Deer protection for front of car

I live in an area with a lot of deer. At night, not uncommon to see 20+ on a 5 mile drive. Luckily, I've never hit one, but it happens all the time around here. Thinking about putting something on the front of the car to add some protection. 2020 trd sport 4x4. Preferably don't want to have to cut the bumper or anything too crazy. Any thoughts?

 

Any slim bumper but you'll have to hit it sqaure in the middle.

 

https://arbusa.com/toyota-tacoma-2016-on/bumpers-protection-equipment/summit-bumper/

 

Texas Hill Country trucks often have full ranch bumpers because deer cause a lot of damage at 70 mph.

I've seen some very creative ranch bumpers that turn "potential deerstrike" into "oh, look, free meat!"

Edit: looks like there're multiple options for Tacomas.



This one lacks the spikes that keep Bambi's mom from getting away...

 

DeMello Offroad

 

How about some lights?
ARB bumpers do well, but no guarantee that you don't hit it up and over the front..

Here in Elk/Moose counter we try not to hit them at all..

 

more lights won't help. Over half of deer strikes happen in daylight. You only use this excuse to get more lights on your wiff to justify them. The Demello Bumper will just clip the legs out from under the deer and drive it into the radiator.
ARB is the solution. Ranch Hand will just bend because of how they mount.

 

Ha! Definitely trying not to hit any. Like I said, personally I have a good track record. Had a friend hit one recently so that's why it's on my mind. Lights are always good too. I have led headlights and fog lights, maybe add a light into my hood scoop....

 

Hitting deer isn't an accident, you weren't paying attention.




lol, OP needs some of these..

 

Deer are fucking suicidal. They hear those whistles, they jump in front of you.

I've been hit on the sides of my vehicle (3) by more deer running into me that I've hit from the front (1). That fucker in front killed my car - lowered his head into the radiator.

 

You would be surprised how many doors are caved in by deer hitting the sides of a vehicle. I lived in the deer strike capital of the US and someone hitting a deer happened multiple times a day... or a deer hitting a car! Dusk and dawn are the two worst times because, no matter how well you are paying attention, those bastards dart out of the woods fast. Even if you had the Sun mounted on top of your truck you still can't see through a tree.
Truth is, the best setup is the stock setup which absorbs the energy when you hit one. Hitting a 200 lb deer at 70 mpg is going to fuck your truck up... steel bumper or not. Bumpers like Demello are good for low speed taps off road. That's all.
ARB is best but will still get messed up at high speed deer strike. And lights? Sorry man, they might let you see a deer further away IF the deer is visible at all... and most are in the weeds or woods.

 

Hmm, I hear you on the deer hitting the side, not a lot you can do about that..
Around here you are looking for legs in oncoming headlights, and looking for eye reflecting from the ditches..
Luckily these guys don't run across the road- but they do stand in the middle licking the salt from highways.

Lights make the difference between seeing them and slowing down, or this;

 

Mount one of these on the top and be done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j0eJ0xB7LU

 

ARB. They don't call them 'roo bars for nothing.

 

those silly chevy wagons

this is a taco forum

 

Yea living in deer county and driving to work in the dark, lights are a HUGE help.

Ive smacked a deer or two WHILE paying attention when they run out in front of me. Luckily those were only minor hits with no insurance claims.

Not driving fast is a big help too.

 

An accident that I stopped to render aid at involved a deer that was hit on the westbound side at 55-60MPH and then flew into the eastbound lanes and only struck the victim's windshield. Victim died on scene a few minutes later (witnessed that up close and personal). The deer flew right past my driver-side window in 2 pieces moments after pulling behind a 10 wheeler going east. It happened around 3PM in the afternoon too.

Gotta be careful from all angles and at all times of the day!

 

Probably important to realize that ARB bull bars aren't necessarily about zero damage but protecting front end parts and occupants so that striking a kangaroo in the middle of the outback doesn't kill you or leave you stranded 500 miles from help. Nothing other than a full on linebacker face mask cow catcher is really going to prevent all damage and even then it's just going to transfer it to the frame anyway.

 

Mount a person to the hood. Deer hate people but they love cars.

 

Look at the rigs that spend all their time on the highway..