Post by: yorketransport on June 04, 2011, 08:00:53 AM
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. :twocents: In fact, the damage to my car was pretty minor. I didn't even break a head light on the Jetta. (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft260%2Fcollegekidandy%2F100_1223.jpg&hash=486bc7e4a9158e73e2cd291dba67ce314a6200d6) 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
Post by: DoubleJ on June 04, 2011, 09:05:42 AM
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on June 04, 2011, 09:22:40 AM
Post by: DoubleJ on June 04, 2011, 09:25:23 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 04, 2011, 09:28:16 AM
Post by: agchawk on June 04, 2011, 10:27:49 AM
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.
Post by: greenhead_killer on June 04, 2011, 11:21:24 AM
Post by: YoterHunter on June 04, 2011, 02:39:54 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on June 04, 2011, 03:03:13 PM
Post by: yorketransport on June 04, 2011, 03:23:47 PM
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
Post by: shoot-em-dead on June 04, 2011, 03:47:58 PM
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
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on June 04, 2011, 04:26:51 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 04, 2011, 05:19:01 PM
Post by: longknife on June 04, 2011, 05:56:39 PM
Post by: dscubame on June 04, 2011, 07:36:21 PM
Post by: yorketransport on June 04, 2011, 08:26:00 PM
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.
I got in there and really gave the car a once over today. All that need's to be repaired or replaced is the plastic grill insert, the logo in the grill, and the hood. My biggest concern was whether or not the radiator or transmission cooler were damaged. But both of those look good. :tup: I could probably get in there an replace them myself, but this is why I pay for insurance. So that I can let somebody who knows what they're doing fix this stuff for me. :chuckle:
Sure enough though, I was driving up Hwy 507 on the way to Tacoma with my kids in the truck, and another young buck made the death run. He made it this time, but my kids just kept asking if I was going to hit that one too. :DOH:
Andrew
Post by: mebco09 on June 04, 2011, 08:28:15 PM
As far as the dispatch, I have heard that it is illegal to kill an injured animal hit on the roadway. I would have done the same thing, but I guess maybe watch for the overzealous cop to arrest you for poaching (?)
Post by: kenbell27 on June 04, 2011, 08:43:06 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on June 04, 2011, 08:45:31 PM
State dosent allow roadkill to be taken. If you ask me, its a waste, a fresh kill should be used!
What the state don't know..........
at 4am, I'd throw that sumbitch in the bed of my truck and skip the day at work to process it. Never done it but, not saying I wouldn't
Post by: danderson on June 05, 2011, 07:56:57 AM
Post by: singleshot12 on June 05, 2011, 08:36:48 AM
I had a deer one time jump out and then turn sideways and along side of the truck, somehow she got her leg caught the front axle and she became entangled in the under carage and drug her until I stopped, not a pretty sight. Didn't do any damage to the truck but there wasn't much left of her.
As far as road kill ediblity "it's not" most of the time when a deer get hit the guts explode and instantely get pumped through the blood stream resulting in a very horrible flavor, not to mention e-coli poisoning.
Post by: colockumelk on June 05, 2011, 10:01:03 AM
Now this was when I was young enough to take into consideration laws of the land. I only knew what was right or wrong. I'm sure that maybe in some counties it might be illegal or it also might depend on the Law Enforcement Officer that rolls up on you. But.... knowing what I know now, I still would have done the same thing.
Post by: yorketransport on June 05, 2011, 06:42:20 PM
Andrew
Post by: danderson on June 05, 2011, 08:21:00 PM
Post by: yorketransport on June 06, 2011, 09:15:24 PM
I have driven by a lots of deer and elk that have been hit by cars, semis, and pickups, 90% of the time they are dead, some are crippled and suffering, I have never stoped and put any of them down, I wish I could but thats why we have Law enforcement, a phone call to the local game warden is the right and legal thing to do , they come out and take care of the animal, the ones that are hit are not dumb just unlucky.
I would rather see my law enforcement officers devoting their time to busting drunk drivers, thieves, and tweakers than dispatching game on the side of the highway. Same goes for the game wardens. They have more important thing to worry about than cleaning up road kill. :twocents:
Andrew
Post by: klickriverchromer on June 06, 2011, 10:00:31 PM