[ST] DAT (Deer Aviodence Tactics)

["Joel Ashman" <ashmite@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'll second Dave B's statement that Deer are crazy here in Central PA.  I've 
been able adapt my driving style to help avoid an unpleasent encounter with 
the 'locals.'  It works for both cars and bikes.

First, use the 'Scan.'  A former fighter pilot trainee told me about how 
they are taught to continuously monitor their environment.  It goes 
something like this.  Look Left, Straight, Right, Guages, Back, Guages, 
repeat.  I'm always looking around on regular intervals including 'clearing 
my six' looking for the dredaded blind spot velocity leaches.  Looking left 
and right helps you in spotting dear standing along the road.

Learn to spot deer.  They actually are hard to see because of their 
coloration, but if you train yourself to see them, you can begin to see them 
instinctively out of your peripheral vision.  If you are riding in a car 
with someone else driving, keep watch for them to see how many you can see.

When you see one, expect there to be more.  They do travel in groups.  In a 
new car, once on the Greenway near Dulles Airport in VA, I nearly avoided a 
deer by changing lanes, only to have to throw the car in to a 90 degree 
slide to avoid his wingman.  (Never leave your wingman!)

When you see one, slow as much as safety allows.  Deer go crazy when they 
get scared, and they are unpredictable.  I was in a car and stopped 
completely when I saw a deer on an intercept course (mid day).  While I was 
stopped, he panicked and turned head first into my stopped car.

Deer run like they are on ice when on pavement.  They can turn on a dime in 
a field, but not on a road.  This helps spook them even more.

When a deer is running, watch their head.  They, like horses and such, move 
in the direction their head is pointing.  When their head changes direction, 
their body is getting ready to change as well. (It also works for cars at 
intersections  If their front wheel is starting to turn, they are probably 
getting ready to pull out in front of you)

Follow a car if possible through areas of high dear population.  While a 
truck or semi might sound like a better idea, you can't see around or over a 
truck.  With a car, you can generally take advantage of their headlights as 
well as yours.  But, watch out, sometimes that lead car will spook them into 
running between you and the car.

I've had a lot of success beeping the horn and flashing the hi-beams at the 
same time.  The combo tends to scare them, where bright lights or continuous 
sound alone tends to cause them to freeze for a period before fleeing. It's 
why all the local Red's like going spottin' in the fall before huntin' 
season.  You want them to flee immediately so you can try (and I stress try) 
to guage where they are headed.

Ride with Hi-Beams on for as long as possible and look at driving lights 
that you can aim slightly outward.  This will help you spot the reflection 
off their eyes.

And of course, watch your speed in high deer population areas, and where 
possible leave yourself an out.  It applies for almost everything in riding.

As a humorous side note, I do know someone who hit a deer with his bike, and 
was able to latch onto the deer's neck, and fall on top of the deer, and 
ride out his slide on the dead deer.  He came through with out a scratch, 
and just some soreness in his arm that wrapped up the deer.  Talk about 
presence of mind in an accident.

As a final point of note, deer tend to be more active twice a year.  In the 
fall during mating season, and during the early spring.  They and other 
animals come to the roadside to lick at salt that has been spread during the 
winter.  Groundhogs are notorious for this, and you wouldn't want to hit one 
of them either, even with a Dual-Sport.

--Joel


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