Do these actually work?

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 03/30/2016 at 08:00 • Filed to: Question

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These deer warning whistles. The concept sounds logical on paper; as you drive around air will enter the whistle, creating a sound that only deer (or perhaps any animal?) will hear, scaring them off. That’s what’s suppose to happen, no idea if it actually works like that. What is oppo’s experience with them?

Update: Talking with you guys, it seems they are really just a placebo item, it makes people feel safer.

The Dummy Gummy > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:07

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I don’t see how it could work if the noise is projected behind you.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:07

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So that's what those are. Huh. Never knew.

McMike > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:07

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The only experience I have with them is seeing how many of them are mounted incorrectly.

I see them just stuck to the front of cars facing any old direction.

CounterTorqueSteer > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:09

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All I know if that my aunt and uncle swear by them.....and they've hit 5-6 deer.

Honeybunchesofgoats > The Dummy Gummy 03/30/2016 at 08:09

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Oil slicks for deer.

BigBlock440 > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:10

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I hear cars drive by with a whistling sound, I always assumed it was from these things. I found a loud exhaust works well, probably better than these, I’m guessing because of the pitch.

zeontestpilot > McMike 03/30/2016 at 08:10

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It's suppose to be the large part towards the front, right?

nerd_racing > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:10

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I live in deer country and I’ve had close calls, but if you pay attention its really easy to avoid hitting them. Also, scaring and startling them is what gets the side of your car run into. If you come across deer on the side flip off your high beams to prevent startling them. Just like anything or anyone else, when threatened they behave irrationally.

zeontestpilot > The Dummy Gummy 03/30/2016 at 08:12

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That is a very good point. If it does make a sound (which is never hear so I can never confirm), the sound would be going to the grill, not towards the deer.

zeontestpilot > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/30/2016 at 08:13

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Yeah, I’m just curious if it’s a “lightning in a bottle" type of product.

zeontestpilot > BigBlock440 03/30/2016 at 08:14

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They are suppose to high pitched to where it only annoys deer, and not other animals. “Suppose to”.

yitznewton > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:14

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When I looked into this, it seemed like all the research failed to find a useful effect, despite what people say.

zeontestpilot > CounterTorqueSteer 03/30/2016 at 08:16

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That's another thing, I've always wondered how you can confirm it works? Not hit any deer? But that same situation happens even if you don't have these. It's hard to confirm or deny if it's a phony product.

JGrabowMSt > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:16

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My dads old car had them, hit several deer with it.

Im not convinced they work.

bob and john > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:17

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I have them on the bike.

havent hit any deer.

zeontestpilot > nerd_racing 03/30/2016 at 08:18

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I agree. Plus, let's say these whistles do work, and the noise startled them. What's to say they still won't run into the street?

zeontestpilot > yitznewton 03/30/2016 at 08:19

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I’m starting to think they are a placebo effect, it makes people ‘feel’ safer.

zeontestpilot > JGrabowMSt 03/30/2016 at 08:19

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Yeah, talking with people here, it seems the only function they serve is as a placebo.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:20

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I’d say they’re COULD work, and probably DO work on some level, but they won’t save your ass every time.

For what they’re worth, do it. They can’t do any harm, may do some good, and they’re cheap. Just don’t use them as an alternate to being careful. Use them as “one more weapon in your armoury”.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:20

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I figure it would be. I see no way that it would actually work.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:22

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On another tack, my grampa had issues with deer getting into his garden. He put up one of those weird ultrasonic whistling noisemakers and had far fewer incedents (with deer. Groundhogs, Raccoons etc kept coming), so I’d say it could at least thin the crop of deer willing to jump in front of you.

zeontestpilot > bob and john 03/30/2016 at 08:23

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But i can say the same thing about my car, which doesn't have them. It's hard to say either way.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:23

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Correct.

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 03/30/2016 at 08:24

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Well the government did say no to the hidden machine guns I wanted to install for the same reason.

Slant6 > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:31

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I’m pretty sure they don’t work. Even if they do they look ugly and do nothing to prevent hitting a deaf deer.

When I drive rural at night I usually do soft horn blows every so often.

McMike > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:32

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Yeah, that’s the idea. Horizontal with the airflow, and facing directly forward. It’s a whistle, after all. You can’t mount that shit sideways.

Do they work? I have no idea.

Nibby > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:33

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TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 08:38

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I think the best way to avoid deer is situational awareness. If that fails I have a safety device fitted to the front of my truck. Thankfully I’ve not needed so far.

TooLazyToNotBurner > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 09:05

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With those on his car, my dad managed to hit 6 deer in 5 years. Half of those are from the deer hitting him broadside running out of the ditch. I tend to agree with him that they might work occasionally, but it's a pretty minor effect if any.

bob and john > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 09:07

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thats the weird thing. how can you tell if they work? LOL

I’ll admit, i got them more because my parents were paranoid Id hit a deer up in thunder bay.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 09:25

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I’ve found the best way to not hit deer is use brights when possible to see the deer, slow down in places that deer are prone to be, and make sure you are paying attention. The deer hit rate here in Tennessee is astronomical to the point your’e just as likely to hit a deer as get in a normal car v car accident. (Really not a sarcastic response I swear, just what I have found)

yitznewton > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 09:29

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Yeah, confirmation bias: after they put them on, they interpret every time a deer walks away as being caused by the horns.

TheRealBicycleBuck > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 09:40

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Just like any deterrent, continual exposure will condition the animals to ignore the deterrent.

This is why birds ignore fake owls, scarecrows, etc.

http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoolog…

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 09:47

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If they’re passive (not connected to your car’s power), they won’t do shit. Otherwise, they’ll probably wake them up so they run in front of you.

Air horns and cattle catchers are the best solution. If you’re careful and can field dress it on the side of the road, you could even have a freezer full of venison.

jovimon7 > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 09:56

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No, they do not work. Years ago I was parts/service coordinator at a rural south Alabama Ford dealership.(think roaming herds of deer) Our body shop took in 4-5 deer strikes a month and probably half had deer whistles, one elderly lady was pleased with the repair job but upset that we didn’t replace the deer whistles! I told her that her insurance wouldn’t pay for an aftermarket accessory.

Niko's Work Account > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 10:06

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What abou tht he doppler affect

zeontestpilot > TooLazyToNotBurner 03/30/2016 at 10:52

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So in video game terms, +0.5 deer warning skill, nothing to write home s our.

zeontestpilot > Niko's Work Account 03/30/2016 at 10:54

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I thought about that too. Sound waves in the front are compressed, while in the rear they are separated. It makes them sound louder coming rather then going. But they have s good power source, these don't.

zeontestpilot > McMike 03/30/2016 at 10:55

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It's suppose to be above a humans hearing range, so who knows?

TooLazyToNotBurner > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 10:55

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In safety training parlance, they'd be the awareness level training. Nothing you can directly apply to helping you, but you have successfully identified the risk.

zeontestpilot > yitznewton 03/30/2016 at 10:56

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Funny because me slamming on the brakes when I see a deer has the same effect.

zeontestpilot > bob and john 03/30/2016 at 10:57

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That's what's weird about this product, how can you confirm or deny it?

zeontestpilot > jovimon7 03/30/2016 at 10:59

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It makes me wonder, why do people sell this then if it doesn’t work? Why are people so greedy ? I hope whoever made it repeatedly hits deer, :).

zeontestpilot > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 03/30/2016 at 11:01

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I’m on the edge of deer country and farm country. I should see them more often, but I really don’t. Almost hit one the other day, which is what got me thinking about this.

I’m also campaigning to spray paint all deer in construction orange, for safety.

zeontestpilot > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 03/30/2016 at 11:02

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I wantone too, but simply because I think I’ll be cooler looking. :)

zeontestpilot > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 03/30/2016 at 11:03

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They are passive, it's powered by moving air alone.

Urambo Tauro > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 11:04

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I just got some for my truck. They’re cheap, so I don’t mind if it’s merely a placebo. We have a lot of deer in my area, and trees are pretty close to the road, so you don’t get much reaction time at speed. I have personally hit three deer without having the whistles equipped.

But I’ve also avoided many close calls just by paying attention (and being lucky). For those times when I see the deer and have time to react, I like to turn off the headlamps and rev the engine a little. I figure this reduces the blinding effect, and the engine probably sounds something like a predator to them.

zeontestpilot > TheRealBicycleBuck 03/30/2016 at 11:05

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Ha good point! I'll have to up the ante then, I'll play loud music through a external speaker. That should spook them...until they get used to it...it's a circle argument, isn't it?

zeontestpilot > Urambo Tauro 03/30/2016 at 11:09

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I’ve wondered that, if they did work, wouldn’t it might scare them into the road? That’s another worry I have.

You can also roll down the window and yell at them, :).

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 11:16

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I live in the middle of a superb but see deer all. the. time. It’s crazy.

TheRealBicycleBuck > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 03/30/2016 at 12:10

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Good idea as long as all of the deer play by your rules (note the complete lack of front end damage).

Die-Trying > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 16:17

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no, they dont work. loud exhaust is better. 100+ ish decibels gets their attention, and gets them moving away from you. loud pipes are not for everyone

if you find yourself coming up quick on a deer in the middle of the road, brake hard, maybe steer a little bit to avoid, but DONT swerve. seen way too many folks’ cars laying in the ditches from swerving.

Die-Trying > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 03/30/2016 at 16:24

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might find a way to make the openings smaller to keep the head from coming through them.

remember to center up.

zeontestpilot > Die-Trying 03/30/2016 at 17:54

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So true, driving on dirt or gravel is nothing when compared to pavement. Thankfully, i know this and plan according when driving on dirt and gravel; heck, it’s on my commute home. I'll admit, I'm one of the faster cars on these roads, but it took me a while to get use to driving on them.

Die-Trying > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 18:06

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mmm.... good ol’ dirt roads. if the guy behind you can keep up.. you’re going too slow. at least the ride home is some kind of engaging.

stay safe out there.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 20:24

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No experience with those. However, I do have my own form of deer deterrent/protection in the form of a heavy bull bar and two Hella 500FF’s on the front of my truck. What I don’t see with the Hella’s (which have paid for themselves time and time again) will inevitably lose a battle with the bar. I also have a louder exhaust but I don’t know if that makes a difference.

I also am on a personal mission to improve any deer’s life that I can by giving them advice. If they’re hanging out along the road, I usually roll down the window and yell at them. My common advice includes “Don’t do drugs” “Stay in school” “Always turn down for what” and lately “Don’t vote for Trump”

ranwhenparked > zeontestpilot 03/30/2016 at 20:29

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Unfortunately, no. I’ve hit three of those fuckers over the years, with two cars. If there was some piece of cheap plastic I could glue to the bumper to stop it happening again, I’d have done it long ago.

carcrazydan738 > zeontestpilot 03/31/2016 at 08:55

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I've also tried them but I found that beeping the horn works too.