Car Deer Scarers?

[Flatcoat]

Does anyone have any direct experience of one and do they work? We will be making regular trips to the Scottish Highlands this winter and already had a closish encounter with a deer herd on the road. Pondering whether these are a gimmick or actually useful. 

[Bper]

Hi Adrian, Two methods the first is a ultrasonic deer whistle,these emit a high-frequency sound that humans can’t hear but is designed to alert deer and other animals to your approach. They mount easily on the bumper and activate at specific speeds.

The Kilt Method,buy yourself a kilt. Then, if a deer does run out in front of you, jump out of the car, give that kilt a good lift, and I guarantee, that deer will be bolting in the other direction!😂

[Flatcoat]

12 minutes ago, Bper said:

Hi Adrian, Two methods the first is a ultrasonic deer whistle,these emit a high-frequency sound that humans can’t hear but is designed to alert deer and other animals to your approach. They mount easily on the bumper and activate at specific speeds.

The Kilt Method,buy yourself a kilt. Then, if a deer does run out in front of you, jump out of the car, give that kilt a good lift, and I guarantee, that deer will be bolting in the other direction!😂

😂 already tried my kilt…. They just laughed! Will look at the whistle option instead….. reviews seem very mixed. Do you have personal experience of using such a device? 

[Bper]

12 minutes ago, Flatcoat said:

😂 already tried my kilt…. They just laughed! Will look at the whistle option instead….. reviews seem very mixed. Do you have personal experience of using such a device? 

I do have experience with the kilt but thats another story.😂

Deer do not always react predictably to the sound. Some may ignore it, while others might become startled and run in unpredictable directions, possibly even toward the sound.

Ultrasonic frequencies don’t carry very far, especially at lower speeds. Deer would have to be quite close to hear the sound, limiting the warning. The problem is all animals are unpredictable and any of these devices are not guaranteed to work. IMHO I would watch your speed and just be vigilant its all you can really do.

Enjoy your trip Scotland is a beautiful place👍

 

[moggio53]

I would investigate a recipe for roasted venison haunch and venison burgers. And take a small BBQ with you

[Rhymes with Paris]

The only reliable method I found on a road trip through Scotland to Inverness was to attach a blown up photo of the mother in law to the front bumper.

I had to temporarily take it down from above the fireplace where it was useful in preventing the kids getting too close to the fire 🔥 for the trip.

 

[Mjolinor]

1 hour ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

The only reliable method I found on a road trip through Scotland to Inverness was to attach a blown up photo of the mother in law to the front bumper.

I had to temporarily take it down from above the fireplace where it was useful in preventing the kids getting too close to the fire 🔥 for the trip.

 

Hmm, I think it's best to not scare them like that really, they become unpredictable when scared.

[Primus1]

Do they work on Audi drivers..?

[Rhymes with Paris]

3 hours ago, Primus1 said:

Do they work on Audi drivers..?

Unfortunately, nothing short of 10ft flames shooting out of the exhaust pipe will stop a tailgating Audi driver.

[Suzy100]

Having had a run in with one myself, I'd be more careful in the early mornings and the evenings, when they seem to be more active.

Thing is, they are difficult to see at the side of the road and totally unpredictable. 

It was early morning. It walked out into the road. Hadn't seen it at all. It seemed to stop as I braked so I swerved to the other side of the road to miss it, but the stupid beast decided to swerve too......😞

 

 

[Primus1]

This happened to me last year

[Cyker]

Yikes, that was close!  

I have a similarly close encounter video but don't want to post it as it is not really in the same scale of peril (Rather than a deer it was... a small rabbit)

[Rhymes with Paris]

Reminds me of when I had my light weight (plastic and tinfoil) Citroen AX.

It was only a year old then, and I was taking my brother home to face the wrath of his dear wife after him going on a bender, and then landing on me.

Two dogs ran out on the country road near the cemetery,it was dark and I only saw the dogs in the headlights as I hit one of them running across the road.

The dog that was hit rolled a few times, got up, shook its head, and ran off into the darkness, it looked a bit like a pit bull type, although they were hardly heard of in those days, apart from the poor chap in this town who had his face bitten off by one, leading to the dangerous dogs act at the time.

My Citroen however fared somewhat worse, the bonnet was destroyed, the radiator too, the offside headlight, the front grille, and a kink in the offside wing.

I hope the dog was ok however, as it was obviously the owner at fault .

There is absolutely nothing that can be done to avoid random animals (and phone zombies) who run out into dark roads with no warning.

 

[Cyker]

I didn't realize the french invented crumple-zones!   

[Flatcoat]

Many years ago some friends had a deer leap over a wall landing on, and writing off their 3 day old Fiat Punto. My bro in law who lives near Loch Ness had his Astra written off too with a dawn encounter. 

[Cyker]

Are you telling me the Loch Ness monster is really belligerent deer?!  

[FROSTYBALLS]

A few years ago, we were staying in holiday accommodation in the mountains by Drumnadrochit. The initial part of the mountain road had steep banks on either side, around 8 feet in height. One evening whilst returning to the accommodation, an adult deer leapt from one bank to the other, right over our car - from our view it was definitely female.

[Rhymes with Paris]

39 minutes ago, Cyker said:

I didn't realize the french invented crumple-zones!   

Oh,it certainly crumpled alright, and then some.

But as I might have mentioned before,😉 the occasional time,it being so lightweight , the upside was world beating economy at that time.

Somebody hyper miling got 112 mpg out of one, and pretty reliable, I just had to remember to avoid heavy dogs 🐕, and indeed stray loch Ness monsters.

All this of course, before the engine strangling gubbins that came after that to save the planet, and balance out your pal Sadiq driving around in his free armour plated V8 strange Rover.

[Rhymes with Paris]

29 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

A few years ago, we were staying in holiday accommodation in the mountains by Drumnadrochit. The initial part of the mountain road had steep banks on either side, around 8 feet in height. One evening whilst returning to the accommodation, an adult deer leapt from one bank to the other, right over our car - from our view it was definitely female.

Good that it made the leap then, and no damage to you or the deer.

Very scary though, when a close call like that happens.

If it had been a male deer ,it would probably have kicked the roof on purpose, and sworn at you to watch where you were going.

 

[Bper]

2 hours ago, Cyker said:

Yikes, that was close!  

I have a similarly close encounter video but don't want to post it as it is not really in the same scale of peril (Rather than a deer it was... a small rabbit)

Are you really looking to post the video or just dangling a carrot.😂

[Flatcoat]

2 hours ago, Cyker said:

Are you telling me the Loch Ness monster is really belligerent deer?!  

Quite possibly! 

[Cyker]

51 minutes ago, Bper said:

Are you really looking to post the video or just dangling a carrot.😂

Now now this is a family friendly forum, I don't think videos of dangling carrots would be appropriate...   

[Mjolinor]

 

I used to service a VX 490 back in the 70s. For those that don't remember (pretty much all of us once we get to this age) that's a monster of a car that was also made of tinfoil.

It was the guy's pride and joy, I think he polished it every day and it wanted for nowt.

He went down to Devon on holiday in it and while driving down those narrow lanes with banks on both sides there was an almighty bang and the roof collapsed completely on to of him and his family.

A cow had lost its footing inthe field and slid down the field, through the fence and luckily he was there at that instant to save the cow from harm.

Car was totaled.

Be grateful you see the deer and can at least try to avoid it. Packages from above are a lot more of a shock.

[Flatcoat]

The VX 4/90 was in essence the ‘go faster’ Victor….. I use ‘go faster’ in context of the 60’s…… 

[Mjolinor]

52 minutes ago, Flatcoat said:

The VX 4/90 was in essence the ‘go faster’ Victor….. I use ‘go faster’ in context of the 60’s…… 

They didn't really need to "go faster". It was scary enough going round corners within the speed limit in one of those. It just felt like you were on the edge.