When hitting a deer.

Scott is " special "

 

oh i forgot you too didnt want you to feel left out.....

and as always

 

Cars and trucks are different. Trucks, I don't think it matters one bit, unless you're driving a lowered one, or the deer is actually a moose or elk.

Reason: With a car, you're going to be hitting it in the legs. If you brake hard, you're creating more of a wedge. Wedge at speeds means deer goes through your windshield easier, and into your face. Brake hard, but let off right before impact. This way you'll slow down as much as possible, but still bring the front end of your car up, reducing the chance of the hairy beast coming through your windshield and kicking the shit out of you.


With a truck, you're going to be hitting the deer broadside. Braking or accelerating shouldn't make a difference.

Moose are taller. So are elk. Best hope you slow down enough so that it doesn't go through your windshield.

Avoiding a deer, elk, moose or the likes, at speeds is stupid IMO. I've always been taught NEVER swerve for an animal. Don't risk losing control and hurting or killing yourself, when you could plow that shit over and get vehicle damage covered by insurance.

Hit animals, swerve for people.

 

just dont swerve into oncoming traffic or hit a tree.... you are much better off hitting the deer.

 

Don't you guys watch the Myth Busters? They did this one. HIT THE BRAKES!!!!!! Even in a little wedgie sports car the body will plow right into the cabin. The faster you go the worse it gets. If you're in deer country, slow down.

On a second note, some of those aftermarket brush guards defeat the airbag deplowment. A test was done on a Land Rover. The results....buy one that won't defeat the airbags. The dummy died.

 

Trying to avoid hitting a deer is sometimes not an option, they just come out of nowhere. I have avoided many accidents by slowing down after lighting up eyes on the side of the road though. Just in case, I have a drop point knife and some field dressing gloves in the truck...

 

I haven't yet hit an elk or deer. It's a very real possibility for me as I live in the mountains.

Actually the reason I was asking NOW and not trying to make the judgment call in the heat of the moment is because I wanted to decide which was the better course of action. Then I'd train my mind (by going over the scenario again and again in my head) to hit the gas rather than the brake if the case was made that it is safer to in fact "floor it".

My girlfriend swerved to avoid a javelina and almost rolled her little calibre because we were doing about 75 on the curve. I probably would have just hit it.

Oh and also... So's your face!!!

I am actually seriously considering getting an ARB for this very reason. (among others)

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I've made the determination that I should just hit the thing (if a clear path of avoidance isn't forthcoming) and either just let off the gas or hit the brakes when it happens. Which is what I probably would have done anyway.

 

Of all the times I have hit a deer , I never really had much warning . Think about an aftermarket bumper if you are in deer country , that's why I got a RelentlessFab aluminum front bumper , added protection , not added weight .

 

Yeah. I really like most of relentless fab's stuff. Alas they don't make a front bumper for first gens. At least not that I saw.

 

Elite Offroad Products makes one . I think Relentless may be doing one in the future .

 

Damn, never even thought about this. So I guess they mount to the frame? I've never had/installed one.

 

Do niether , just coast. The deer court n jury will find you innocent of deerslaughter.

No really , theres too many variables to make that decision of stop or accelerate.I dont see any legit reason to accelerate unless you are planning one of the usual over the top hollywood movies. React according to the road conditions be it paved or gravel , rain or snow,deer stopped / deer turned/ deersped up /lept 5'/5pt buck/ fawn/muley or whitetail...etc.

And one more thing to the asshole who hit one 4 yrs ago hunting , DONT LEAVE IT ALIVE IN THE ROAD WITH 4 broke legs . kill it n drag it like we had to for you , you A-hole, whos chevy s10 bled out at the radiator a few miles later.

 

who cares, your hitting a deer, your fucked one way or another...i learned that out when i hit my deer causing 1900 in damage

 

Sounds stupid, but I flick on the HID off roads and get on the brakes. The deer have the same reaction you do when someone flashes a super bright light at you when you have adjusted to the dark and are forced to stop and look/ run away. That gives me plenty of time to avoid them. If nothing else it WILL stop them from running any closer to me/ further into the road.

 

YES!

 

Because they're relaxed and not all tensed up. Same reason kids do really well in accidents...they have no clue whats going on and they're all loosey goosey when it happens.

 

This ^^^^


Also it's never a good idea to swerve to try to avoid hitting something. You are better off hitting it..especially driving a truck or a higher profile vehicle where the rollover potential is a lot higher.

When I hit the deer about 1.5 years ago. I slammed on the BRAKES and slowed down before I hit him. Ended up clipping him in the rear with the corner of my bumper as he was running off the road. It was a BIG! buck so I knew he was gonna do some damage. If I had swerved I probably would have ended up wrapped around a tree or upside down in the ditch.

 

speed up... then you get to have really tender deer for dinner haha....