03-22-2020, 08:20 AM
(03-22-2020, 02:07 AM)LongRanger_imp Wrote: We have frequent deer encounters here. I had one on the interstate (of all places) a few years ago. It was dusk, and I was cruising up I-70 in the middle lane, with little traffic around me. I glanced down at my speedometer, then looked up only to see a huge deer running across all lanes. How I missed him is a miracle - he ran right past my front wheel (I was doing about 70 mph). Huge pucker factor!
A few years earlier. I was riding in the mountains, came around a curve, and there was a bear cub in my lane, waddling towards the shoulder. I knew better than to stop and watch because mama probably wasn’t too far behind.
In 2015, coming home from the Black Hills, I came over a rise in Custer State Park at about 50 mph only to see a HUGE bison standing in my lane about 40 feet ahead of me. I braked hard and sat there for a few seconds to watch him, then quickly went around him and continued on. He was massive.
Which brings me to one last story: years ago, riding along Hwy 50 in Nevada (where you can see for miles), I came over a hill and noticed something in the road about two miles in the distance. By the time I reached it, I discovered it was a massive herd of cattle, just standing there. I had to slowly pick my way through the mob, weaving to and fro, to get through. We have “Open Range” warning signs in the west — I quickly realized I should pay attention to them.
Wow. Went through Yellowstone 2 summers ago and the buffalo seemed massive next to our decently sized Honda Pilot. I cannot imagine the feeling of a buffalo next to me on a mc.