Hit a deer this morning.

[DriftwoodSVT]

I was driving into work this morning, and hit a deer. It was 4:50 AM and I had my cruise control set at 68 MPH. A huge buck ran right in front of me and I hit him straight on. Pulled over to assess the damage. Front parking sensor light is on, sway bar light is on. It didn't appear to be leaking any fluids so I was able to make it to work. But it sure looks bad. Even the winch mount which is solid metal appears to be bent.

I've only had my 2025 PowerWagon about 3 months. I guess it is time to get a real bumper now.

I opened a claim with Progressive. I just switched to them about 6 months ago. Hopefully they handle this right.

 

[Lambeau]

Glad you’re ok. All too often occurrence. Been there twice.

FWIW, hit ‘em. Don’t swerve to miss ‘em.

 

[BrunotheBoxer]

You’re lucky that you were driving a big truck. Anything can be fixed.
Once a while ago I was driving to Cape Cod this time of year when deer are very active. Going down a very dark single lane road doing about 50 in my old Buick Park avenue daily when out of nowhere a massive buck jumps out of the woods and runs straight onto the road. No way I could have reacted and I got very lucky. It took a few steps and kind of looked at me coming and literally leaped right over my hood. I barely nicked it.
It ran into the woods onto the other side of the road and I said a few prayers to God. That would have been very ugly in that car.
Glad you are ok.

 

[DriftwoodSVT]

Glad you’re ok. All too often occurrence. Been there twice.

FWIW, hit ‘em. Don’t swerve to miss ‘em.

This is my 3rd deer hit in the past 2 years.

I live way out in the country, there's deer everywhere. On top of that I leave my house at 4:30 AM every weekday for work.

This hit is by far the worst so far. And people at work wonder why I drive such big trucks.

 

[Weather Man]

The winch really absorbed a lot of the impact.

 

[DriftwoodSVT]

The winch really absorbed a lot of the impact.

I think you are correct.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

When I read the thread title I was expecting carnage. Glad to see most of the damage was limited to the bumper. Rest of the truck seems to be good.

Glad you're okay and the damage was minimal.

I'm a Ford guy through and through, but I really do like those Ram trucks....

 

[CobraBob]

We have deer around here as well. My wife hit one about 10 years ago. The damage could have been worse. I'm always as cautious as I can be when driving at night when they're out and about. Hitting a large deer can be deadly. I remember years back when a driver hit a deer on a highway. He was probably doing 65. The deer went over the hood and through the windshield, killing his wife in the passenger seat.

Does anyone use those deer whistle devices?

 

[IA Shelby]

A few years ago, Had one jump a median barrier on the interstate and I hit it broadside on my windshield in a wrangler. Damn lucky I didn’t die from that. 12K in damage.

 

[jessie_sanders]

****ing hate deer. Tall ass rats.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[bird_dog0347]

Does anyone use those deer whistle devices?

My friend has the whistle thing on his bumper, and while he hasn't hit a deer that's not really evidence that they work, especially since he lives in the city. He does do a lot of travel trailer driving though.

This is my 3rd deer hit in the past 2 years.

I live way out in the country, there's deer everywhere. On top of that I leave my house at 4:30 AM every weekday for work.

This hit is by far the worst so far. And people at work wonder why I drive such big trucks.

Dang man, I thought the pics were bad enough, but 3 is wild... Maybe try the deer whistles and let us know if you don't hit another in the next couple of years. Glad you're ok.

 

[SantasSVT]

I had a fawn run out in front of me about 10 years ago but the truck I was driving was lifted so I just coasted right over it. I saw it in my mirror just standing there in complete shock. I was so happy I didn’t destroy the little guy.

 

[72MachOne99GT]

+1 on glad you’re good.

+ another 1 that the deer went low.

My only deer strike was an already-dead one shooting across the instate after it was smoked by a semi just ahead of me. Smashed it at ~70 on the highway in our Malibu. Had it been upright, that could’ve ended poorly as I hit it with the driver side.

 

[gimmie11s]

That sucks!!

I hit a random big rig tire tread that magically entered my lane on the highway about 11 years back in my 2 month old, brand new 2014 Mustang GT. Completely pushed in the front end, took out the radiator and AC condenser! I was shocked at the damage. Good thing you were in that truck.

Ugh.

 

[03cobra#694]

I've hit so many deer driving a semi in NY and Pa I lost count.

 

[Klaus]

Sorry to hear that but it looks like the damage was minimal. I had a similar hit in an xterra and it dang near totaled it.

 

[01yellercobra]

Soooo....when are you sending out the deer jerky?

 

[CompOrange04GT]

I've hit so many deer driving a semi in NY and Pa I lost count.

I think I sent you videos in the past of my trucks smoking animals lol

 

[SuperCharged_Coyote]

Damn, sorry to see that man. Thats one serious hit. How is the deer doing? I'd say go either Addictive Desert Designs or RanchHand front bumper. Probably cost as much as the oem one anyways. Though nowadays have to purchase it and make sure its going to work with all the sensors up front for adaptive cruise control and all that.

 

[Roots-type]

This is my 3rd deer hit in the past 2 years.

Totally believable. When I lived down your way in San Marcos, you could drive through neighborhoods, during the day, and deer would be feeding in everyone's lawns. They see so many cars and humans, they don't even give a ****.

Glad you're OK. That blows about the bumper though. Time to "upgrade".