I had the misfortune to strike a deer while riding my motorcycle on Saturday 8/12 at 8:15PM.  He ran right in front of me from a hidden spot on the right side of the road.  I never saw him until he was right in my face (literally - his left eyeball in front of my left eyeball was the first that I saw him!).  

He was going "full tilt" from my right to left.  I was going about 30 mph and beginning to downshift for the approaching intersection.  I hit him broadside (perpendicular) from his neck down to near his rear legs (judging by the marks on his carcass).  He fell into the creek and lived for about another 15 minutes.

I never blacked out and can remember waiting for the slide to end.  I had the wind knocked out of me and it took a few moments to be able to breathe again.  I stood up, removed my helmet and gloves and then called Joy and then 911.

The end result is a badly torn right rotator cuff.  It will require surgery and 4-6 months of rehab :-(.  I am getting the bike back from the insurance company and will repair it over the winter.  The "Little Devil" will rise again!

Please ALWAYS wear your helmet, decent jacket, gloves and boots.  This accident proves that blue jeans are not enough protection.  I will wear my riding pants from now on.

I do know how lucky I am to have walked away from this accident!

Ron

The buck (with 6" spikes)		In the creek where he landed after the collision	Though I was heading west, here is an eastern shot - the deer came out from a road (on the left) in the distance	This is approximately where I struck the deer (heading west bound)	The deer came from this stone road (behind the trees and brush)
The bike (and I) fell on the right side and slid.	First point of impact by the bike.  Note the scrape from the right footpeg.	Continuing the slide	The bike stopped here (in the shaded area) I continued for another 30 feet.	Looking back on the scene from where I stopped sliding	The bike stopped here on its right side with the front end mostly towards the East - rear towards the West.  Note fuel stains in the shaded area on the road.
Yours truly	SASQUATCH ALERT!  Rear of shoulder (all swollen)	Shoulder and elbow.  Elbow had "rash" even though the jacket was padded and the pad never allowed my arm to slide on the road.	Front of arm	Right knee - nice hole!	Left knee
Right boot - laces disintegrated	The shield took a blow from either a mirror or an antler as I was "going down".  Without it, I would have "knocked an eye out".	Jacket	We figure that I went down on the right side with my arm tucked underneath me.		Both elbows had road rash
	Outside of jean legs (right leg on left, left on right (note chain grease up near the right knee)	Inside of jean legs (right on left, left on right)	My poor Bonnie	The headlight area hit the deer first.  Note fur on headlight bolts	More fur on fork "gaiters" (rubber boots).  The headlight still was on as the bike laid on the road afterward.
		Note rubber from boot.  My right leg must have been under the bike in the beginning of the slide - remember chain grease on right leg?	This peg took the brunt on the blow from the road.  The bracket is bent as is the exhaust pipe.	The seat rail protected the seat.	Rash on the right silencer
	How the left silencer got rash is beyond me.	From the top	Bent peg
	The front rim is bent but not from the road.  Must be from hitting one of the deer's legs.	No marks on the engine from what I could tell.	The bent peg again.