# D'oh! A deer! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 3, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458 "2017-07-03T19:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/1 "2017-07-03T19:38:25Z")
Just getting home from a bike ride. The trail was pretty quiet so all of nature was out on full display. Saw four deer. The first was crashing loudly through the woods over my right shoulder and I was just hoping it wouldn’t slam into me. A few hundred yards later was another deer hesitantly crossing the bike path. I slowed to let him go. A bit later, another just feeding in the thicket below the path. Finally, the last one, just walking along the trail heading in my direction. I came to a complete stop, put my foot down and watched her walk by not 5 feet from me. She was completely chill. Paused next to me and looked as if to say, ‘hey’, then just kept walking down the path. For a split instant, saw a fox dash out of the tall grass and then vanish again. Also a bright red cardinal. I wonder if the deer is telling his kin about the idiot in spandex riding in 92F heat. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/2 "2017-07-03T21:22:41Z")
Back when we lived in Aptos, I would run in [The Forest of Nisene Marks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forest_of_Nisene_Marks_State_Park). On one occasion, I spotted a fawn ( I confess, s/he was already spotted) standing on the edge of the fire road. I stopped to watch and the fawn started to walk towards me, prompting me to stay stock-still. When it was no more than 10 feet away, Mama deer made an appearance. She allowed her baby to get within sniffing distance before nudging it away and back into the woods. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/3 "2017-07-03T21:32:07Z")
A female deer? ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/4 "2017-07-03T23:23:00Z")
Ray, a drop of golden sun. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/5 "2017-07-03T23:43:08Z")
At 92, it was more than a spot. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/6 "2017-07-04T00:41:12Z")
I had a few wildlife sightings on my ride today, too. Saw a duck and a cardinal in my yard before I even started. Saw a swan in a pond near the trail. And I’m not sure what the other critter was. It was about the size of a raccoon, had a similar gait and coloring, but didn’t have the ringed tail and seemed overall fluffier. It may have just been a big housecat. Ran off the trail before I could get a good look at it. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/7 "2017-07-04T00:42:09Z")
Overheated, a name I call myself. Fall, 'cause it’s way to hot to run. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/8 "2017-07-04T01:02:41Z")
So, you gonna bike some more? ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/9 "2017-07-04T02:45:34Z")
Congratulations. You live in a beautiful place. To enjoy this wildlife is incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/10 "2017-07-04T04:04:47Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Overheated, a name I call myself. > Fall, 'cause it’s way to hot to run. I endorse this. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/11 "2017-07-04T14:29:49Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Congratulations. You live in a beautiful place. > > To enjoy this wildlife is incredible. It’s one of the very few things I do enjoy about this place. I’d leave in a heartbeat if I could figure out where to live next. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/12 "2017-07-04T15:02:33Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Back when we lived in Aptos, I would run in [The Forest of Nisene Marks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forest_of_Nisene_Marks_State_Park) Hey, I’ve gone running there many times. What a great place for a run. We used to ride our mountain bikes there, too, and usually ended up on the “secret, illegal trails” that were outlandishly fun! ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/13 "2017-07-04T15:30:02Z")
Just rats with hooves… all of them. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/14 "2017-07-04T15:32:42Z")
Well, they’re better than squirrels. Rats with fluffy tails, the lot of them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/15 "2017-07-04T15:41:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Hey, I’ve gone running there many times. What a great place for a run. We used to ride our mountain bikes there, too, and usually ended up on the “secret, illegal trails” that were outlandishly fun! When we lived there, the trails below the steel bridge were still open to bikes. I stayed off of those, runners and bikes don’t mix. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/16 "2017-07-04T16:33:45Z")
I’m okay sharing the path with runners. They can keep a lane. It’s the roller-bladers who are invariably wearing ear-phones and weave dangerously and obliviously. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/17 "2017-07-04T16:40:56Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m okay sharing the path with runners. They can keep a lane. It’s the roller-bladers who are invariably wearing ear-phones and weave dangerously and obliviously. These trails aren’t paved paths. Real dirt trails out in the middle (and perimeter) of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/18 "2017-07-04T16:42:48Z")
> [@](#): > > **D’oh! A deer!** Re, a drop of golden sun. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/19 "2017-07-04T16:43:43Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m okay sharing the path with runners. They can keep a lane. It’s the roller-bladers who are invariably wearing ear-phones and weave dangerously and obliviously. The trail I ride has enough traffic that even the bladers know what they’re doing for the most part. A quick “on your left” and they hold their line and let bikes get past without worry. Where do you live that has all these trails and deer? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458/20 "2017-07-04T17:16:04Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The trail I ride has enough traffic that even the bladers know what they’re doing for the most part. A quick “on your left” and they hold their line and let bikes get past without worry. > > Where do you live that has all these trails and deer? “On your left”, is my standard call out, but I’m never sure if the people wearing earphones can hear me. I live in Northern Virginia, suburb of DC. The W&OD trail is a mile or so from my house. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doh-a-deer/790458.md?page=2)