Sorry guys, one less buck this fall.....

[yorketransport]

Well, there will be one less buck out in Yelm this fall. I hit a young one, looked like he was going to be at least a 2pt, on my way to work on Friday.

I wasn't 3/4 of a mile down Bald Hills Rd from my house when I saw him. I hadn't even made it up to 50mph yet. He was on the left shoulder with that look in his eyes like he was going to make a run for it. I saw him from about 50 yards away and I started to slow down. He made the jump at about 25 yards away, and didn't make it. I had managed to slow down to about 25-30 mph, but the impact still broke his hips and punctured his lung. Unfortunately he was not going to make it, so I helped him out and finished what I started, then moved him off the road.

I have a rule that I will not lockup the tires or swerve to avoid hitting an animal. It's not worth rolling my car to avoid hitting an animal. In fact, the damage to my car was pretty minor. I didn't even break a head light on the Jetta. I just drove the car back to the house and took my truck to work. I'm not so sure that my Silverado would have turned out that well if I had been driving it.

I always feel bad when I see a young, healthy deer get hit. I guess it's just natural selection thining out the ones which are not smart enough to stay out of the road.

Andrew

[DoubleJ]

Should have brought him home and put him in the freezer.  For coyote bait I mean 

[jeepasaurusrex]

I hit one with my 97 F-350 once just up the road from Skagit Speedway. I was doing about 50mph when I seen her. Almost did not have time to hit the brakes. Hit her so hard she flew across the other lane and over the guard rail. I figured the front of the truck was totaled. It was dark and I was almost home so I continued home and got out the halogen work light to look at the damage. The only thing I could find was the front bumper had a dimple in it where the end of the frame horn touched the back side and some hair stuck in the trim. I felt very lucky that day.

[DoubleJ]

Our park and ride bus hit one about 2 years ago doing 60mph.  hurt the bus pretty bad.  I went back in the afternoon and couldn't find a trace of it happening anywhere.

[bearpaw]

Too bad for the buck and too bad for your car....

[agchawk]

My wife hit one in her brand new cavalier when I was stationed on Whidbey Island. She hit him at 55MPH and it totalled her car. She broke her arm and ended up facing the other way on the wrong side of highway. It was a pretty nasty collision to say the least.

The deer she hit came out of the trees and right into her path without hesitation. We believe something spooked it and it was more worried about what was behind it than what was in front of it. Either way she is ultra cautious any more while driving.

[greenhead_killer]

well first off, glad to hear that were not hurt and that your car was not totally f-ed up. i was at a auto body place a few years ago and saw what an elk would do to a full size pickup at 35mph and man im glad that i havent exp that. completely mangled the front of the truck. now as far as dispatching the animal after the fact, what are the legal technicalities of that ? are we allowed to finish the job to lessen the suffering or can legal action be taken against us? just curious b/c if im in that same situation, i would do the same thing and put it down. anyhow, glad to hear you were safe.

[YoterHunter]

my brother hit one  with my truck a few years ago on hy. 14 by washogale. his son broke his leg at the track .and taken out by ambulance. he had a camper on his truck so in told him to take mine. on the way back to mthe track had a doe jump across the medean .he sead there was no time to slow down .said he was doing 75 when he hit it.my 94 half ton 4x4 held up pretty good.i told him he could have a least bring me some vinson .for the damage to my truck.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Ouch ... that sucks you hit that poor buck ....

[yorketransport]

now as far as dispatching the animal after the fact, what are the legal technicalities of that ? are we allowed to finish the job to lessen the suffering or can legal action be taken against us? just curious b/c if im in that same situation, i would do the same thing and put it down.

I'm not entirely certain on this. I know that if I had called the sherrif, they just would have shot the deer. I didn't have a gun on me since I was on my way to work. I just cut his throat, and it was all over in a matter of seconds.

I do know that it's illegal to take roadkill home for personal use. I've had that conversation with a few officers. In fact I watched a woman argue with a state patrol officer on the side of the highway over this. I am fairly certain that this buck was picked up shortly after I left him. He wasn't there 15 minutes later after I went home, grabbed my truck, and passed back by.

Andrew

[shoot-em-dead]

I hit one with my 97 F-350 once just up the road from Skagit Speedway. I was doing about 50mph when I seen her. Almost did not have time to hit the brakes. Hit her so hard she flew across the other lane and over the guard rail. I figured the front of the truck was totaled. It was dark and I was almost home so I continued home and got out the halogen work light to look at the damage. The only thing I could find was the front bumper had a dimple in it where the end of the frame horn touched the back side and some hair stuck in the trim. I felt very lucky that day.

Built Ford tough

[cle elum bowhunter]

Have hit two over the years on Hwy 970 with my F350, nothing to show but some hair in the bumper on one and nothing on the second.  Hit one this winter in my Outback at about 55mph, she flew about 75', $5000 damage to front of car. 

[carpsniperg2]

Bum luck, at least you are OK. I smacked a big doe on the way out of town on opening morning of archery elk season. I was in my dads dodge as well lucky it just messed up the front bumper and grill. What a way to start out a 4hr drive to get to the hunting spot at like 1a.m

[longknife]

State dosent allow roadkill to be taken. If you ask me, its a waste, a fresh kill should be used!

[dscubame]

Pretty minor you say?  Dang that sucks and looks like alot of damage.  I agree I do not swerve either much worse can happen for sure.