What to do for deer collision protection.

In the last 10 years, I have hit two deer (several years apart). This is a symptom of my work schedule, I am often on the roads in the dark, on narrow NH roads. Each time I made an insurance claim, and was compensated, but still had to pay the $500 deductible. My rates have never gone up. I wanted to buy a "bull bar" or a brush guard for roughly 500, (but can go over), So that if I hit another deer, my front end won't be all jacked up.

Is this a viable solution?
If so, what is my best choice?
If not, is there anything else I can do?

 

Bull bar will not help . There is nothing to them . Go steel bumper from @Mobtown Offroad . Also add some bright driving lights to the bumper

 

Oh and welcome to TW

 

SO basically a bull bar is all aesthetics?

 

ARB

Oh and welcome to TW!

 

Yes ,I had one . Light as a feather junk .

 

Pretty much. Just like nerf bars don't function well as sliders.

 

OP - welcome!! I am in NH too and see deer at least once a week on my commute. I have been lucky and have not tagged one yet.

 

Interesting article.

https://www.bumperonly.com/blogs/le...er-collisions-withan-aftermarket-front-bumper

 

Hmm......not sure it's much of a surprise a bumper only website reccos ....a new aftermarket bumper to protect against deer!! What next..a Nike website ranking Nike as the best running shoe?!
(Its al good....and at end of day about any bumper not OEM has to be better against a deer!!

 

Deer whistles are a cheap place to start.

 

I’ve always wondered if those actually work...

 

The old guys back where i grew up swore they did. I didnt even know they still made them until i googled it. They cant hurt.

 

your mileage may vary. The theory behind them makes sense, but the only time I've ever hit a deer I was driving a truck that had those on the bumper

 

That must have been a retarded deer that didnt understand the concept of the whistle. The smart deer know what they are for!

 

I came around a corner and spooked her. She bolted...into the road. I was driving a '96 Nissan 4x4, so she hit the bumper dead center. Wrecked the grill, both side markers, and the bumper. And the deer. Both shoulders on that side were only good for hamburger.

Since it was a beater that I was using to commute on back roads at night in deer country, I just replaced the sidemarkers and put on a piece of 8" channel iron for a new bumper, in case I found another deer. So of course I never hit anything else for the rest of the time I had the truck

 

Get an obnoxiously loud exhaust.. they will run when they hear you coming a half mile away. It has worked well for me so far

 

I hit a doe once in my 80 toyota that had a grille guard. She exploded and two babies came flying out. Totally freaked me out cause the babies were moving laying on the side of the road. That was before cell phones so there was no calling a game warden. I still feel bad about it.