I had a few close calls this year with deer on the highway. This past Saturday morning there were two of them on the road and I swerved around them to avoid hitting one. After my close encounter with our four legged friends I was informed about products that generate sounds or pitches that will alert deer in advance. Has anyone used these devices on their rigs, cars or vehicles? I travel to fishing spots during non human hours and want to avoid these critters at all costs.
deer whistles - has anyone installed them on your 4runner
- Thread starter kimboy
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irwinSR5
New member
I have them on the inside of the grill, not visible from outside but still in the open. I live in a large deer area and the deer seem to notice me differently then other cars. Is it probably just a coincidence or my imagination? probably. Deer whistles are cheap and they don't hurt so I don't have a problem putting them there for the 'just in case' situation.
BuckyBadger
New member
Have 4 of them on my 4 runner, they are hidden in the grill area. I have always had them on all my cars and motorcycles, living in the midwest and traveling to the cabin they should almost be required. As they are noted they are called deer alerts, the high pitch noise causes the deer to look up to see what the noise is, so if driving at night you see their eye reflection and you are able to see them before they dart in front of you.
I like the term alerts because they just alert you to the deer, they will not make every deer run away, so you still need to pass with caution. I think that is were people think they "don't work" comes from, they will not make deer run away or keep them from always running out in front, but just like deer hunting, if you make a small whistle or noise to a deer, it will make them stop and look to see what the noise is. This pause and getting them to look is what you are after. And for only $5-$10 for a pair of them I need a lot more than an article to tell me they can't prove they work for me not to have them on my truck or motorcycle.
I like the term alerts because they just alert you to the deer, they will not make every deer run away, so you still need to pass with caution. I think that is were people think they "don't work" comes from, they will not make deer run away or keep them from always running out in front, but just like deer hunting, if you make a small whistle or noise to a deer, it will make them stop and look to see what the noise is. This pause and getting them to look is what you are after. And for only $5-$10 for a pair of them I need a lot more than an article to tell me they can't prove they work for me not to have them on my truck or motorcycle.
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TheBlueWave
New member
BuckyBadger said:
I noticed the exact same thing. On my last car they worked well, I think, because I didn't hit a deer for almost two years of using them. They do look up at you, but I still had to dodge one. At least I was alerted. I lived in Duluth, MN for six years and almost everyone I knew had hit one at some point, some people have hit half a dozen over a few years' time. I still haven't hit one to date. So yeah, I guess I'm a believer, but I haven't put them on the Runner yet...
TeryT
New member
Scientists have no proof that deer can even hear these things! Do a google on "deer whistle reviews" and you'll see what I mean.
From here (for instance) http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/deerw.html :
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also presented evidence refuting the claims promoting the deer whistles.
"Georgia's Game and Fish Department, for example, found that in hundreds of observations from vehicles equipped with deer whistles, deer didn't respond. Whistles on vehicles going 25-30 mph produced no ultrasonic sound, although some ultrasonic sound was produced when the whistles were blown by mouth. According to wildlife biologists at the University of Georgia, NEITHER DEER NOR HUMANS CAN HEAR ULTRASONIC SOUND (emphasis added). Whistles blown by mouth near captive deer produce no response."
I contend that special gold painted rocks will repell deer - wanna buy some? :roadkill:
From here (for instance) http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/deerw.html :
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also presented evidence refuting the claims promoting the deer whistles.
"Georgia's Game and Fish Department, for example, found that in hundreds of observations from vehicles equipped with deer whistles, deer didn't respond. Whistles on vehicles going 25-30 mph produced no ultrasonic sound, although some ultrasonic sound was produced when the whistles were blown by mouth. According to wildlife biologists at the University of Georgia, NEITHER DEER NOR HUMANS CAN HEAR ULTRASONIC SOUND (emphasis added). Whistles blown by mouth near captive deer produce no response."
I contend that special gold painted rocks will repell deer - wanna buy some? :roadkill:
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BuckyBadger
New member
TeryT said:
And they also don't have any concrete proof that they can't hear these whistles; that's what I am saying.
Scientist think deer are color blind also, but can't prove it one way or the other. So if they are color blind, your gold rock will be of no use to me.
For $5 when I am on my motorcycle at night and a deer looks up and I see it first, whether it was my motorcycle engine or the deer alert that made it look up, I really don't care but it looked up. Am I going to go out and buy an electronic deer alert contraption for $500, probably not, but for $5 I would rather be overally cautious.
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BuckyBadger
New member
man, I give you guys credit, you are a lot better at watching you money than I am, if I worried about every time I wasted $5 I would be in trouble; casino, lottery ticket, strip club, annoying neighbor kid selling candy bars, gold rock, and now I guess I add my deer alerts to that list.
How about it? What is the biggest waste of $5 you can actually remember?
How about it? What is the biggest waste of $5 you can actually remember?
TheBlueWave
New member
A friend of the family's just died on Highway 61 (North Shore) hitting a deer on her Harley Electra-Glide in broad daylight. We'll never know how it happened, since the only witness is dead. Lots of folks waste $5 on those.
My biggest waste of $5?
Betting on the Badgers next weekend
My biggest waste of $5?
Betting on the Badgers next weekend
BuckyBadger
New member
TheBlueWave said:A friend of the family's just died on Highway 61 (North Shore) hitting a deer on her Harley Electra-Glide in broad daylight. We'll never know how it happened, since the only witness is dead. Lots of folks waste $5 on those.
My biggest waste of $5?
Betting on the Badgers next weekend
Sorry to hear about the family friend, had the same thing happen to a couple I knew in WI, hit a deer on their Goldwing and killed both of them. One thing I am concious of with my deer alerts is to make sure they don't give me a false sense of security, I am always looking at the sides of the roads when driving in deer country.
I am also worried about the game against Illinois, they have been finding ways to win, hope it doesn't catch up to them.
RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
I wish I'd invented those things since people are so willing to buy them with no proof but just based on what they say they work on the package.
This is no different than those stupid Tornado things you put ijn your intake but I guess with the dear whistles they only cost $10 but still,you got some guy collecting money somewhere based on no scientific evidence.
This is no different than those stupid Tornado things you put ijn your intake but I guess with the dear whistles they only cost $10 but still,you got some guy collecting money somewhere based on no scientific evidence.
BuckyBadger
New member
TeryT,
I found your rock online!!! and look it is the one with the deer whistle attachment mounted on top.
Does it come in Titanium to match my 4R?
I found your rock online!!! and look it is the one with the deer whistle attachment mounted on top.
Does it come in Titanium to match my 4R?
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BuckyBadger
New member
4dailyRunner
New member
DEER MOVER!!!
Chrome Train Air Horn, 150 PSI Compressor & Tank #B6+
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I suggest this .....heh heh heh :biggrin2:
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JungleJim
New member
BuckyBadger said:
Yes they do. We know the frequency range of deers. Humans can actually hear higher frequencies than deer. The "deer" whistles vibrate at a frequency even beyond the human hearing range.
Actually they can. They can examine the retina tissue of deer and and look for cones (the color light receptor cells on the retina).
Most people believe dogs can't see colors, but that's only part true. They can see some colors, but not others. Humans have all three types of cones. Dogs only have two types of cones, allowing for some colors, but not all.
