So its rutting season. The deer are out to play. Which means they are getting hunted by their only natural predator, the motor vehicle. But I have never seen it this bad before. Deer carcasses strewn across every road. Exploded deer parts in the roadway. Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
Three times in the last week I’ve almost hit a deer. So if you don’t hear from me, Bambi got me.
Time to bring in Godzilla.
I’m doing my part. Took one with the bow already. Planning on taking another with the muzzle loader soon too.
I must be further north than you. Pre-rut hasn’t quite started up here yet in New England.
I drive along mostly rural roads in the pre-dawn hours. In the 9 years we’ve lived here, I’ve hit 2 deer. Needless to say, I’m very vigilant this time of year. It’s the only time I’m glad when there’s traffic.
I’ve seen several carcasses along the road, several smears on the road, and the other day, I saw a bow hunter walking along the road. I used to work on a Navy base that permitted hunting during certain hours - you didn’t want to go strolling thru the woods during those times. :eek:
Seems to me, the limit for hunters could be lifted with little ill effect.
It’s even worse when the deer trip over the raccoons on their way into the road.
We have a small herd of deer that wander behind the house almost every day this time of year. They’re no longer afraid of the dogs. The puppy still valiantly charges the fence, barking her fiercest, and the deer ignore her. Maybe it will teach her some humility.
Yeah they seem to be especially nuts around here this year too. I go to work at 5am so it’s still dark and I always watch out for them. This morning had a buck come running out just as I was slowing to turn into my workplace, I hit the brakes and stopped. The buck rammed into the back of my car, bounced off and hit the road. Stood up, shook his head, and charged into my car again. Fell down again. Got up, shook himself off, and charged right back in the same line - I moved the car ahead the third time and he made it across the road. Must have wanted the straightest line to those does and no damn car was going to stop him! Sheesh. I’ve never seen anything like that before.
Three weeks ago, in the park where we are hosts, a guy riding a bicycle ran into a buck that jumped out in front of him. The bike was destroyed, the guy was totally dazed but ok, and the buck died of a broken neck. Very weird. Drive/ride safe.
You’ll appreciate this one, Loach: One of the deputies on my husband’s shift wrecked her brown Crown a couple of weeks ago. Due to budget constraints in recent years, the department was officially out of cars at that point - Kathy and another deputy on the opposite shift had to slip seat for a bit. Finally, Kathy got to work this morning to a lovely, lovely surprise: a brand new Charger. New car smell. No perp funk. Never even been vomited in, much less shat in.
Six hours later… Bam(bi)! Six freaking hours.
(Tony averages hitting about one a year, but he has a K9, and the doggies get the oldest, funkiest vehicles, so no big deal.)
5 Forrest rats had 2 of us stopped about 16:30 today.
Lots of dead deer dotting the DOT’s domain damnit…
It’s amazing how I never hardly see deer in town (not many anyway)until hunting season is upon us. The town I’m closest to had a resident deer- 6 point muley- who had become the unofficial mascot. He was named Spanky- don’t ask me why LOL. Poor Spanky met his doom with a logging truck. Spanky will be missed (but not by all. He learned to climb onto vehicles to reach apples in trees. Maybe that’s related to his name?)
My wimpy, cowardly dog was just at the back window growling at deer. It would scare the crap out of her if she met one face to face. And she’d get her ass kicked.
Have seen quite a few carcasses along the highway on my daily commute, but thankfully no live ones.
A few years ago there was a veritable deer slaughterhouse on the interstate outside of one town. The entire interstate for about half a mile or so was just red with deer blood.
Along with the deer, there’s a major skunkmageddon in this area. WHEW! What a stink!!
Had to brake for a doe and fawn tonight.