Deer protection for front of car

Yeah, I'm in the same situation. I've been looking for extra 'protection also. A bull bar is not enough ... doesn't protect the grille/radiator ... A grille guard, smaller tubing and I really don't want a whole bunch of everything all over the headlights.
I've been trying to find a 'bull bar' with some nice 3" tubing that covers the grille up to the hood, but haven't found anything. (Although I've seen them on older Tacos..) So far, I don't think they exist, for Gen 3.
I don't think 'more lights' is helpful at all. In fact, the brighter the lights, is all the more reason for a deer to become more retarded and try to commit suicide by standing more fixated in front of you.
I totally agree with the dawn/dusk ... That's generally a 'No Go Zone' time for me no matter what I'm driving.
Here's an even bigger thing... My rig has the sensor in front for the automatic braking and the active cruise control. It's worked wonderfully. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I was driving to the hardware store early in the morning. VERY foggy out. Like 50 yards or less. I was taking it very easy. Truck started braking somewhat hard. The sensor 'saw' a deer in the road, waaay before I would have ever of seen it in the fog. I thought 'Wow! This is pretty cool!' That being said....
Every bull bar or grille guard I've looked at on line always come with the asterisk .. (* May interfere with front sensor)
Well, isn't this stuff tested? I would think it either does or doesn't. Do I want to trade in some extra steel in front for not having the sensor do it's job? Questions, questions....

 

Problem isn’t the deer it’s people building roads in wildlife areas . They need to reduce speed limits for these areas .

 

For sure. It will keep him out of the engine compartment. The front of a Tacoma is made out of recycled credit cards - I'm surprised it stops bugs.

 

Wildlife areas? You're actually far less likely to hit a deer in a wilderness area than you are on the tens of thousands of miles of roads that go through farm country. Drive through Missouri or Alabama - it's nerve racking.

 

The old train cow catchers were designed to push critters off to the side. Perhaps something V shaped on the front.

 

I can see how a deer might be visable far ahead in that kind of country. Try finding one in this view of a rural North Carolina road before he runs in front of you

 

Good insurance that’s about it

 

Just as one example of the roo bars, this as I understand was at 90 kg joey and apparently the damage ruined the intercooler (this a diesel engine Prado). So whether it's worth it or not is dubious. And I say that as a ARB owner and advocate.

 

Yep. I live in a rural area at the edge of town and about 3 months ago I hit a deer ... pulling out of my garage! Bad enough that my town has a special archery hunting season where you can harvest two in certain areas of town.

 

lol, OP needs some of these..
[/QUOTE]

"Air velocity whistles were mounted onto different vehicles, which were then operated at controlled speeds of between 30 and 45 miles per hour. The researchers recorded the sounds these whistles made while the vehicle was in motion. What they discovered was air whistles produce signals that register either 3 kHz or 12 kHz. A 3 kHz signal is unlikely to be heard since it is only three decibels louder than a car traveling on the highway. As such, it could easily be drowned out by other vehicles, rain or high winds. A 12 kHz signal is outside the normal hearing range of a deer, which means it is also ineffective.

Another study published in 2009 by the “Journal of Wildlife Management” concluded that whistle like noises do not change deer behavior in any way."
Saying that someone isn't paying attention is like saying they aren't telepathic. Until you've had one sprint in front of you you won't know.

 

This is exactly how my cousin was killed quite a few years back.

Maybe we are talking the same accident. I doubt it though.

 

Those rotary plows are insane. They still use them, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCqEBdjaXpM

 

Pretty awesome piece of machinery.

There is a retired one on the Seward hey in AK. everything I drive by I stop and check it out

On topic- lots of deers in northern Alabama too but couldn't come up with a great solution so I just drive slower for now

 

Can we ask the real question, why is the 3rd Gen ARB bumper so ugly though?

 

anyone who says if you hit a deer you arent paying attention apparently hasnt spent enough time in deer country. Ive only ever hit one deer in my life, but I dodge them almost weekly. The one I hit, I captured on dash cam, and that thing was full sprinting out of the woods close to the road, there was zero time to react. I was paying attention and not speeding. It was like mid afternoon. I see so many deer at night dont try to drive dusk and later. I originally planned to take this brush guard off my truck when I bought it (guard came with the truck), but Ive been inclined to keep it, as it may help in a deer collision. idk. i hate deer. My mini was never the same again, that was 7k in damage to the Countryman.

 

Well, I'm convinced to keep doing what I'm doing at a slower speed, and stay alert. Sounds like every thing has pros and cons and the pros are minimal and I'm not lookin to spend a pretty penny for little benefit

 

Yeah, the whistles were a joke, usually you see them stuck on cars who's drivers are terrified of driving- the best ones are stuck right onto the center of the hood or the front edge of the roof..

I would agree there are some emo deer running headlong into the side of your rig or across in front from the edges - and there isn't much you can do with that situation other than let insurance sort it out.

Also think that most animal hits could be avoided by drivers paying more attention, knowing that dusk/dawn and dark are higher risk times, slowing down, having better lights, and if it does happen you might get lucky by having some kind of protection on the front.

I've driven evenings/nights for 25 years and have driven past Deer, Elk, Moose, Caribou, Sheep, Goats, Bison, Bear, Cougar, and a lot of other little critters on the road.. so far so good with good lighting and careful driving..

I think you're going to want to take that off.. even a small impact will push that thing into your truck, bumper grille, headlights $$$.. they don't call them damage multipliers for nothing.

 

It happened around Christmas time on Route 33 in NJ. Driver's name was Nicholas.