But the C6 brakes saved me and the deer!!

My wife and I left Branson, MO at 6 a.m. on Labor Day to visit her aunt in Paris (Arkansas that is). Around 7 a.m. I was really enjoying the ride. The sun was up but it was still cool. The road was hilly with curves but smooth and I wasn't pushing it, just enjoying it. I should have thought about it. The timing was right for deer - early a.m. with woods on both sides of the road. The metal warning signs were there too, you know, the yellow ones with the picture of a deer on them. We were on Hwy 21 between Compton and Possum Trot (I couldn't resist mentioning the Arkansas towns) and I had just come around a curve so I was going under 50 mph.

My wife yelled, "Look out!" about the same time that I saw it coming up the ditch from the left shoulder. I've seen deer several hundred feet away but this one was right there! There was no time to hit the horn which sometimes causes them to turn around and run away from the road, just slam on the brakes. The ABS chattered and there was some tire squall. I expected the deer to be splattered all over the front bumper or worse come right through the windshield. It was so close, right in front of me that I couldn't see its feet. That image is etched in my memory.

It was moving left to right very fast. My reflexes were good hitting the brakes but my brain didn't to tell me to turn left since the deer was moving to the right. There was no traffic coming and I might have been able to miss it. But I didn't. Just before we stopped, the deer was at the right front but it change direction. It turned to run away from me but I still heard a thud. To my surprise, the deer didn't go down. As we stopped, it kept running and headed into the ditch on the right, down the ditch and up the other side. I'm not sure if it was limping because it was moving very fast.

I think he has a sore rump and possibly a broken leg as my wife found a gouge in the 3M bra about where he hit. He has probably forgotten about the experience but I'll remember it for a while. I know there are other forum members that have hit deer with bad results. This was my first and hopefully last deer hit. I feel very fortunate. If I had swerved to avoid the deer I could have lost control so maybe it's better that I kept it straight.

Sorry, I don't have a picture of the deer. Here is one taken later that day at a scenic overlook near Magazine mountain Arkansas.

 

I hate those f@#$ers. I wish chronic wasting disease would kill them all. They have cost me a lot, and scared the crap out of me on more than one occasion as they jump out in front of my cars and motorcycles.

 

Yes, could have been much worse, luckily you and your C6 are alright...

 

The thud was probably just the sound of the deer kicking the front end of your car. Getting back at you for scaring the hell out of him!

 

That suks, but at least you are ok!!

 

So where's the damage on your car? That thing looks like it just came out of a car wash, not a drive thru at the deer country.
My daily driven C6 has worse damage than that from hitting "something" tumbling on the freeway and all the stone chips from kickups.

 

Hope there was no damage.

I work the evening shift now so my 23:00 drive home is through prime deer country in the dark, on back twisty roads and I see at least two every night.... wish me luck too.

Al

 

Glad to hear it wasn't worse.

 

Close. Glad everyone is OK.

 

That was a close one!

 

Seems a bit harsh..

 

Good luck!! I like the twisty roads, but not at night. We saw some elk too, but that's another story. Yes, elk in Arkansas.

 

I am glad you are OK.

I am from Springfield, and last year my Dad hit a deer near Ozark, Mo. in his Olds Aurora. Lots of sheet metal damage. I guess deer season (coming soon) helps to keep the population down.

 

Great response, this is an example of the worst this forum has to offer.

 

Sorry about the mishap but all things considered....it sounds like everything turned out OK....things could have been much worse.

A few years back, a large mule deer blasted out of the darkness (crossing left to right) and hit the front of my 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban. I was doing about 50 and I'll bet the deer was too. It did about $3,600.00 damage to the Suburban. I went back to the point of impact but couldn't find the deer. I don't think he made it too far. Hitting livestock is often worse than hitting another car. Considering the height of the Vette...you were very lucky!

 

Poor bambi lover. I guess I hurt your sensabilty. I guess deer aren't a problem in that god forsaken part of the country you live in.

I am pretending that is either a deer, or you

 

Your maturity level is astounding. Advocating the extinction of an entire species because they scare you.

 

Why so mean?
IBTL

 

I was told years ago that to insure that you received the most out of an insurance claim you were to always say that the deer ran into you. Never say I hit deer. Anyone know if this is true?

Glad to hear you are both okay.

 

Glad all was ok. Deer can be a real problem.

Man, the comp gray wheels look GREAT with the red... NICE looking car!