Anyone tried the Hornet Electric Deer Whistle?

[Bartender]

Does anyone have experience with the Hornet electric Deer whistle? It has been so hot that I am about to abandon my resolve not to ride after dark but don't want to mate my S2S with a Whitetail. Just curious if there is any real life experience with the powered whistles?

[larryd]

I have 3...One on our Spyder, one on my Ridgeline truck & one on our Honda Passport...I live in prime deer country...South central PA...Deer are my BIGGEST fear while riding...After two very close calls several years ago I decided to try them...SO FAR SO GOOD...larryd

[BajaRon]

Science says they don't work. Some people swear by them. Others throw up their hands and say that they are so cheap, why not? It can't hurt.

Bottom line. If you use them. Don't depend on them. Drive like you have no protection at all. Always a good idea on a motorcycle.

[2dogs]

Cow magnets will give you better gas mileage too. Deer whistles rise and fall in popularity every so often. There's no proof that they actually work. The only sure thing they do is cost you money. Drive safely and keep your eyes on the road in front of you, it doesn't cost a thing. Use it wisely and I wish you good luck.

[wolfeman]

Checked with my dealer. They said the 12v cow magnets are on back order.

[Bartender]

I was specifically inquiring about the Hornet electric deer whistle which is powered by 12 volt off the vehicle. They "supposedly" are more effective than the $3.95 air powered models. For $150 I was curious if anyone had information about them. The air powered models are a waste of time and money and I accept that.

[BajaRon]

Cow magnets will give you better gas mileage too. Deer whistles rise and fall in popularity every so often. There's no proof that they actually work. The only sure thing they do is cost you money. Drive safely and keep your eyes on the road in front of you, it doesn't cost a thing. Use it wisely and I wish you good luck.

Oh My! Logic! What is this world coming too!?

Checked with my dealer. They said the 12v cow magnets are on back order.

You want to get the 24v version anyway. Twice the mileage!

The main difference is that Cow Magnets have proven to live up to their claims.

Cow Magnet.jpg

I was specifically inquiring about the Hornet electric deer whistle which is powered by 12 volt off the vehicle. They "supposedly" are more effective than the $3.95 air powered models. For $150 I was curious if anyone had information about them. The air powered models are a waste of time and money and I accept that.

I apologize for having some fun at your expense. If you think it worth the money to try. You should go for it. If it did work, it would certainly be worth the expense. And the rest of us would be jumping on that band wagon. Surely, to make these claims and charge this amount, there must be some objective data to back it up.

[larryd]

Does the hornet deer whistle work?
The Hornet is not a magical device, although it is a highly effective deterrent against deer/vehicle collisions. We estimate, using The Hornet along with driver awareness, will reduce your risk of a deer/vehicle accident by more than 70%.

[Columbia]

I recall reading an article a few years back based on research done, if memory serves (my memory is a part-time servant and, if it shows up for work, is slow) the data came out of the state of Maine in the US.

Conclusion was the whistles (I doubt the source of the noise, passive or electrical, matters) make no difference.

(One important caveat: this research predated electric whistles. Perhaps more recent research has shown the frequency of the electric whistles is significantly different and thus effective. I am agnostic on this: I've seen no independent research on electric deer whistles. For me, there's insufficient evidence to conclude they work.)

David Hough in his Proficient Motorcycling (--Highly Recommended Reading) offers sound advice (no pun intended) when darkness looms or has descended: look for the reflection from critter's eyes at roadside. That has saved my bacon (venison?) more than once here in the Pacific Northwest. Riding with a buddy doubles the eyes on lookout too. (The folks I ride with all have Bluetooth headsets.)

Yards in my neighborhood are frequented by the hooved rodents. National forests are close by. Lots of woods have yet to burn. Lots of deer at hand. I have no whistle, but I do sometimes sing into my helmet--until my riding buddy tells me to shut up. I'll try opening the visor at dusk. If my singing keeps animals at bay, I see a new revenue stream in my future.

As with all things forum, Your mileage may vary and Do as you see fit.

[VitoNam]

Did I just read the name David Hough? I believe it's the first time I've ever heard his name, or a suggestion of one of his intelligent/profound motorcycling books, mentioned here at SL. BRAVO Columbia!

[Columbia]

Thanks. Everything Hough has done is worth every rider's reading, and time studying too.

[BajaRon]

Does the hornet deer whistle work?
The Hornet is not a magical device, although it is a highly effective deterrent against deer/vehicle collisions. We estimate, using The Hornet along with driver awareness, will reduce your risk of a deer/vehicle accident by more than 70%.

So, how much if this is attributed to the device and how much of the % is due to 'Driver Awareness'? Not a very convincing sales point.

[Columbia]

and the word "estimate" makes me think more than twice.

[Dasmoetorhead]

Snake Oil......

[BajaRon]

Snake Oil......

It would be nice to have a definitive answer to this one. But I fear we are not going to get one.

SnakeOil.jpg

[Mikey]

Use that money your about to spend on a GOOD set of driving lights and keep your speed down at night and eyes on the road!

[BajaRon]

Use that money your about to spend on a GOOD set of driving lights and keep your speed down at night and eyes on the road!

Good lighting is really a BIG help. Changing out the OEM headlights to a good set of LED's and adding bullet lights or equivalent makes a HUGE difference. I was amazed at how much better I could see and how much further down the road became clear. Great advice!

Not only is it a relatively inexpensive investment. But it works for a lot more than just deer.

[canamjhb]

I guess anybody that buys one and doesn't hit a deer will "know" that it works! I do know from personal experience that deer do not pay any attention to the air activated whistles.

I personally usually ride with music coming through my faring speakers. I try not to have obnoxious or loud music. When I'm concerned about wildlife in my riding area, I will crank it up a notch or two. That gives the wildlife notice that I'm there. And, I KNOW this works because I have not hit a deer! Good luck..... Jim

[Columbia]

Hmm. In the time I've owned a spyder, I've never once turned on the radio.

[BajaRon]

Hmm. In the time I've owned a spyder, I've never once turned on the radio.

I've you've never turned on the radio. And you've never hit a deer. Maybe that's the key? None of my Spyders even have a radio! And I've never hit a deer either. We might be on to something! That's more supporting data than I've been able to find on the deer whistles.

[Columbia]

I used to teach a course called "Critical Thinking and Logic." This thread would be a terrific example of . . .

Well, a terrific example of lots of things I could use in that class as examples.

Right now, I'm just glad that Ron and I don't ride around blasting our choice of music at others. That is a conclusion not based in logic, but is the product of a small amount of critical thinking. And it's purely subjective; my choice; my taste.

And, with no logic whatsoever, it's plain to see that riding with the radio off is safer vis a vis deer strikes. Just sayin'...

It does serve as proof that Ron and I have similar tastes. My opinion of which is that it's "Good taste." Again: YMMV!

[bigbadbrucie]

Snake Oil......

Cures anything and everything....Lumbago....Arthritis.....not sure about Constipation, but the salesman said.....
and it prevents scurvy, so why not deer strikes?

[Dasmoetorhead]

Cures anything and everything....Lumbago....Arthritis.....not sure about Constipation, but the salesman said.....
and it prevents scurvy, so why not deer strikes?

Yeah, you got the point. ;-)>

[EdMat]

Love to ride the Natchez Trace, even at night. Deer heaven at times. Multiple times have counted over 100 in a 9 mile stretch. You need good lighting! Glad the hogs have not taken over, now those short brick walls scare the heck out of me.

[bigbadbrucie]

Love to ride the Natchez Trace, even at night. Glad the hogs have not taken over, NOT SURE IF YOU’RE TALKING M/C’s or WILD PIGS

now those short brick walls scare the heck out of me. AND WHAT ARE THE SHORT BRICK WALLS?

. or am I way off base?