Deer
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 135
Likes: 134
From: Alabama
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
Most insurance carriers specifically exclude diminished value in the auto policy so look at yours or ask your claims person to show you where it is. “Act of God” is a term that makes no sense in a deer hit. It’s simply a Comprehensive claim which will be verified by the appraiser that looks at your car by taking a photo of the hair etc. Evidence of contact with an animal is important as unfortunately people try and claim they “hit a deer” etc vs telling the truth that they actually hit another vehicle or structure etc. This was done as typically a Comprehensive claim is not chargeable (vs a Collision claim normally results in increased premiums) and will not raise your premiums so it’s and important part of the investigation. Hard to prevent this from showing up on Car Fax which will ultimately hurt your trade in or resale value.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 930
Likes: 333
From: Sherrills Ford North Carolina
No Way!!!
I'd have to change to a vegan if deer was the only option in my freezer.
Lived in Montana for 4 years and had the opportunity to eat multiple wild game. Never did care for deer as I tried using Milk and other stuff to make it eatable. Just not for me. Pheasants was the item I really liked. But if I hunted it and killed it.. I ate it.
Now I hunt at the grocery store.
Lived in Montana for 4 years and had the opportunity to eat multiple wild game. Never did care for deer as I tried using Milk and other stuff to make it eatable. Just not for me. Pheasants was the item I really liked. But if I hunted it and killed it.. I ate it.
Now I hunt at the grocery store.
Instructor
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 243
Likes: 189
From: South East Wisconsin
I got ambushed by a deer. It came running out of the brush along a narrow road, full speed. I was going about 40, downshifted and stood on the brakes. It cartwheeled over the roof landing in a culvert. Damn thing got up and ran away. Left me with $4800 damage to my 3 year old Acura RSX. No airbag deployment. I was surprised it was covered under comprehensive, not collision.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
I'd have to change to a vegan if deer was the only option in my freezer. Lived in Montana for 4 years and had the opportunity to eat multiple wild game. Never did care for deer as I tried using Milk and other stuff to make it eatable. Just not for me.
Now I hunt at the grocery store.
Now I hunt at the grocery store.
Every cut is different. Some are tough to eat. Some are tender, some are mildly chewy. Some need to be ground up. Deer are no different. Back straps are amazing. Tenderloins are amazing. Anyone who says deer is not edible never ate a back strap or tenderloin. Did you ever eat a filet mignon? It's not like any other cut of beef. Deer are no different. Valuable cuts, and not so tender cuts. Eat the back straps, filets, and grind the rest if you think it's chewy.
Round steaks are the worst. They are very chewy. Must guys grind them up into meat sauce. Or stir fry. You can NOT make a general statement about deer being no good.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 24
From: PA
This happens way too much here in PA. One year I hit 3 deer with 3 different cars! My insurance agent wasn't impressed. Fortunately 2 of the hits were in my pickup trucks and I mostly won those arguments.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 366
From: Montoursville Pa
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,761
Likes: 1,016
From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
As to comments about not braking HARD to reduce impact speed & not steering to avoid. Our cars have ABS braking which means you can STAND on the brakes without skidding AND you can continue to try steering around the animal (or whatever) while stomping on the brakes (don’t let off them).One BIG caveat is be SMOOTH changing directions. It is possible to overwhelm the nannies, especially stability control & go into an unrecoverable spin. Main thing is to reduce impact speed. 🦌
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,317
^^^
Agreed. Brake! There is no reason not to try and slow down prior to impact.
I have hit two deer, the first in a C5 Z06; the second, C7 Z06. Each time I hit the brakes hard without turning. I still hit the deer, but there is no question braking served to diminish the impact.
Agreed. Brake! There is no reason not to try and slow down prior to impact.
I have hit two deer, the first in a C5 Z06; the second, C7 Z06. Each time I hit the brakes hard without turning. I still hit the deer, but there is no question braking served to diminish the impact.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 898
From: near philly
I think I was on the phone with my insurance for 4 minutes. Said a deer smashed up my car, done. Took it to a body shop, fixed up like new no questions asked. I don't even recall anybody suggesting coming to see it in person.
Not my corvette thankfully but I have the same carrier for all my cars.
I had no reaction time in this case either, but if it was in front I'd absolutely brake. I don't swerve for animals, but I brake.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 2,699
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
As far as eating deer meat, one of the best ways to cook deer meat is to use it as the main meat in spaghetti sauce (South Philly "gravy"). The acidity of the tomatoes really breaks it down and the flavoring is spectacular.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 615
Likes: 310
From: CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 3,383
Likes: 1,920
From: Columbus Ohio
Wow! That's some crazy (bad) luck.
Did you buy a lottery ticket for this weekend?
With that kind of bad luck, you are due for some good luck, and might become a billionaire!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
^^^
Agreed. Brake! There is no reason not to try and slow down prior to impact. I have hit two deer, the first in a C5 Z06; the second, C7 Z06. Each time I hit the brakes hard without turning. I still hit the deer, but there is no question braking served to diminish the impact.
Agreed. Brake! There is no reason not to try and slow down prior to impact. I have hit two deer, the first in a C5 Z06; the second, C7 Z06. Each time I hit the brakes hard without turning. I still hit the deer, but there is no question braking served to diminish the impact.
In my case, foot on the gas, my head was already against the head rest, or very close. Air bag deploys, my face is as far as possible from the explosion, and my head is already against the head rest. I have no whiplash.
My neck is most important to me.
Having said that... in the dark, pitch black, dark brown deer coming out of nowhere. You are not seeing a running deer coming out of the thick brush / woods. I never saw the deer coming. Luckily..
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 2,699
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
With your seat belt on, the instant you hit the deer your seatbelt automatically tightens holding your body against the seat back, and the air bag deploys. Hard braking will not drive your head forward. Hitting the deer might. The airbag does not slam your head back, it provides a cushion to prevent you from hitting the steering wheel. Suggest you look at some slow motion videos showing air bag deployment.
My experience in an actual crash into a lady running a red light where I slammed on the brakes just prior to hitting her and the air bag deployment didn't even damage the sunglasses I was wearing.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
CCB's are instant deceleration. 1000x more than hitting a deer.
@C7GSM7VERT
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 932
From: S.F. Bay Area,CA
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
For what it's worth, I just heard this morning on the news. If daylight savings were to be legislated permanent, over 37,000 deer hits would be reduced saving untold millions of dollars of damage to all kinds of vehicles. Something about the darkness being partly to blame. Not many deer around these parts, but this is certainly food for thought.