As most of my longer term readers know, I was born and raised in Alberta, and have spent my fair amount of time in bush country, and one of the first things I remember as a young girl was driving with my dad and being taught to spot game. I have done alot of driving in this province, I even worked for a pipeline company in my early twenties as a hotshot driver, what a gravy job, a truck, a needed part, a company credit card and just you and the road.
When we were up in NWT, Dh and I did alot of road trips and in the summer of 2000, we were taking a trip up to Fort Hope, it was a wild road (we ended up helping a gent who had flipped his truck and camper on the way back) but on the way up I had a full size adult male black bear come up and over a hill at a run and straight in front of the truck, it was a wild moment, I was able to just miss him, but as we liked to say, it was close enough that you could reach out and slap his rump as we went by.
Until yesterday it was the closest I have ever come to hitting a critter on the roads, it was a long and busy day with tons on mom’s list and we were heading out the red deer area to my dad’s down by drum and we have even said, gotta to be extra careful as it will be the right time of day for the deer to be on the move.
Thankfully I was going below the speed limit, back in ontario the roads are 80km and I have been having a bit of a hard time driving up to the 100km speeds on the secondary highways since I have arrived, so thankfully I was only going about 85 to 90 km as I was coming up and over a steep hill with deep ditches on both sides, I spotted the white tails deer on the left as I topped the high and could do little as the young yearling popped up out of the ditch on the right and straight in front of the truck.
I was able to move the truck to a slight angle so that it was not a straight on hit, and when it was all said and done, mom, and I along with her pack of 3 little hounds came thought it safe and sound, even the truck came though will bare a scratch on it, I’m sorry that I can’t say the same for the yearling.. Can’t help but think/wish that we had been just a few min earlier or later.
Once I got it all stopped and thank heavens mom had the gear/flashlights in the truck for me to be able to check the under side and make sure it was safe to drive the rest of the way, I was calm and steady during but let me tell you after it was all done, did I ever get the shakes, took a good while to try and tell my body to cool it on the fight or flight response.
There was lots else of interest yesterday but I will save it for another post..
So for all the folks out on this road over the holiday season, between the weather, the drunk drivers and the critters, please take it slow, drive careful and arrives safe and sound to where you are going!
Just another Day on the Farm 
I am glad you and your mom are okay and I am quite sure it did indeed shake both of you up. Years ago when we lived on the acreage I was coming home from work at dusk, slowed down on the gravel road to round a corner and up out of the ditch came a huge moose. I was able to slow enough that I just nicked him on the hind end. He ran into the bush. I stopped my car and got out and walked into the bush to see if I could see him but I could not so I wanted to assume that he was not badly injured. That scared the daylights out of me as well. I eventually had the county post signs for deer crossing at certain points of the road because there were always deer and sometimes moose crossing at dawn and dusk. One day I had a bobcat cross over. .
Thanks for the kind thoughts, and glad that you are fine with your brush with the moose.
Glad to hear you’re all okay!
I’d hate to seem callous, but will you be able to give him/her proper honour and thanks for sacrificing its life for you? (I know you know what I mean.)
Oh, and it’s patty cake time tomorrow!! : )
Hi Deb
To be honest, compared to normal, no I was not able to give thanks in a proper way but I did offer up a prayer in regards to what happened for all involved
Glad to hear you’re okay. I’ve had my share of close calls – something about Alberta backroads, huh? A safe and merry holiday season to you 🙂
Hi JJ
Yup those roads can provide you with some amazing views and sights but they certainly can be a little tricky at the same time.. Happy holiday’s to you as well!
Are you allowed to pick up things you accidently hit in Canada and take them home for dinner? I know in some places in the States you can. In other places you have to call the game warden and let them know you’re taking it, and knowing how the States are sometimes I would imagine there are places where you can’t take it at all. I’ll have to google it and see.
http://www.lawsome.net/roadkill-laws-because-times-is-tough/
found this link with some more info. Seems to vary from place to place.
I think it depends on where you are in the country and would not be surprised to find that even the counties have their own rules, along with each province etc. Look like you found the same thing in your search below..