devicemanager
New member
Where I live we have an ever growing deer population and people put these deer whistles on their cars to alert the deer of any on-coming vehicles. Has anyone had any experiences with them, do they work?
Deer Whistles
- Thread starter devicemanager
- Start date
short answer... nope..... there is a tech paper on the net somewhere, I ride motorcycles, so deer strikes can be deadly, but the study I saw says you are just as likely to spook the deer into your path as you are to scare it away..... maybe a google search would turn up the article...
Rex
Rex
driller
El Presidente
Longer answer, yes. Well, maybe. OK, I think so?
I log about 25,000 to 35,000 miles per year at work. A lot of secondary roads with lots of deer, particularly at night or early morning hours. I have faithfully installed 'deer alerts' for many years. The one time I hit a deer was primetime late evening hours on a secondary road at about 60 mph - and no 'deer alerts'.
Coincidence? I think not. When I see deer, they are as a general rule fixated on my approach. I see them, they see me, they stay still, I drive by ... and all is well. Maybe some are spooked by the 'whistle', but IMHO far more are 'alerted'.
Problem... I do not think the Mark VIII has any viable mounting areas available for the 'deer alerts'. Proper mounting is a must, but usually on a pickup, that is no problem.
I log about 25,000 to 35,000 miles per year at work. A lot of secondary roads with lots of deer, particularly at night or early morning hours. I have faithfully installed 'deer alerts' for many years. The one time I hit a deer was primetime late evening hours on a secondary road at about 60 mph - and no 'deer alerts'.
Coincidence? I think not. When I see deer, they are as a general rule fixated on my approach. I see them, they see me, they stay still, I drive by ... and all is well. Maybe some are spooked by the 'whistle', but IMHO far more are 'alerted'.
Problem... I do not think the Mark VIII has any viable mounting areas available for the 'deer alerts'. Proper mounting is a must, but usually on a pickup, that is no problem.
They usually stop at night, because of the lights. Whenever you shine a light directly at them, and they look, they dont move. I have heard of hunters doing this, shining, where they just have the handheld lights and Shine deer, you can shoot at em, and they wont even move. Nothing much to do with whistle though. Are those sort of like dog whistles?? Just kidding.
sleeper
Former LOD President
True, but i have a cool story to the contrary. A couple of guys i know were on a crotchrocket up north (northern michigan, where they live) on a back road (they're all back roads up there) hauling ***. They saw a deer on the side of the road... they were going like 120. The deer started to run alongside of the road then jumped out in front of them. They hit the deer pretty much in the middle. The deer split in half. The rear end of the deer came back and broke the drivers leg, but he managed to keep the bike on two wheels (his elbows swelled up like softballs afterward from the impact of the deer, with a passenger leaning on him). The passenger had to leave the driver on the side of the road as he rode the bike (still driveable, despite the bent to hell front fork, etc...) to get help.
All was well in the end, but i still thought that was a sweet story to relay.
Neontail97
New member
Will whistles help? Maybe, maybe not. My sister-in-law nailed a deer and she had the whistles. But who's to say they wouldn't help in certain situations. The whistles are cheap so there's little lost in trying them.
They are probably most effective at creating jobs and revenue for the people and company that make them.
Whistles are sort of like radar detectors. Just because you have one doesn't mean you won't be a victim. Your best defense is to drive cautiously and when in deer crossing areas in early AM and late PM, slow down and don't drive with tunnel vision. After countless close calls and no impacts I believe an alert driver can drastically reduce the chance of hitting a deer.
They are probably most effective at creating jobs and revenue for the people and company that make them.
Whistles are sort of like radar detectors. Just because you have one doesn't mean you won't be a victim. Your best defense is to drive cautiously and when in deer crossing areas in early AM and late PM, slow down and don't drive with tunnel vision. After countless close calls and no impacts I believe an alert driver can drastically reduce the chance of hitting a deer.
IMO, those whistles are a waste of money. I live in an area that has more than it's fair share of deer. Deer don't necessarily react to whistles, the sounds of a car, or shotguns.
You're better off driving carefully in areas where deer are known to exist. Be aware that deer generally travel in numbers, so if you see one crossing the road on the run, more may follow.
You're better off driving carefully in areas where deer are known to exist. Be aware that deer generally travel in numbers, so if you see one crossing the road on the run, more may follow.
devicemanager
New member
Yeah - I didn't have too much faith in them either. What happens if you put them on backwards... Then the deer will be sliding under the car - lol!
Alexander
LOD Board of Directors
I drive in upstate New York a lot and know many people who have had accidents with deer. Luckily, I have seen many deer cross my path, but I have never hit one.
I have never used the deer alerts. I don't know if they work.
They do sell electronc versions now, that do not need to externally mounted. http://www.gizmocity.com/deeralert.html
Alexander
President
Lincolns of Distinction
I have never used the deer alerts. I don't know if they work.
They do sell electronc versions now, that do not need to externally mounted. http://www.gizmocity.com/deeralert.html
Alexander
President
Lincolns of Distinction
BadSax
enjoys 3 martini lunches
I had dear whistles when I was living up in NH, the only difference that I noticed was that dear would look up to see where the noise was coming from. I never had any dear run from the sound, but at least if they were grazing, they would lift there heads so I could see them. Can't hurt to have them...
-Joe
-Joe