Deer on runway

[F1R]

Originally Posted by Sam_B

In all seriousness, there are quite a bit of deer at my home field. What are some techniques that others have used to reduce chances of an incident?

If at dusk I generally make an inspection pass followed by as many go arounds as needed to clear the deer. Night landings take a bit more work with a couple of inspection passes off to each side before landing.

I think the 7 stars LED landing lights would be a great help.

[FlyingBanker]

Originally Posted by Sam_B

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=173224

Given that just 2 days ago a picture of a -7 pooped up that tried to occupy the same space as a buck, it might be considered an act of safety to make a low pass strafing run first to clear all of wildlife from the area!!!

^^^This. We do this all the time at our little grass strip in central Georgia, especially in the twilight hours. But even with that, I?ve seen them scatter, then come right back 9n the runway before the plane can get back around to land.

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by FlyingBanker

^^^This. We do this all the time at our little grass strip in central Georgia, especially in the twilight hours. But even with that, I?ve seen them scatter, then come right back 9n the runway before the plane can get back around to land.

It could be my bad memory, but I recall back in the day that deer used to be afraid of humans and just about anything that moved. It seems that lately that don't seem to have this fear. Buzzing a runway used to scatter them and you'd struggle to see them anywhere near the strip for a long time. Now they're like "watta ya gonna do about it, airplane?"

[FinnFlyer]

Originally Posted by rv8ch

It could be my bad memory, but I recall back in the day that deer used to be afraid of humans and just about anything that moved. It seems that lately that don't seem to have this fear. Buzzing a runway used to scatter them and you'd struggle to see them anywhere near the strip for a long time. Now they're like "watta ya gonna do about it, airplane?"

Yes, they're using the runway as a grazing area and even sleep on it at night. Driving down the runway at night I have to get within 10-20 feet before they decide to move and reluctantly so. Probably because they're not being hunted enough. Have the hunting seasons shrunk over the years?

As for a deer whistle, some say they work, some say they don't. Even if it would scare them, what are the deer going to do? Come out of the woods, zig-zag down the runway? As I said, they are completely unpredictable.

Perhaps if they were being hunted, Dan's gas gun might be useful. Or a speaker with gun sounds. Or maybe I need to bury small explosive charges down the center of the runway that can be set off by the radio

Finn