falconer

My vacation house is in the sierras, heavily populated by deer. I always install deer deterrent whistles on my vehicles. I don't see a good spot to install them on my new rx. Anyone using them and where did you install them? Ha, maybe this very sophisticated vehicle has an app for deterring deer, lol.

DunWkg

No app, last week I used the "slam on the brakes and scream like a school girl" method. The method that is supposed to work, is my wife saying, "deer dear", in a fairly authoritative and urgent voice.

I've always seen them on top of the front bumpers so you don't catch them on your leg, but I wonder if they would still work on the roof just inside of the roof rails. I suppose you want the sound as close to the front of the car as possible.

BertL

My parents who lived in Bishop (in the Eastern Sierra for people not familiar with the geography) for many years kept the little plastic do-hitchies attached to the front bumper of their Bronco. Right or wrong, the locals told my dad after they moved up there it was important to have them in the general height of the deer themselves, so front bumpers were about the only place you could locate them.

falconer

Bumper is where I installed them on other vehicles. I guess the black trimmed bumper on the 450 threw me off. That may work. Thanks.

vlad_a

IMHO, as far away from an RX450h as possible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer_horn

falconer

Yep, I've read a few of the studies. I've used them in several vehicles. I have never hit a deer. If they work 1% of the time, for $5 it's worth it IMO. A friend of mine with a house in the same area has hit at least one deer annually, and he cites the literature regarding how ineffective they are, so he does not use them. For $5, why not?

2010morx

I say if it gives you piece of mind install them on your bumper. I have driven Mo. back roads to work for the last 27 years. The best defence is knowing their patterns and the peak times they are active. They are active at dawn and moving from fields to the wooded areas. About an hour after dark they are very active moving to find food. Keep you high beams on as much as possible and be alert. If possible drive during daylight hours.

oohpapi44

iTrader: (1)

Have never used them or had any knowledge of them before this thread. But based off that Wiki informaiton, seems logically to be a waste of time, energy and a couple of pennies.

But if getting 'piece of mind' means relying on something that doesn't seem to work and cause you to be less diligent as a result; would seem to be a bad mix and cause more harm than good. Just my humble opinion.

Wiki page makes absolute sense as to why they would not work.

kitlz

About the only way to solve the problem is culling the herd. It's something they do by me, also to satisfy the zealots who believe they are the primary cause of Lyme disease. I encounter them daily during my commute and have to say most stay on the side of the roads. Still I exercise caution at all times. Some spots are notoriously worse than others. My biggest problem lately has been the suicidal squirrels

sleepysurf

If you think suicidal squirrels and CARS are a problem, try hitting one on a BICYCLE going 15+MPH, which I've done 2-3 times this past year! Scary!


Forget Hitchcock's BIRDS... I think the squirrel over-population is going to do us in!


I use my handlebar bell to try getting their attention, but more times than not, they just stand there and freeze, leaving me guessing which way they'll turn!


As the old adage goes... "Cars don't kill squirrels, indecision does!"

Cruiter

I approve of 'culling' the herd. Venison is an excellent meat, they eat only what is naturally grown on this earth, no fillers and such and heart good. And also good as a roast, small steak, excellent sausage, and ground venison can make a bowl of chili get the Blue Ribbon .

Some squirrels are fun to hunt as well, 'specially if they're big enough to roast .