This morning we had planned to have breakfast at iHop in Harker Heights, kinda between Killeen and Belton, and we weren’t sure if there would be a wait so we left home a few minutes earlier. Yesterday we left about 7:10 and this morning, we left about 6:50. Today was overcast so it seemed earlier . . darker. Yesterday we saw probably a dozen deer along the road between here and the first little town. It’s a very rural area, not many houses at all, a narrow 2 lane road . . which is unusual for Texas roads, and about 20 miles long. We probably weren’t three miles along that road and BAM . . hit a deer!
Deer Damage
We lived in Kentucky for 9-1/2 years, in Missouri for 4-1/2 years and here over 4 years. I’m not sure we knew anyone in Kentucky, Missouri or Texas who hasn’t hit a deer and neither of us had ever hit one til this morning.
We were very lucky . . driving along that road 70 or 75 mph, it could have been so much worse. Vince knew not to swerve or hit the brakes. I would probably have done both but . . I also am the one always watching the sides of the road for deer. I even saw that one coming and yelled “DEER!” but Vince said “what was I supposed to do?”
There’s no serious damage to the car . . nothing that can’t be fixed. That front left fender is barely bent and the paint is kinda splintered. The deer’s feet must have scraped down the driver’s door but it isn’t dented – just scraped. The bumper will have to be replaced and that left headlight is bent and out of whack. I have a trip to MO planned in a few weeks and even if the body shop can’t get the whole car fixed, if they can get that headlight better aligned, I’ll still be able to go.
When we hit it, we stopped, looked at the damage, picked up the pieces of the bumper out of the road, talked about what a waste it was to not be able to put that deer in the freezer . . and went on to the Mother Earth News Fair. We were very blessed . . it could have been so much worse . . we could have been injured, car could have been disabled. I’m sorry it happened (for the car and the deer) but there’s always a bright side to everything.
On the trip yesterday, we were talking about how hard it was to believe our car is almost 9 years old and never had any kind of fender bender. Guess we shouldn’t have said that!
Life goes on and we are thankful . . things can be fixed!
PattiLynn says
I’m glad you and Vince are okay! That’s so scary…especially when you see it coming and can’t do anything to avoid it. Just hang on and BAM. Still you got to make your trip.
Sheila says
Your poor car. Glad to hear you guys were not hurt. Many people hit deer with cars and motorcycles here in NC. There have been injuries and worse.
JudyL says
I never thought about motorcycles. People are braver than I am if they ride motorcycles in areas that have so many deer.
Sherrill says
That was ALWAYS my biggest fear when we lived in CO. I’d heard there were some noise-making gadget you could put on your car (not heard by human ears) that would scare the deer away but some said they worked, others said they didn’t so never got them. I’ve always thought every said should have what AK has where you can call the police about roadkill and they contact someone who’ll come and pick it up pronto for processing and getting to those in need.
Sherrill says
ever STATE, not said (good grief)
Michelle says
Like you said, things can be fixed. It’s a shame for you guys and the deer, but thank God that’s all it was. Haven’t hit one myself yet, but I’ve come way too close.
Laura says
You can buy this gadget that makes a whistling sound that attaches to
car and is suppose to alert deer. Anyone know if it does work?
JudyL says
Some swear by them but I’ve seen too many people who had them and they hit deer as much as anyone else. Google them and you’ll get lots of info.
Kay L Ford-Sollimo says
Must be the year for it. I’ve lived in a wooded area of southern NJ for 47 years. It is heavily populated with deer and getting more so. Last October I was hit by a deer – I emphasize that I did not hit the deer, rather he went airborne between the oncoming traffic and used my car as a trampoline. Nearly $3000 damage, but thankfully no human injury. Had I stopped I would have been rear-ended by the car tailgating me in rush hour traffic. This, too, was my first encounter. The lady at the body shop told me that she has a number of customers who visit yearly for their deer/car or truck collisions.
cindy says
if you call the game warden, they will come out and either give you the deer or take it to be used for places/people who feed the homeless and needy and the deer doesn’t go to waste.
JudyL says
Rules are different in every state. Here you only call a game warden if the deer is not dead but even then, it’s pretty accepted, at least in our area, to go ahead and shoot it to put it out of its misery. You cannot harvest the meat though.
Here, if you can’t shoot it, call the sheriff’s department. I don’t think there are enough game wardens to take care of the number of deer killed every day.
Q1: A deer has been hit on the highway, what do I do?
A1: If the deer is just injured call your local game warden dispatcher. If you are absolutely sure the deer is dead, you may move it off the roadway and leave it there. Texas Department of Transportation will remove the dead animal. It is illegal to tag the deer (or any game animal for that matter) and take it with you.
AmyM says
So scary.. glad you are both ok.. that is the main thing!