Deer hunters beware

[Steamer]

Well, it’s that time of year in Ohio, where anyone who wants to get back to their “primal” side takes to the woods, armed with their weapon of choice in pursuit of one of the most elusive of game animals in this area….the white tail deer. I was an avid hunter for years, but haven’t gone for several years. In my time in the woods, I have been shot by careless hunters, had arrows land close by, and attacked by a really ****ed off squirrel (I coulda’ sworn he was dead when I put him in the game pouch.). They’ve got really sharp teeth, too by the way.

What happened recently though has me seriously concerned, as it seems that the deer are developing an aggressive posture against hunters. I was driving along the highway minding my own business when I spied a deer stealthily stepping over the guardrail. This deer was obviously on some kind of a covert mission, as he was wearing a black tactical vest, a balaclava, and possibly some type of night vision. It was the moment when he stepped over the guardrail that our eyes met, and he realized that he had been discovered and his as yet unknown mission had been compromised. Time stood still for a moment.

He was really big, huge in fact. He was at least 2000 lbs, and had a rack that looked like an elk. One met the other’s stare with narrowed eyes, and every muscle tensed as we both realized that the moment of truth was upon us. It was at this very second that he appeared to have recognized me and attacked; the battle was enjoined.

He attacked with a furry that I’ve never seen before (not since the squirrel incident, anyway), and it was obvious that this was a battle to the death. As the deer mercilessly attacked the front of my vehicle, the hood came unlatched and flew over the windshield blinding my vision. That caused quite a ride, too. There is nothing like traveling 60 mph and not seeing anything in front of you. The last thing I saw was the deer laying on his side sliding along at about 60 mph in what I assumed was an escape attempt, but alas, his wounds were mortal.

A valiant warrior he was, but not too smart attacking an SUV at 60 mph. Apparently, the futility of such a tactic wasn’t covered in his escape and evasion classes in game commando school. I notified the Ohio State Patrol, to do a report about the violent attack I had just endured. He seemed quite concerned about me having received a head injury after I told him my story, as he had me demonstrate I was ok by walking a straight line, standing on one foot, and touching my finger to my nose among other tests.

When he was finally doing the report, and I told him my story again, he just shook his head and wrote. “The deer jumped into traffic and I hit it.” I personally liked my version much better.


It's been a really slow day today. ***sigh***

[dfdNo9]

The Deer in Joisey aren't that smart!

I like the story.
LMAO

Joe

[CollegeBuff]

Same thing happened to my best friend. While his attacker was much smaller than Steamers, it apparently still thought his '87 Mazda was an easy score, because it too jumped straight into the car from a position of safety (had it just STAYED there). Unfortunately it survived the intial skermish, and had to be dispatched by a local police officer who was.... er... "dispatched" to the call.

'Round these parts any wild game killed by autos become the property of the driver if they want it. Did they give you that option Steamer?

[Steamer]

'Round these parts any wild game killed by autos become the property of the driver if they want it. Did they give you that option Steamer?

Yep. But I saw how hard he was hit, and I didn't have the time or energy to process it. The trooper made arrangements for somebody to get it.

In all seriousness, I was actually quite lucky. This really was a large animal at around 200 lbs, and 10 points. (I exaggerated a little bit before ) He could have just as easily come through the windshield. That wouldn't have had a good outcome, I'm sure.

These large creatures are restless as "nature is calling", and they don't usually look both ways before they cross. I'm not happy that it really, really trashed the front of my vehicle, but I'm very happy that I'm able to joke about it. I hafta joke to keep from crying.

[MalahatTwo7]

Well Steamer, you were extremely lucky I would say, and I am happy to hear that all is well with you - aside from the damage to your truck. But a truck is repairable or replacable - you are not quite to replacable.

Personally I have been very lucky when it comes to large animals running in front of me - either I am able to swerve to avoid, or maybe the just look at the vehicle I am driving and either decide that: a) it's not worth the effort to trash it, or b) it's too new and too nice to break. In any case I am glad to hear that you are well and without injury.

[rcrompm46]

I liked your version better, but you came out better than
the state trooper in IA. We had a fatality a couple years
ago just like the incident below. I believe the horns
went in right between the eyes.

See below

Published Monday
November 18, 2002

Iowa trooper badly injured in accident involving a deer

BY CHRIS CLAYTON



WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

VAIL, Iowa - An Iowa State Patrol trooper was critically injured when a deer struck his cruiser Sunday and came in through the windshield.

The trooper, John Sebetka, was westbound on U.S. Highway 30 about two miles east of Vail around 5:40 p.m. when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction hit the deer. The deer was sent flying into the air and landed on the hood and windshield of the trooper's car.

Sebetka suffered head and chest injuries. He was flown by helicopter to University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he was listed Monday in critical condition.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the driver of the other vehicle did not stop. Authorities would like to talk to the driver of the car, believed to be a Pontiac with a missing headlight.

Deer are a major driving hazard this time of year, primarily because of mating season. Collisions with deer are common in Iowa, with 13,100 such accidents in 2001. However, state officials don't keep data on injury accidents involving deer.

"Most of the time, injury happens when the driver tries to avoid the deer and ends up hitting someone else," said Willie Suchy, a wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "The thing we try to stress most is to maintain control of the car."

[superchef]

Steamer

I am happy to hear that apart from the damage to your car you are ok. As 27 said the car is replaceable you are not. Whatever would we do without you here.

I could probably come up with a good venison stew for you

[martinm]

Over here we only have the odd pedestrian jumping in front of you to worry about . They are far more wiley and harder to hit.

One famous insurance claim which made the news over here years ago, contained this statement from the driver of the vehicle involved: "The guy was all over the road, I had to swerve several times to hit him...".

Makes you think about who ELSE is out there.

Stay safe, especially this time of year.

[RyanEMVFD]

the deer in ohio have been recently training with the cows in texas.

[FlyingKiwi]

Steamer,
Why didn't you take the animal? It had already been grilled.

[E229Lt]

Steamer,
Another Possibility, perhaps this deer was raised in an Ohio State Frat House.

GO 'CANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NJFFSA16]

Let me set the stage for this story. It takes place on a cold, snowy morning in New Jersey. The date? December 25, 2002. It's 8 AM and the kids have been up for over three hours. They are still gathered around the Christmas tree...and I'm running out of things to say. You see...there are no presents to be found. The children are in disbelief and the youngest begins to cry. "He'll be here soon" I tell the 4 year old, "Santa will be here, I promise."

Yes...Santa had not shown up at our house, nor at any of the houses on the east coast. Millions of children everywhere had awakened to find nothing under the Christmas tree. What could be the problem, I thought....what is the delay?

I called the operator and asked if she could connect me to the Santa shop....yes, the one at the North Pole. The phone rang about 15 times....before an elf, sounding quite tired, picked up and said hello. I was quite direct in my question. "Where is Santa," I demanded, "The kids are totaly distraught?"

"He'll be there" said the elf, "but not until around noon."

"Why so late" I asked....."he's never been that late before?"

"Yes, well it's been a rough night for the jolly old St. Nick," said the elf. "You see...there was an accident...and well....he's only got 7 reindeer pulling the sled."





Dasher had met his fate on a highway in Ohio. Santa would be late.

[martinm]

I have to day that any driver on 25th December, saying they have run over one of Santas reindeer, will more than likely fail the field sobriety test before they start!! (Either that or go into hiding).

[CJMinick390]

Steamer, your story reminded me of the time our neighbor's daughter was driving home in her volkswagon beetle convertible when "bambi" decided to jump off the side of a road cut and landed on the top of her car. She had a live and unwelcome backseat passenger for awhile.

[Dalmatian90]

See, our Deer are much smarter in Connecticut. We train them to be snipers. Don't take on the vehicle, just take out the drivers.

Many years ago got a call for victim of a Motorcycle accident on a very lightly traveled town road at oh-dark-thirty. Victim was about 1/2 mile from the motorcycle -- that's how far he had crawled trying to reach a house before someone came by in a car and found him. One side completely smashed up, from where the Deer tackled him off his bike. Even a Hare traction splint to the leg...now that's one tough motorcyclist to crawl that far in that condition!

Another sniper attack was one of our EMTs. Driving down the road last fall, pleasant day, windows are rolled down. When a doe jumped from the woods, head-butted her through the open car window.

[RyanEMVFD]

is this going to lead up to that 911 call in florida where the guy hits the deer with his car and he puts it in his backseat thinking it's dead?

"now who gets the deer, me or the dog?"

with out the cursing.

[CJMinick390]

Ryan,

A guy I used to work with who considers himself one of the last of the great white hunters was on his way to work one morning when he came across a deer that had been hit and was lying along side the road. He thought he would supplement his venison supply for the year, so he picked it up and put it in the trunk of the (state) car he was driving. Turns out the deer was merely stunned. It woke up and kicked the you know what out of the trunk of that cavalier. He had and interesting time explaining the damage to the state vehicle at the motor pool shop.

[Chiefof21]

I'm finally glad to see someone who shares the same views as me
In three years of moving back to Pennsylvania, I have "bumped" 5 deer, 7 wild turkey, a squirrel, a opossum. and a little old lady in a maroon Buick. My son also never lets me forget the speeding ticket either. Have you seen the insurance commercial with the two squirrels, they are covert operations too and live near us.
Noone ever beleives me when I tell them these things.......

[Chiefof21]

This reminds me of the elderly gentleman who asked the state to remove the yellow jumping deer crossing sign from his in front of his house. It seems he didn't want the deer crossing at that particular area and he wanted the deer crosswalk moved off his land.
Squirrels are very dangerous. We had one trapped in our station wagon and they can reach speeds fast enough to run aroung the sides of the car insides like those motorcycle trick riders at the carnivals. Amazing

[RyanEMVFD]

i hate those bugs that divebomb the windshield. no matter what they or you do they always manage to hit the glass at eye level. only thing i hate worse then that is when the person next to you says, "i bet he doesn't have the guts to do that again!"

it's the animal & insect kingdom vs mankind and the fleet of automobiles. who will win?