1st Deer of the Season!

[Kirk Freeman]

"So, Kirk, did you use a shotgun, a .308, a bow?"

No, I used a Mitsubishi Montero at approximately 60 mph.

Driving down to Indianapolis 7:00 AM Sunday May 10th and at the 161 MM on I-65 I saw Mr. Deer bound out of the treeline and merge into the passing lane. I was in the righthand lane locked in at 70mph listening to a CD and drinking coffee.

At maybe 300 yards I started to slow down and when I approached within 100 yards, I honked my horn hoping that Mr. Deer would run across the median and to the other side of I-65 (the direction he was facing).

Little did I realize that honking a horn is a challenge to a deer. The deer turned and ran at my SUV. He hit it at target angle 330 right at the driver's side headlight. His body flipped along the side of my SUV, denting the back door and ripping off the fender skirt of the back wheel.

I stopped. Looked back and saw the body on the I. Put on the flashers called the state po-po and then when traffic cleared, dragged the corpse out of the way.

State po-po arrived 10 minutes later and I made crash report. He wanted to see my LTCH as, per usual, I had my 1911 and Kahr P9 bug on me. He only saw (or mentioned) the 1911. (Cops keep missing my bugs).

He made the report for the insurance company. I asked him for some 100 mph tape so I could hold my headlight assembly in the SUV. He did not have any (or would not give me any), but suggested the Flying J in Lebanon. He advsied that he has taken several deer/car calls because the yearlings are moving about.

I thanked him and left. Got to Lebanon, bought Gorilla tape for the SUV (now I need a banjo and some overalls and need to take off these shoes) and then into Broad Ripple where we had breakfast and got to Eagle Creek with 10 minutes to spare.

What a day.

Everyone be alert for deer. The animal conspiracy is everywhere.