I hit two deer in three days at the same spot in the road. To be precise, I hit one, the other hit me. The first accident occurred while commuting one crisp moonless morning on a road slicked black with ice. My car had just concluded a lazy curve when the high beams froze a buck white onto the road. He tilted his head inquisitively as we glided into one another then struck with astonishing violence. The impact collapsed the hood and snarled one headlight upward; its beam tracked a body with legs flailing as it rose to twirl among the morning stars. I could not risk a stop on such a slick road so I saw no more of him and someone else got the sausage.
The second deer appeared out of the dark periphery as two radar ears rushing from a ditch to neatly fold my rear door with a running head-butt. This time I stopped to search and so too did a couple of other commuters. Finally, a guy found the dark form in the dark and after a nod of approval he tossed the carcass over the tailgate of a big grinning pickup truck. I lost a car, he got the sausage.
The third deer someone else had hit and drove on. I guess I know how that works.
The doe lay upright in the middle of the road, shattered legs folded beneath her. She held her head high and alert. Calm in the dignity of death, she gazed across the flat tarmac, exposed as no deer wants to be, as cars slowed to gawk and edge around her.
I wished then I carried the mercy of a gun.
© Greg Schiller, 2007
Author: Greg Schiller
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Comments: 30
Very well told - I especially like the last line.... says so much with so few words.
Apparently, there was so much traffic on the trail that the deer constructed clover-leafs, ramps, and tossed up a couple of Stucky's at the major intersections.
That last line is so sad. Even though one of them did jump out of no where last fall and dent the side of my truck and kept on going without even a "sorry", and even though one totally totaled the front end of my Cutlass a few years ago, I still think they are such beautiful animals.
I know what you mean though; I was driving on 7 headed to 41 and a doe missed me by about an inch. Our city (Golden Valley) just had a task force recommend that we cull the herd that regularly roams through here. It's way out of control.
The good news is that you are OK .. truly, that's what matters.
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"The doe lay upright in the middle of the road, shattered legs folded beneath her. She held her head high and alert. Calm in the dignity of death, she gazed across the flat tarmac, exposed as no deer wants to be, as cars slowed to gawk and edge around her." This is perfect.
I hit a deer this fall on the way home with my little Toyota truck, didn't kill it, but spun it around pretty good. The next day I almost hit the same deer again! This time I couldn't stop laughing as I noticed that it was walking across the road with a limp....
Thats what he gets for breaking my marker light....
What a shame that the deers are getting hit so often, and especially when they get injured like that last one and yet survive, crippled until they finally die. Sad that they must suffer.
I'm not a hunter but these kinds of stories make a strong case for managing the deer population better than we do. We aren't doing the deer any favors killing them with our cars rather than our guns.
Your detail in the posting combines those elements that make it both heart wrenching and humorous. Not an easy accomplishment.
I like these lines: 'Calm in the dignity of death, she gazed across the flat tarmac, exposed as no deer wants to be, as cars slowed to gawk and edge around her.
I wished then I carried the mercy of a gun.' - very clear, emotionless in an emotional way! Well I hope you understand what I mean.
Loved this piece man! Only thing is - you didnt get any sausage even when it was your car that felt the 'running headbutt' of the deer!
Olumide, that is how I observe nature to work; immense drama with very little emotion.
Pain is often the root of humor.
I never liked venison steaks or roasts but I love the venison sausage made by a little butcher shop in Southern Minnesota.
They make great spicy jerky too!
Yeah, with all my luck it will be a collison with my bicycle. Lucky for me deer shun sausage. :)