Deer whistles

[coachgrd]

So are you guys believers in deer whistles, the noisemakers that you mount on vehicles to scare deer away? Just curious, looking for thoughts of others.

I'm always very diligent in scanning the road sides for deer, feeling this is the best way to avoiding meeting up with one. I did come across one last week that, in my opinion, obviously had a deep desire to die. I swear he hid in the weeds and then just decided the time was right to end it all. I nailed him.

I never know if those whistles really work or someone if laughing their way to the bank. If the consensus is that they do seem to work...even in a small way...I'd be willing to spring for a couple.

Thanks in advance.
~Gary

 

[dirtydeed]

I've always had them on my vehicles, never hit a deer. My current vehicles do not have whistles, maybe that's why I don't drive much anymore?

It certainly can't hurt.

 

[skeets]

A guy I worked with bought them for his new truck,,,, 3 deer later when they fixed the front end of his truck the whistles were gone with the bent up bumper. He never hit a deer after that as long as he had that truck. He said he thought they called the deer in,,lol
I know loud pipes on the HD do nothing to deter deer from running out in front of you at night, I have had to clean the soft brown stuff of the seat a couple of times

 

[Magicman]

I have no idea whether the whistles actually create a noise nor if deer can hear them, but I do know that deer seemingly are not afraid of vehicles.

 

[dlsmith]

The deer whistles are a scam. I saw a test on YouTube years ago carried out in a wind tunnel that showed they don't make any noise at all at any frequency other than the small amount generated from them disturbing the airflow.

My father always had them on his pickup when he pulled travel trailers for a living. He hit deer three times in five years. A friend that lives in the UP of Michigan was always a believer in them, until he hit two deer during one winter.

Most of the time, people mount them where there will be virtually no airflow for them, so even it they did actually produce a sound, the lack of airflow through them makes them worthless.

Around here, deer are almost oblivious to traffic. In my county, we have one of the largest number of deer killed on the roads in the state. One evening a couple of weeks ago when I was returning home through an area I know a lot of deer frequent, and sure enough there was a nice buck standing right next to the road. If someone would have had the passenger window down he could have stuck his hand out and slapped the buck as we passed. The buck just stood there and never moved when I went by.

 

[NHSleddog]

The problem has more to do with the deer's sight.

Here is a great video explaining how deer see and it is not what most people think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SKJeenZmf8 - Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9gbl-RS14A - Part 2

 

[seanbarr]

Very informative! Perhaps we should drive blue cars or install blue lights to the front?


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[coachgrd]

Followup...I've since had a chance to watch some youtube videos on their effectiveness and it seems the consensus is that they are useless.

 

[Lil Foot]

NHSleddog,
Interesting, thanks for posting.

 

[Lil Foot]

I've been driving to & from my place in the high country since the late '70s, never had deer whistles, and never hit a deer or elk. (knock on wood)
My next door neighbor up there had deer whistles and hit two, in maybe half that time frame.
Data seems obvious to me.

 

[SidecarFlip]

A guy I worked with bought them for his new truck,,,, 3 deer later when they fixed the front end of his truck the whistles were gone with the bent up bumper. He never hit a deer after that as long as he had that truck. He said he thought they called the deer in,,lol
I know loud pipes on the HD do nothing to deter deer from running out in front of you at night, I have had to clean the soft brown stuff of the seat a couple of times

Hardleys don't go fast enough to outrun a deer anyway...

 

[seanbarr]

I've been driving to & from my place in the high country since the late '70s, never had deer whistles, and never hit a deer or elk. (knock on wood)

My next door neighbor up there had deer whistles and hit two, in maybe half that time frame.

Data seems obvious to me.

Curious, what color were the vehicles? Ain’t kidding, it’s a legitimate inquiry. I almost hit one a few times and DID hit one pretty good. My vehicles are both blue.


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[dlsmith]

I drive a blue F150 and tagged a doe on the hind quarters last fall. Fortunately, I just bumped her with the right front fender, and it only left a small dent, and she ran off into the wooded area next to the road.

Maybe they are blue blind.

 

[Lil Foot]

Curious, what color were the vehicles? Ain’t kidding, it’s a legitimate inquiry. I almost hit one a few times and DID hit one pretty good. My vehicles are both blue.

Since I bought the place, I have driven there in:
lemon yellow LandCruiser
seafoam green Dodge 1/2 ton
light blue Chevy 1/2 ton
dark blue Toyota pickup
white Tacoma pickup
white F350
and occasionally:
light blue Mustang Grande
maroon Monte Carlo SS
white Toyota Celica GT
platinum Chrysler LHS
My neighbor who hit two deer was in a white Toyota truck, which was totaled in the second hit.

 

[michigander]

5 deer here in 4 years both cars dark blue GM


4-Front end hit Pontiac Vibe Dark Blue
1-Driver side hit Buick Enclave Dark Blue

 

[vic gerbasi]

i live in heavy deer country did you ever notice that the buck usually stands in the roadside bushes and sends all the girls out to cross the road when safe the buck crosses again where i am there are does killed everyday on the road i have not seen a dead buck over 2 prongs road kill yet just saying

 

[David Page]

Hardleys don't go fast enough to outrun a deer anyway...

Wasn't sure what the Flip in Sidecar meant, maybe it means that for whatever someone says it gets Flipped!

 

[johnjk]

Ohio Hwy Patrol had them on their cruisers for years and so did most of the counties. After about 3 yrs and when they analyzed the data, they found there was no reduction in deer car accidents. I can't tell you the last time I saw one on any vehicle.

Eat more venison. Problem solved

 

[bearbait]

The used motorcycle I bought has two on it and I've never taken them off but couldn't tell ya one way or the other if they work. They're light and don't take up much room so I'll leave them. As to eating more venison I suppose I could up it to two burgers a day, getting hungry just thinking about it.

 

[Bmbbm]

I've work at a New Car dealership for 45years with a full service collision center. Roughy 20 years ago the deer whistles were really hot. I decided to do a unofficial survey of deer accident victims coming in for repair. I didn't keep the numbers but it seem to me that they did'n't do any good.