruised.

I am glad I have a sturdy machine (Surly Croscheck), I think it is OK but will check it when it gets lighter outside.

 

[summerdays]

I'm impressed you weren't off. Hopefully the deer has done as well as you. I wonder whether the AYUP's confused it.

 

[beanzontoast]

Missed your chance to yell the Simpson's classic...

DOH!
A deer!
A female deer!

 

[janm399]

Hmmmm... deer! Early lunch, anyone?

 

[J4CKO]

My biggest wildlife interface so far is a Pheasant, well done on hitting one of the bigger indigenous species !

 

[Riding in Circles]

I had one almost get me once, I swear it timed it to get me, shot out in front, stood still, then looked shocked (OH POO, SPINNY THINGS ON THE FRONT, DARN RECUMBENTS), then ran ahead of me for about thirty yards before disappearing into a hedge row.

 

[Bollo]

I've nearly had two comings together with deer as they're pretty common around these parts. They're big as well, red deer I think. One of the other 'locals' (Kaipaith, jay clock, I'm looking at you!) might know what they are for sure. There's no way you'd stay on after a collision with one of those though.

They do tend to panic when they spot or hear you and take off for the nearest piece of cover and that's when the trouble starts.

 

[MacB]

They do tend to panic when they spot or hear you and take off for the nearest piece of cover and that's when the trouble starts.

Obviously lacking in knowledge here, they actually lie in wait for you, it's a pastime for them. At certain times of the year they will also wear a red nose to make it more comical.

 

[Arch]

I've nearly had two comings together with deer as they're pretty common around these parts. They're big as well, red deer I think. One of the other 'locals' (Kaipaith, jay clock, I'm looking at you!) might know what they are for sure. There's no way you'd stay on after a collision with one of those though.

Two ways to tell - antlers all branched like a tree, red. Antlers more 'palmate' - flattened, with fingers, fallow.

If they don't have antlers, fallow deer tend to be spottier.

Assuming you mean really big, and not the roe deer - smaller with little spike antlers.

Red deer

Fallow Deer

Roe Deer

 

[Cubist]

Size too. Red, size of a small horse, Fallow, size of a pony, Roe, size of a large labrador, Muntjack, size of a Collie. All delicious.

 

[Will1985]

Mmmm......venison!

I think I'm correct in saying however, that the person who hit it is not allowed to take the roadkill home but the person following can.

 

[Arch]

Mmmm......venison!

I think I'm correct in saying however, that the person who hit it is not allowed to take the roadkill home but the person following can.

I think that's true too. A colleague of mine told a story of some mates of his who came across a pheasant and as the pulled up, a police car pulled up behind them. He asked if they were going to take it, and they, thinking it would get them into trouble (although, I don't think they'd hit it) said "no", whereupon the copper gleefully picked it up himself...

 

[Riding in Circles]

Muntjac chew through your tent guylines.

 

[levad]

Checked out the bike and all appears well

The deer did not die, just got a tenderised rump, so no roadkill to be had. We mostly have Fallow and Muntjac around these parts. I came close to a Fallow deer last spring, it was at the edge of the road, I could have touched it as I rode past. The scary thing was that its head was a the same height as mine, small horse size.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

My biggest wildlife interface so far is a Pheasant, well done on hitting one of the bigger indigenous species !

I chased a pheasant along one of the bridleways on my commute this morning. Silly thing would fly ahead for a while, land, look back, go "aaaarrghhh! it's still after me" and fly off again. Eventually it twigged that legging it off into the woods was a better idea ..

Especially well done on walking away from it .. they can be nasty to hit. Mrs-LC's cousin (who lives in the New Forest) destroyed the front of her car in a collision with a deer. It just shook itself and legged it off into the woods.