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I've been lucky over the past 20 years riding not to hit a forest rat. I avoid riding at night or anytime near dusk or dawn, and I'm especially careful on roads where the trees and brush are close to the road, all the time thinking that will keep me safe. You had all of that going for you and still had a near miss, with the deer hiding in broad daylight in apparently nothing but tall grass. I'm glad that you manage to escape safely. Stay safe!

Was on FM59 last week between St Jo and Montague on my way to my parents place. Had a doe run out in front me, luckily she jumped my goldwings front fender, I kicked her with my right foot to make sure she didnt hit the bike, she was that close. I almost had to borrow a pair of my dads underwear for the trip home.

Darn! I was hoping to see the conversation with the four old coots!

tomtexan wrote:Darn! I was hoping to see the conversation with the four old coots!

Bob Philips and his Texas Country Reporter show may have archives.

It's scary enough in a car or truck, but on a bike. I came a little closer than you did about 5-6 years ago. I was only going about 45-50 at the time, but still darn scary.

Did the car stop or did you find the deer?

That's scary. Glad you're ok. I have had a couple of near hits on my bike. It looks like it was the middle of the day, which is a bit unusual. Be careful and ride on!

When I first saw this, I was wondering how a deer got on a motorcycle in the first place.

Seriously though, glad you were OK. I have come close to hitting several animals including clipping the tail of a coyote while on a bike, seen deer near roads and putt putted real slow to prevent hitting them.

I have come close a couple of times in the 40+ years I've been riding. It will make you clean your britches for sure. Glad you were not hurt

Wow, that's really scary. Glad you kept the shiny side up and was able to avoid the deer.

I've been riding motorcycles for going on 20 years now. I've never once had a close call with a wild animal. ((Thankfully))

But I do find myself constantly dodging DFW's potholes and the most dangerous of all animals, humans in cars...

koine2002 wrote:I've been taking a personal retreat out at some acreage in deep east Texas I have access to. I did some riding in and around the Crockett National Forest today. On FM 227 I nearly hit a deer. While I have a helmet cam, I won't subject people to my videos unless it's scenic, instructional, or something happened. Well something happened. I nearly hit the deer. I was 10 yards too slow. However, an oncoming vehicle did hit it. Here's the footage. It's about 1 minute long. On another note, I did OC the whole ride. That part was uneventful. I did have a fun conversation with four old coots who were sitting outside the gas station in Ratcliff. They sit on those same 4 chairs every day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wmsq3mxwcw

That area is well known for vehicle/deer collisions. It would be especially bad for a motorcycle.

I always watch for deer when traveling that area....but they can come out of nowhere sometimes.

We actually hit a Wild Turkey just West of Ratcliff about 10 yrs. ago. A group was on the side of the road and spooked when the truck ahead of us passed by them. The flock all took wing, crossing the highway at windshield height of our SUV. One hit the very top of the windshield and was launched upward. I could see it in my rearview as it landed on the pavement. I turned around to check it out.

Eastern Turkey hen....dead as a door-nail.

Just recently my Wife missed a deer that crossed the highway in front of her...but the another one ran into the side of our Land Cruiser putting a long crease in the rear door and almost removed the fender flare. Lots of hair stuck in the seam there.

Hate to think of what kind of crash would be involved if someone hit a deer on a bike. Wouldn't be pretty.

It's pretty exciting when you do. I hit a small yearling deer heading north on FM 1174 heading toward Bertram going well in excess of posted speed limits. Short version, I was fine, the bike stayed upright, no damage to the bike ('94 Honda Magna), deer split in half with a small strip of skin holding it together. Speed kills.
Be careful out there.

I've had one close call with a deer while riding my bike. As much as I prefer back roads to the highway, I try to avoid them at night. Pretty amazing that yours was in broad daylight! Stay safe! On a related note, I'm going to be riding to East Texas in a couple weeks. I pass through Ratcliff on hwy 7 on my way to Lufkin.