RE: Deer warning (was Re: AstroCampingMobile Recommendation?)

They are also out feeding just before sunrise - when we are going home.

I've come close... And only once "sorta" hit one... It was already down - on
I280 in the left lane after a curve -- my car had a built in engine bash
plate which just slide over the carcass. However there was burning venison
stuck in various crannies in the catalytic converter... Smelled like a
Dennys for about two weeks.

I notice that when they are by the side of the road, they tend to start
leaping towards the car - not away from it - as the car approaches.

Then there are cows. Another hazard when driving in the country.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sf-bay-tac-bounces@seds.org
> [mailto:sf-bay-tac-bounces@seds.org] On Behalf Of Peter Santangeli
> Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 10:52 AM
> To: The Astronomy Connection
> Subject: Deer warning (was Re: [TAC] AstroCampingMobile
> Recommendation?)
>
>
>
> On the subject of deer, I guess I should send out my regular
> reminder....
>
>
> Deer pose a frequent hazard to us astronomers, particularly
> in the bay
> area. We often find ourselves driving around at dusk in the
> country - a
> time when it is particularly easy to hit them. Please, please
> be aware
> of your surroundings.
>
> I've hit two, and I know at least 2 others with multiple hits
> as well.
> It's not fun.
>
> My experiences up in Canada taught me a few things:
>
> - DON'T swerve to miss a deer. If you see them in the
> distance, they can
> be easy to avoid, but my experience is that when you hit one,
> they tend
> to come at you VERY fast, usually from the side (literally
> jumping out
> right in front of your car). If you are driving a 'tall' car with a
> high center of gravity like an SUV or Van, the chances are
> pretty good
> that you will either lose control or roll your car trying to
> avoid that
> fast a moving object. A surprisingly large number of
> roll-over accidents
> are fatalities. Sadly, so are tree impacts. There are lots of
> deer. It's
> not worth losing your life over.
>
> - DON'T jam on the brakes. For two reasons (1) the guy behind you may
> just cream you (2) the 'nose dive' that most cars will make
> will tend to
> throw the deer up over your hood and into your windshield. If a deer
> jumps out in front of you, you are pretty much going to hit
> it. Hit it
> with the bumper, not your face. Struck head on, a deer will
> do damage to
> your car ($3000 for me the last time hit one - fully covered by
> insurance) but it won't kill you.
>
> - Use your high beams. The extra visibility will help you
> avoid them. I
> also find that the higher angle lights up the woods near the
> road better.
>
> Be careful out there.
>
> Pete
>
>
> --
> Where are TACos going?: http://observers.org/OI-calendar/
> Change your mail prefs?: http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tac

-- 
Where are TACos going?: http://observers.org/OI-calendar/
Change your mail prefs?: http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tac