After looking closley at the tail, the mane on the neck, the shape of the snout, and the shape and unique palmated shape of the velvet covered antler, I'm pretty sure that the cyclist smacked into bullwinkle! Okay, bullwinkle's very young cousin, Manny the Mangled Moose! Or, am I just seein' things?
You're right; Bullwinke can rest easy, Manny is okay! After a little research, I'm thinking it's a young Elk. The mane and tail keep me from believing it's a Muley, Whitetail (something I know very well), Blacktail, or Couse deer.
Thats definitely a young mule deer. I have ridden that stretch a lot and its not one I consider bad for deer, at least during the day. Highway 50 between Montrose and Gunnison is the one that scares me. Almost always lots of deer except midday and sometimes elk. I hate it when you dont see the deer until you are passing them on the shoulder. Amazing how well they blend into the background, especially with early morning or evening shadows. I almost think its safer at night even though there are more out. You usually can pick up the reflection off their eyes at quite a distance.
ramblinrod wrote:I hate it when you dont see the deer until you are passing them on the shoulder. Amazing how well they blend into the background, especially with early morning or evening shadows.
Rod
Crawford, CO
I had my son out on a ride last spring, feeling like I watch the road/environment pretty good but when we stopped he asked me if I saw that 'family of deer' back there. No, I didn't and it turned out to be like six hidden about 10 feet off the road - scary when they're out there and you don't even know it.
John
Member 293 (I think)
'17 Triumph Tiger 1200 XRX
Well, I was told that deer whistles only work with elephants. Nobody who has them ever hit one
Personal experience: 2001. R1100RT. Sunday 11am. Nice WV two-lane road, from Oak Flats to Moorefield. Deer jumps out of roadside creek. No time to even get off the throttle, I see I hit it's head. Probably broke it's neck. Instant death. I did not go down - not only Valkiries can do it . Messed up front of the bike, right fairing, tore off right saddlebag. Biggest problem: It was a buck, pushed the antler into the oil cooler - full frontal oil bath. How the bike and I got home is another story.
Deer and Colorado: I was warned, and yes, I saw herds of deer, is rt. 92 from rt. 50 to Crawford. But is a most scenic road you can think of.
You don't stop riding because you get old - you get old because you stop riding!
The scary part is in some parts of VA and WV now, you can ride in broad open daylight and see plenty of deer, just off the road and hidden in the trees. It doesn't have to be dusk or dark to hit them any more!
'02 in black - the real BMW color! (Now gone to a new home)
Vann - Lifer No. 295
I smacked a deer with my then-new 1100R. Fortunatly, I only hit the rear leg of deer #2 and I was almost stopped at the time. It did a real number on my headlamp/ t/s cluster and it put a small dent in my fuel tank (don't know how). I managed to keep the bike upright but my sole injury is where my shin bumped up against aforementioned jug. Nothing serious, just a minor bruise. I was able to drive off, but the damages came in at $2400.