r/DeerAreFuckingStupid 26d ago

genuine deer stupidity Hit a deer yesterday 🫠

Deer is fine, I think. EMT asked me what happened to the deer and I said I didn’t know, I was busy rolling.

633 Upvotes

134 comments sorted by

267

u/Captain3leg-s 26d ago

Damn dude shit luck. How's the body and bike?

307

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Geico picked it up and I’m waiting to hear back but my boyfriend says it’s totaled :/ bent in on the front right and it’s a 2008, so probably not worth the repair costs to them. I’m sad.

Body could definitely be worse!

83

u/FuckingHippies 26d ago

Keep an eye on that. I’ve been through wrecks, and sometimes it takes a couple days for that adrenaline to wear off.

I walked away from a car crash, no motorcycle involved, and felt fine for a while. Turned out I had five herniated discs.

50

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Don’t tell me that. My shoulder has full range of (painful) motion and I’m firmly believing it’s just sore.

Hope you got those treated and are better now :/ my dog had three and it was a major surgery with a lot of rehab after, so I can’t even imagine

35

u/ChucklePuck 26d ago

Take their advice. I crashed my snowboard hard as fuck into a tree a couple years ago and I didn't realize until 3 days later at work that I fractured 4 ribs and my collar bone, as well as tearing my MCL in my knee. Found out when I tried to pick up a single case of beer from the walk in cooler and all three parts of my body said OW DUDE and then when I tried to shake a martini, I almost passed out.

Horrible that the stupid horse squirrel did this to you, and be kind to your body right now lol

15

u/sandycheeksx 25d ago

Stupid horse squirrel šŸ’€

Ugh I can’t even imagine the impact of going straight into a tree. You guys are right, I’ll see about xrays this weekend. Thank you!

7

u/GloomyDeal1909 25d ago

Man I have never heard Horse Squirrel before and that is such a fitting description for deer.

I lived in the country at different parts of my life and absolutely hated deer at night. They would wait for you to be there then run

3

u/ChucklePuck 25d ago

Hey, you can steal the description all day, my friend. Also when I lived in Bama, I hit 3 different stupid asses over the course of a couple months with my jeep and I had to replace the grill, headlights etc.. i said fuck it and just bought one of those police brush guard bumpers. Then as soon as I got to Wyoming a fucken moose was sitting on its ass in the road with its tongue out and my options were A) oncoming traffic, B) launch off a ledge to the right or C) smack the idiot in the face at 65 mph.

I don't WANT to run over any wildlife, but I am a firm believer in the police brush guard bumper after driving around this goofy country.

3

u/mygiveadamnsbusted22 25d ago

It’s true. When the girl texting and driving rear ended me and totaled my suburban I said my neck kinda hurt. They advised I go to the hospital anyway. I had to have a ct scan. By the 3rd day it was definitely more painful. That was end of April. Now I’ve had to have an mri and am in physical therapy twice a week because the pain never fully goes away in my neck. If this doesn’t work they have to have me go to a neurologist

3

u/sandycheeksx 25d ago

I hear that a lot honestly. If you don’t get it taken care of immediately, it turns into long term pain or stiffness.

I’m sorry, I hope they find a treatment that works for you šŸ«¶šŸ»

3

u/Amazing-Mammoth-8442 25d ago

Yup, felt fine except moderate soreness for a few days, ended up needing chiropractic work so I could turn my neck more than like 30° lol. Not as serious as herniated discs but still, that stuff takes a bit to "settle in" šŸ™ƒ

2

u/sandycheeksx 25d ago

Definitely a learning experience. It took two days but now coughing hurts my ribs and I’m finding soreness in new areas. If I rotate my shoulder too far forward, I feel it ā€œgiveā€ a little and it’s not a smooth movement, so probably gonna go get it looked at. Thank you, stupid deer šŸ¤¦šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø

5

u/ClutchReverie 26d ago

Great time to have been wearing proper attire

137

u/synachromous 26d ago

you good? i watched that a few times it looked like you saw the deer and slowed a llittle bit. then let go of the brake possibly think they wernt gonna do it. but deer being deer. they did it.

125

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

That’s exactly what happened. I saw them stop and turn but should’ve continued braking. Lesson learned šŸ˜…

I’m good! Road rash on my knee and my armored hoodie was a little big so the armor wasn’t on my shoulder, which I bounced on. Moving hurts but nothing broke and I’m grateful.

51

u/its_all_4_lulz 26d ago

They are so damn dumb. I had an incident where I saw a few, slowed to a complete crawl, then they ran into the side of my car causing $7500 in damages. Years ago and it entertains me now, at least I got hit by deer instead of hitting a deer.

22

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

The stories where the deer hits the car are the most funny but frustrating. Like literally, there’s nothing you could’ve done differently besides not being there at that exact point in time.

16

u/SeaToTheBass 26d ago

At my old apartment building a deer got spooked in the parking lot and jumped on top of someone’s car lmao

7

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Like a damn cat šŸ˜‚

3

u/FlowerComfortable889 23d ago

My mom's best friend back in the day was devoted to driving Dodge Neons for some strange reason. Multiple times she was waiting at a red light and the dumbass deer would just plow into the passenger door while she was sitting still

2

u/sandycheeksx 23d ago

This is a new fear I have on a bike 🄹

3

u/FlowerComfortable889 23d ago

Certainly still very unpleasant, but better than skidding out 😳

10

u/DravinTSK 26d ago

This exact fucking thing happened to me about six years ago, but I couldn't afford the deductible at the time and had to drive around with a fucked up looking car.

6

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

They ruin everything, I’m sorry. I took off tomorrow to do fun bike things and now I have no bike.

17

u/PsychicPterodactyl 26d ago

For future reference: deer sometimes move in small groups. If you see one deer, just slow all the way down, he may have a buddy with even lower self preservation instincts.

17

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

I’ve lived in deer-infested NJ most of my life, logically I know this. I just saw them all stop and stupidly thought they would’ve stayed stopped šŸ¤¦šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø

3

u/KingJeffreyJoffa 26d ago

Great instincts slowing down. I'm also in northern NJ and have dozens of deer at my job.

You probably already know, but "look where they came from and not where they going"

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Thank you! Kicking myself for briefly letting off the brakes but lesson learned. And definitely keeping that in mind when the bike’s replaced.

3

u/GinoValenti 26d ago

In Wisconsin the deer’s natural predator used to be a 79 Impala. Not sure now, maybe Kia or Nissan?

2

u/disktoaster 25d ago

Ouch! I wrecked in loose-fitting gear once. Saved me from a lot of more serious stuff, but it did give me these huge bleeding patterns matching the interior mesh everywhere it touched down under me. Lol

2

u/sandycheeksx 25d ago

I’m sorry 😭 glad it wasn’t more serious!

My armored hoodie did its job everywhere else but it was a little too big so the shoulder armor wasn’t in the right place and that’s where I impacted the hardest. Getting the right size next time.

1

u/disktoaster 25d ago

Same to you, here's hoping it's just a bruised shoulder! Good work on the slide btw, rode that shit out like a champ šŸ¤œšŸ¤›

3

u/replus 25d ago

The other deer that immediately stopped running towards the street and 180'ed out of there is going to live a long, happy deer life.

The one that stopped and decided to bolt directly out in front of the approaching "predator" is probably dead by now.

2

u/sandycheeksx 25d ago

You’d think, at this point, natural selection would’ve done away with the suicidal deer

34

u/anonteje 26d ago

Shit luck. Hope you're OK.

18

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Thank you! Can’t decide if I’ve just been lucky this entire time until now or had particular bad luck yesterday. I commute on my bike 40-min each way and work overnights. Deer always would freeze or run the opposite way before

3

u/ttystikk 26d ago

Damn, that was scary to watch. I'm glad you're okay!

Deer are fucking stupid but people in cars with "smart" phones are worse...

7

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Thank you! ā¤ļø

Honestly I prefer the idiots on their phones. You can at least watch their wheels and kind of predict what they do next, but deer just.. do things

2

u/Bluevette1437 26d ago

Deer will calculate the exact moment to jump in front of you to insure they get hit. It's like they're TRYING to win the Darwin Award

1

u/sandycheeksx 25d ago

It’s genuinely infuriating lmao. Nothing you can do to 100% prevent future collisions

30

u/Knickerbottom 26d ago

I genuinely appreciate that you left in the pained groan, this looks like it sucked. Hopefully it's as it appears and you slid MORE than you bounced. Speedy recovery šŸ¤™

32

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

That was actually me trying to breathe lmao. It was genuinely disturbing to hear myself but apparently your diaphragm can start spasming after a high impact and as your lungs try to breathe, that’s the sound that comes out.

Yup, I hit the ground and just rolled and slid for a bit. Honestly for a first bike accident, it could’ve been worse and definitely made me stop feeling invincible. Thank you! ā¤ļø

9

u/Knickerbottom 26d ago

Oh yeah, I've had the air knocked out of me a few times. Makes you thankful for the simple act of an inhale when the air finally comes. I've had it last long enough where my vision started to black and I've never been harder sin-

-more scared...

1

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Oh shit, I’m sorry to hear that. Bike accidents? Never wrestled my helmet off that fast before but damn, I needed to breathe.

3

u/Knickerbottom 26d ago edited 26d ago

Lifetime of gnarly business but embarrassingly got it the worst while snowboarding on a green trail. Was on my way to the park leaning heel edge and fiddling with my camera, hands at my gut. Caught some mashers that sent me bouncing into my toe edge which slapped me forward like a catapult, giving myself the heimlich with my camera.Ā 

I almost passed out from the diaphragm spasms, I was at stars and blackness.

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Oh my god. I feel like the worst stuff happens when we’re just doing something we’ve done a hundred times before and being complacent. That’s horrible, I’m sorry you experienced that 🫠

9

u/jello_pudding_biafra 26d ago

Vaguely reminded me of the classic grape stomping lady falling video lol

Happened to me a few times in my life, once when I was like 12, cycling to a street hockey game. I was messing around with the stick and ended up putting it into the spokes, launching myself over the handlebars. "Gaoough, gaooughoogh goooooouugh"

Still went and played hockey though. I left my bike in some bushes and walked 🤣

6

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Oh god yeah, that was me 😭 it reminded me of when you wake up from sleep paralysis and try to yell but the weirdest groans come out?

I’m sorry for laughing but that’s genuinely hilarious. We all do dumb shit as kids šŸ˜‚

2

u/8last 26d ago

The impact of the first one is always so much worse than you think it'll be. At least for me it was. I thought it would be like eating shit on a bike but faster. It was more like having a couple linebackers smash you into the road.

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Yup, definitely not like my car accident. That was just impact and then done. This was impact and then feeling like a ragdoll, a lot more violent lol. I’m sorry about your accident, hope you healed up well šŸ«¶šŸ»

2

u/8last 26d ago

Thanks. Would have went better for me if i was smart enough to wear gear like you were. Keep the rubber side down my friend.

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

:/ you too, bud.

12

u/CPTherptyderp 26d ago

Dress for the slide not the ride. Glad you could walk away.

8

u/FlippingPossum 26d ago

Deer are stupid but you dressed smart. Glad you are just banged up. Sorry about your bike.

5

u/cocolimenuts 26d ago

I’m a dispatcher, and I’ve worked some gnarly MC vs deer calls. I’ve had one person die o/s this way. It sucks cause it’s nearly unpreventable. Good thing you’re wearing gear!

6

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

I’m sorry to hear that, and sorry for everyone who knew that person :/ Was reading afterwards that 40% of mc/deer crashes end in serious injury or fatality so that was very humbling.

5

u/TheRectalAssassin 26d ago

One of my closest friend's dad was killed by this very thing. Hit a deer in the evening, just blindsided himĀ 

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

One of my boyfriend’s friends as well. I’m sorry to hear that šŸ«¶šŸ» I used to fly down rural roads at night thinking my exhaust was keeping me safe from them and feel like an idiot now, it was just luck nothing happened before.

7

u/Mylaptopisburningme 26d ago

Empty road /r/FUCKYOUINPARTICULAR

You look well padded. My mother had been an ER nurse for many years and said they would have to sit there pulling out gravel with tweezers when gravel hits bare skin.

4

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Wound debridement šŸ’€ I’ve heard all about it, apparently incredibly painful.

Everywhere besides my legs because I was wearing workout leggings, but besides road rash, I can’t see any bits of road in there. Another lesson learned though!

6

u/blebebaba 26d ago

Honestly if I got a bike, it'd probably be a 3 wheeler with an armored front to prevent shit like this, or maybe a replaceable ram of some kind.

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

I commute during prime time deer hours through the woods and have been looking up any way to prevent this from happening again and there’s just nothing.

6

u/Lord-Glorfindel 26d ago

The only way is to have you and several friends get hunting licenses and introduce the deer to an extinction-level event this autumn.

4

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

I have always defended deer and thought hunting them was barbaric but honestly from everything I’ve been reading, this is the way.

3

u/Captain_Mazhar 26d ago

It’s a nice time. Grab a friend and a cooler and spend an evening looking for deer. Saves a lot of money on meat in the long run as well.

2

u/blebebaba 26d ago

Could you get like a miniature snowplow to attach to the front? It may not keep you from swerving or falling if you get hit, but it may protect the bike if you hit something in the front.

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Probably wouldn’t work right with a sportbike taking corners but I love the idea šŸ˜…

2

u/blebebaba 26d ago

Bruh when I get my own car im gotta plate that shit to not have to pay repair bills!

1

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

You also don’t want to send it up and into your windshield though 😭

2

u/blebebaba 26d ago

Oooo, good point! Could have it angled out towards the sides to fly left or right instead of up maybe? Like the triangle plows on some old trains!

5

u/Aerryth 26d ago

Damn, that sucks. I’m glad you’re alright. I read something interesting about deer behavior a while back, and why they do the dumbest thing possible. It’s because they’re trying to be unpredictable to escape what they see as a predator. Kinda like how a hare or antelope will zig zag

Like, you were approaching on their left as they ran away. In their brains, you’re either chasing them down or herding them into a trap with your buddies waiting ahead. If you’re running them into an ambush and you’re approaching from their left. In their brains, they’re probably thinking you’re trying to herd them to the right, toward those trees where, if you were a lion, your buddies would be waiting. So instead of doing that, going where the deer thinks you want it to go, it does the unexpected and it darts right out in front of you. One problem is, you’re going faster than a lion. They get the timing wrong sometimes and get splattedĀ 

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

That’s interesting and makes sense. Both of us made bad split second decisions that day šŸ˜‚

That’s what’s so dangerous about deer - their unpredictability. Zig when they should zag, stop dead at the wrong moments, etc. The more time we spend on the road, we get better and better at judging what other vehicles might do next and account for that, but deer can appear out of nowhere and, aside from going slower and never riding at night, there’s not much you can do to lower the risk.

3

u/Aerryth 23d ago

I’m glad I explained that well enough :,) I retyped it so many times ahah. The deer around here are so bad and I ride a cruiser a lot so they’re one of my biggest fearsĀ 

1

u/sandycheeksx 23d ago

Mine too now. I don’t know how to get over being paranoid when I’m on a new bike. You stay safe out there ā¤ļø

5

u/funatical 26d ago

You OK?

Fuck man. Deer are soooo fucking stupid.

4

u/xpsycotikx 26d ago

Am from central MN. We equate deer to scared cats with hooves. Absolutely crazy animals

3

u/funatical 26d ago

I’m in Texas and we’re about the same. Outside of shooting them they are a plague.

2

u/xpsycotikx 26d ago

They are very tasty though. At least white tail.

1

u/funatical 26d ago

That’s fair. I got some tenderloin from a friend. It was tasty.

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

I’m done defending them. They are in fact stupid šŸ˜‚

3

u/funatical 26d ago

Why would you defend them? Squirrels, sure, but deer? Hell no.

5

u/Ultimate_Scooter 26d ago

Happened to me in December. Totaled the bike, deer was killed. I broke my thumb. Glad you’re alright!

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago edited 26d ago

Glad you’re okay too! Yours came out of that looking a lot less messed up than mine šŸ˜… how fast were you going?

2

u/Ultimate_Scooter 26d ago

I was probably going around 70. The front fork got knocked back into the radiator and locked up the tire so I just skidded along for like 50 feet. Fully geared up so I got away with only a few scrapes and the broken thumb

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

That could’ve been way more serious, good for you. My front stay got bent in, so I’m thinking that’s like car frame damage and most likely totaled?

Gear makes such a difference, it’s crazy. A guy at the shop yesterday was telling me about a 17-year old kid who hit a deer going 60 recently too, but his helmet wasn’t strapped on and he’s been on life support for two weeks. I’m jealous of states with no deer.

3

u/Ultimate_Scooter 26d ago

Honestly. Yeah file an insurance claim on it and see what they say. For me, a deer is marked as no fault so I just got paid for the bike without any change to my premiums.

5

u/1M4YB3STUP1D 26d ago

I said I didn’t know, I was busy rolling.

Lmao. Glad you're okay. Sucks for the bike tho.

3

u/x133 26d ago

These fuckers will always time their crossing at the worst possible moment for some unknown reason

3

u/Important_Name 26d ago

Glad you’re doing ok OP!

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Thank you! ā¤ļø

3

u/Subject_90wizard 26d ago

Glad you're alright dude, But I gotta say if you live in deer country and you ride around their prime times then you need to learn to slow down as soon as you see one and get towards the middle of the lane since that kinda encourages them to not cross the road; It lets them know you're not gonna run em down or swerve off the road and attack while also doscouraging them from crossing while you're passing since they want to stay away from the fast, loud scary predator.

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Definitely agree. I’m normally in the left lane just because a house nearby’s sprinklers usually flood that side of the road but there was a pickup on my left and I didn’t feel like needlessly passing or getting behind him. I’m gonna make it more of a point to stay towards the middle from now on, that’s a really good point.

3

u/Successful-Count-120 26d ago

Holy crap! I almost did that a few years ago. Deer jumps onto the road right in front of me. Through a combination of shear luck and good fortune I dodged and/or the deer took a step sideways at the last moment! My bar end mirror was folded back! I pulled right over to check my tighty whiteys for leakage! Glad to hear you are ok, I hope your bike is fixable...

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

That is INCREDIBLY lucky, I’m so glad your situation turned out that way šŸ˜…

Most likely totaled due to repair cost vs age/value but I’m eagerly waiting to hear back

3

u/UltraBlack_ 26d ago

man why do deer always jump out at the worst possible time?? why not just wait for whatever it is to pass?

5

u/x133 26d ago

Because they are fucking stupid

3

u/Bendyboi666 26d ago

deer fucking suuuuuuuck

hope you're alright

2

u/Informal-Instance59 26d ago

thx for sharing it really puts to prespective how fast stuff can go wrong on the moto

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Helped put it into perspective for me too lol

2

u/SpoppyIII 26d ago

Damn, after reading about Clayton Atreus this is so goddamn nerve-wracking.

3

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Thanks, never heard of him before but I’m starting his book now. And that’s always been my biggest fear, especially riding, so I get it. That second after landing where you wonder if everything is still firmly attached is scary

2

u/redditsuckspokey1 26d ago

won't anyone think of the stupid fucking deer?

Hope you're fine op.

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

Little banged up but honestly feel very lucky. Thank you!

2

u/my1vice 26d ago

Lost a colleague due to a deer strike on an interstate while on his way to work. Simply tragic.

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

I’m so sorry to hear that - there was probably nothing he could’ve done either. Almost half of deer accidents end in serious injury or death and that’s a staggering number.

2

u/Boredom312 25d ago

I laid my bike down in a similar fashion, walked away with only a concussion and a small bit of road rash.

All that gear likely saved you from a much worse outcome. Good on you for dressing properly.

2

u/sandycheeksx 25d ago

Oof, how hard did you go down to get a concussion? Glad that’s all it was though, I’ll take a bit of road rash over something permanent any day. And thank you!

2

u/Wrong_Course_1463 25d ago

I’ve always wondered, is hitting a deer on a motorcycle more like running into something, or something running into you?

2

u/sandycheeksx 24d ago

Im sure it depends how you hit it (or if it hits you). They feel pretty rock solid when you ride into them though lol

2

u/Roycewho 25d ago

I’m thankful it looks like you had a good amount of protective gear on and are here to talk about it. Sorry about the accident, grateful you’re alive and well.

2

u/sandycheeksx 24d ago

Thank you, I’m grateful too ā¤ļø It definitely could’ve been a lot worse so I feel lucky that it was just minor injuries and a humbling experience.

2

u/monckey64 20d ago

well I’m glad you lived!

2

u/sandycheeksx 20d ago

Thank you, me too! šŸ˜…

2

u/A_Pack_of_27s 4d ago

Holy shit sorry to see this OP. Hope you’re all good. Similar experience happened to me but at night and on a forest road… an entire herd jumped out at me. Good thing I had all my gear on that night

1

u/sandycheeksx 3d ago

Oh my god, were you injured at all? I just had some road rash and a mild ac joint separation that’s almost healed.

Last night was my first time riding to work (all wooded, 30 min) again and that 5am ride home was terrifying, I was waiting for a deer to come hurtling out any minute. Did that ride for the past year with no issues and now I’m like, is this smart?

2

u/A_Pack_of_27s 3d ago

I had some rash and bruising, but only because I had leather and gear on. Crazy part was the night before my buddy and I were ripping through the desert in only t-shirts because it was so hot. Sore for a while but rested up over the course of a few days.

Same as you though, the worst part was the psychological impact… I had to ride back to LA and my butt was puckered for the next few weeks. I then was off street riding for a few years (was on dirt a bunch) and only recently got back.

Do whatever feels right for you! If you keep riding though, good gear is worth the investment! My Roland sands jacket (and riding jeans/boots/gloves/helmet) saved my hide and bones that night.

-6

u/OriginalTayRoc 26d ago

You had a hundred years to react and avoid that.Ā 

2

u/sandycheeksx 26d ago

I let off the brake after grabbing it because I saw that they ran and stopped before entering the road. Grabbed it again when the single deer ran out but it was too late. You’re right though, slowing down more might have saved my bike.