I ran over a deer

[centralcoaster33]

Well, I ran over my first deer. Quite literally ran over, not hit. I was taking my typical Friday night drive. It was still a bit early, deer hours. Post dusk, but not quite black night. I see them regularly at that time and typically drive a bit later to avoid them and traffic. I'm quite careful for them as well as all the 'coons, bunnies, fox, possum, bobcat, etc. I guess it was only 9:30 as I was cruising along Summit Road. I was speeding, though not excessively, just the usual faster than the posted speed limit one would drive when visibility is good. This is a link between the curvy roads I like, so I was not "attacking" anything.

Well, three deer were on the side of the road. I saw them, as well as the oncoming traffic, with plenty of reaction time to spare. Three cars, starting with an SUV, then a car, then a truck. Well, they were closer to the deer than I was, so they "got there first". As I approached, I was preparing to stop, as it appeared they were to, but the scene changed. The deer were going to make a break for it. So, it appeared there was an opening to cruise through and that's when I decided a complete stop wasn't necessary. Similarly, that's what the SUV in opposing traffic must have thought, though they were completely wrong in that they had the wrong direction. The deer ran in front of, behind and directly into (all three deer) this SUV who apparently decided to freaking gun it through there. Well, the spooked deer in the middle charged into the now speeding SUV and WHAM! off the side of the SUV, tossed into the air, flipping, about 6 feet up and about 10 feet over, THUD! directly in front of my still moving (maybe 10 MPH) car. It landed on it's side and that's how I ran over the deer. I could feel it under my seat, soft, kind of rolling around. I could not drive over it all the way. I put it in reverse and pulled back. I was off the deer. It lay there, facing me, eyes glassed over.

The SUV was gone. I pulled ahead, then over. I have some gloves, so I put those on and went to drag the deer out of the lane and onto the shoulder. She twitched a bit as I did this. I had to tell myself it was nerves. That she's dead and not suffering. I patted her on the side and wished her well in her spiritual journey (just in case). Emotionally, this sucked pretty bad. I went back to the car, got the flashlight and inspected the undercarriage as much as I could see. Vehicularly, there was no problem. I don’t have that nice lip spoiler, so my front end clearance is pretty significant.

As I drove away I thought about it. The visual of the flipping deer in the air, the eyes facing me as it lay in the road. I've killed other things. I've not felt good about any of those, but they were smaller (and mentally, that's significant). Many a time I have thought happily about the lack of ever killing a deer. It's not uncommon in California. Now, I've had a part in it. Maybe he would have lived through that tossing, had I not ran him over the second time. It doesn't matter. It just sucked and that particular deer is dead. Was the SUV supposed to stop and check things out? Was I supposed to call the highway patrol to clear the carcass? Could I have just tossed it into my trunk and taken it to a butcher? Do other people take road kill to butchers? Do I need a hunting license to do that? Is it expensive or can I pay by letting the butcher keep half of the meat?

How wasteful I must be, driving off, leaving the dead dear, polluting my atmosphere with burnt gas, all in the name of s***'s and giggles? A joy ride? I didn't feel much joy in my heart that night. I'm a bit upset about it all. I didn't even tell my wife. I don't think I can. She'd just cry. I could have told my friend on Saturday, as we were mountain biking around trails. I chickened out. I feel like telling someone. So, I’m telling you.

[Rogue One]

[Dattebayo]

Don't feel so bad about it. We removed most of the apex predators that would hunt deer (and humans), so your car has taken up their mantle. It's throaty rev is now the howl of a hunter. Just don't let it turn all Christine on you or anyone else...

I don't know the answer to all those roadkill questions, though.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah I'd advise against picking up a roadkill deer unless you're willing to double tap kill it.

[szh]

Yeah I'd advise against picking up a roadkill deer unless you're willing to double tap kill it.

That is hilarious!

Z

[TDot]

How could you only be moving 10mph and not be able to stop fast enough to a/ not run into the deer and b/ get the deer all the way to under your drivers seat? Yet you could clearly see in detail the happenings of that dear being hit by yhe SUV. Sounds faster than 10mph to me, and why you were unable to stop in time .

[Bubba1]

My one deer incident happened in my old red 240SX. I had just picked up my then infant son from daycare, near a farm. I was stopped at a traffic light when the light turned green. Just as I let out the clutch, a big doe comes sprinting out of a field and runs smack into my right front fender, just in front of the wheel well. It did a spectacular somersault that the East German judges would have given a 9.2 Moments after I got out of the car, the dang thing got up and trottted away. My feeling of relief (that no one/nothing got injured) ended abruptly when I learned that doe did $1,000 damage to my car. My insurance covered it without question. My agent stopped by to see it and chuckled that it left a small chunk of hair in the RF marker light housing.

[frapjap]

As I drove away I thought about it. The visual of the flipping deer in the air, the eyes facing me as it lay in the road. I've killed other things. I've not felt good about any of those, but they were smaller (and mentally, that's significant). Many a time I have thought happily about the lack of ever killing a deer. It's not uncommon in California. Now, I've had a part in it. Maybe he would have lived through that tossing, had I not ran him over the second time. It doesn't matter. It just sucked and that particular deer is dead. Was the SUV supposed to stop and check things out? Was I supposed to call the highway patrol to clear the carcass? Could I have just tossed it into my trunk and taken it to a butcher? Do other people take road kill to butchers? Do I need a hunting license to do that? Is it expensive or can I pay by letting the butcher keep half of the meat?

Thats a bummer, but don't let it bug you, there are plenty of deer around.
As for your questions-
if the SUV driver was smart, he'd of stopped and assessed damage, but maybe they had a warrant for arrest or were driving drunk. He'd probably still be able to claim insurance and all regardless so if that were the case, it made sense to keep going.
You could call highway patrol, but they'll probably do what you did and drag it to the side of the road.

A friend of mine hit a deer and called the police to get a report for her insurance. The cop walked up, shot the still moving (and in pain) deer in the head and asked her "you want it?" She took it because shes a meat scientist and was able to dress it and butcher it herself.

No, you don't need a license to take a deer you hit with a car.

The butcher would not say anything at all since there are no gunshot wounds or arrow entry points on the body. Its not the cheapest, but bartering certainly helps.

[elwesso]

No, you don't need a license to take a deer you hit with a car.

The butcher would not say anything at all since there are no gunshot wounds or arrow entry points on the body. Its not the cheapest, but bartering certainly helps.

That depends on the state. In Indiana if you run over a deer and want to take it you still have to call the DNR and get a tag.

Definitely don't feel bad about it. Call it "darwinism" and you were just taking out the stupid deer, so on the whole deer are now a little bit smarter...

Typically you are not required to stop or call the cops if an incident doesn't involve another vehicle/person, especially when its a comprehensive claim (road hazard).

I've had pretty bad luck with critters and vehicles, fortunately none did enough damage to total the car or injure anyone. Both cases the critter darted out right in front of me from a ditch, so there's no way I could have seen them or prevented it (and oddly enough I was going the speed limit in both cases). First one I hit a Coyote on my way to work on my CTS-V that I'd had for less than 3 months... Destroyed the bumper, foglight, and grille, cost about $2000. About 2 months ago I bought a brand new car, and hit a groundhog or something smaller like that.. Did no cosmetic damage, but destroyed the intercooler, radiator, and condenser, and cost about $3000. I'd prefer other means of thinning out the critter population other than the front of my vehicle.

[centralcoaster33]

Hey guys, thank you for the feedback. I guess I could have taken the deer (according to frapjap) and I'm maybe lucky I didn't (according to PapaSmurf2K3). I do like venison.

Hi TDot, I'm sorry my story didn't read as being physically possible. As far as being able to stop, I could have been going 3mph and not been able to. The deer landed directly in front of my bumper after ricocheting off of the SUV and performing some acrobatics. As I said, I would have been able to stop initially, but the situation changed (moving vehicles, moving animals) and I thought I could get 'through', so I didn't stop. AFter that decisions was made, the situation changed again and my opportunity to stop had passed. With the deer being under my car about 8 feet past the front end (no, I didn't measure this with a tape), that puts my stopping distance at about 10 or 12 feet. Per stopping distance calculators (based on physics), that had me driving at about 7-9mph.

Thanks again. The situation sucked. I learned stuff. It may be useful knowledge and experience in the future. The laughter medicine really helped. I appreciate the video clip.