Honk at Animals?

[Jogitu]

My wife and get a kick out of blowing the horn at animals on our trips. OK, I am the one technically pushing the button but she plays along. Sounds quite silly and childish but sometimes it is a hoot. Sheep most times will run away as a herd. Chickens by the road side freak out quite nicely. Goats act like sheep and run away in a herd. Have yet to run across fainting goats but that would be awesome. Horses on rare occasions buck or scare. Cows hardly pick up their heads and maybe one will look. On one occasion we were heading towards a herd directly before we hit a 90 degree curve. One of the cows freaked with us coming at him and started a mini stampede. All of this is quite silly but it makes us laugh and no real animals were hurt while making this film. Today we startled a large herd of sheep that ran away quickly which of course made us quite happy. It always makes me laugh and I asked my wife "do you think anyone else does this"? So are we alone in this guilty pleasure or are there other sickos out there participating in this future PETA picketed activity?

[35634]

I occasionally get held up by a line of geese crossing the road. They pretty much ignore my horn, but sometimes one of them will honk back at me.

[Quanto12]

And I thaught we were the only insane ones! Me and the girfriend do it all the time! W honk and wave just like we would to our friends!!LOL.

[Scott C]

And I thaught we were the only insane ones! Me and the girfriend do it all the time! W honk and wave just like we would to our friends!!LOL.

Do any wave back ?

[tommcgee]

Cattle caller horn on the Vstrom. Riding by a pasture of cows, every last one of them will look at you. It has spooked more than a few calfs too -- turning around looking for mama.

A week ago in Cape Breton on the Salty Fog Rally, the rest of the group was avoiding a small pack of dogs -- one blast on the horn sent them all back to the side of the road.

And it brought a smile to every kid waiting on the school bus and waving to us as we rode past. :dance

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6160/6158992754_a6e7f9c3f6_b.jpg

[David Whittle]

I have always done it. It always makes me smile when they look up at you. I figure it can not be any worse than a group of Harleys going by.

[Quanto12]

Do any wave back ?

No just a funny face on them!!! Damn, I think they're laughing at us!!!!

[Greenwald]

My wife and get a kick out of blowing the horn at animals on our trips. OK, I am the one technically pushing the button but she plays along. Sounds quite silly and childish but sometimes it is a hoot. Sheep most times will run away as a herd. Chickens by the road side freak out quite nicely. Goats act like sheep and run away in a herd. Have yet to run across fainting goats but that would be awesome. Horses on rare occasions buck or scare. Cows hardly pick up their heads and maybe one will look. On one occasion we were heading towards a herd directly before we hit a 90 degree curve. One of the cows freaked with us coming at him and started a mini stampede. All of this is quite silly but it makes us laugh and no real animals were hurt while making this film. Today we startled a large herd of sheep that ran away quickly which of course made us quite happy. It always makes me laugh and I asked my wife "do you think anyone else does this"? So are we alone in this guilty pleasure or are there other sickos out there participating in this future PETA picketed activity?

You are not alone out there! :whistle

[AKBeemer]

Hmmm. Any ranchers out there? I wonder if they might feel that needlessly stirring up a herd of livestock might be a bad thing.

[From MARS]

Hmmm. Any ranchers out there? I wonder if they might feel that needlessly stirring up a herd of livestock might be a bad thing.

I'm not a rancher, but live amongst them, and I can tell you that they take a dim view of anything that causes the cattle to needlessly burn calories. Ranchers make their money on the difference between the weight of the cattle at purchase and their sale. Anything that that takes away from that weight gain is bad.

Honking at grazing cattle is not only childish, but does nothing to promote our sport.

Tom

[DARRYL CAINEY]

I have never done that to any animals but I love honking the horn when I pass a golf course when a golfer is about to swing!:whistle

[DBCasey]

I have never done that to any animals but I love honking the horn when I pass a golf course when a golfer is about to swing!:whistle

I'll do the same thing!! This winter I'm adding a Stebel Nautilus to the RT. The golfers will LOVE that!

Guess we're the "bad boys" of the Beemer world.. 1%'ers. HAHA

[Ridefar]

Just to move the deer about to cross, it tends to work most of the time and they head back in the direction that they came from.

[AKBeemer]

I'll do the same thing!! This winter I'm adding a Stebel Nautilus to the RT. The golfers will LOVE that!

Guess we're the "bad boys" of the Beemer world.. 1%'ers. HAHA

I'm a golfer and will agree that, unlike livestock, scaring the "herd" and burning off a few calories is a good thing. :thumb

[henzilla]

Hmmm. Any ranchers out there? I wonder if they might feel that needlessly stirring up a herd of livestock might be a bad thing.

I tried to honk a large herd of goats off a narrow ranch road recently. The rancher was not in sight, but the three Great Pyrenees herd watchers were not pleased with me driving thru the middle and ruining all their work. One gave chase and I had to get on down the road.

I honk at golfers at the driving range and goats a lot :whistle rarely at deer as they are already insane and do not need any help. Our local free ranging cattle couldn't give a rats tail about honking, they will not moooo-ve out of the way until you almost bump them off the road. Now, the little ones will go crazy at moments notice...without a honk.

[henzilla]

The crazy calves...very unpredictable:uhoh

[brewmeister]

I honk my horn when I am under the center of a bridge to hear the echo.I also belong to PETA-people eating tasty animals !:dunno I 'm a white honky anyways.

[tourunigo]

1998 on /5 near midnight in upstate Wisconsin. Tired as hour 20 approaching. Kept seeing these 'little deer' on the side of the road. hmmmmm :scratch, I ponder, maybe if I use the airhorns they will be alerted to my presence and stay put. (loud horn sound) Dozens of the critters suddenly appeared, leaping to and fro like excited grasshoppers, directly in my path. Sudden stop with the sound of the idling motor hushed by the sound of a pounding heart. I don't honk for the critters any more. I do like Tom's cattle caller though. - Bob

[WoodButcher]

I don't honk around livestock. I ride many county roads that are open range and there are lots of goats, sheep and cattle. Those are somebody's income and treat them with respect. I don't want them tromping through my networks or server farms so why should I harass their animals? On top of that, I've been told by many ranchers that the sheep are more delicate than the goats and cattle. They have a tendency to damage hips when they panic scatter. Makes them less useful for income at that point.

[PGlaves]

I have to tell my favorite "don't honk" story. Voni and I were riding through Crazy Woman Canyon, on a nice gravel road southwest of Buffalo, Wyoming. We encountered a herd of several hundred sheep being guided by a dog or two and three guys on horseback. The canyon road was bounded on one side by the creek and on the other side by fairly steep embankments. We were headed north - they were headed south.

One of the riders (horse type) advised we should just proceed slowly. He said they would split and get out of our way. Then he said, "Whatever you do, don't honk your horns or we'll be chasing them to round them up all week."

As I was in the middle of the herd I glanced at my horn button with a somewhat evil thought, when I recalled that each of those horsemen had a fairly large rifle in a scabbard on his saddle. I decided honking the horn would be mean and stupid and didn't.

[mistercindy]

I don't honk around livestock. I ride many county roads that are open range and there are lots of goats, sheep and cattle. Those are somebody's income and treat them with respect.
Ditto that. I don't honk at animals because I've never seen the point in stirring them up.

[32232]

ditto that. I don't honk at animals because i've never seen the point in stirring them up.

+1

[Jogitu]

+1

Shame. Lots of sheep in Southwestern Ontario.

[beemergirl]

I never honk, but I moo at the cows and baaaaah at the sheep.

[SeabeckS]

I never honk, but I moo at the cows and baaaaah at the sheep.

I do the opposite, moo at sheep, and baaaah at the cows. The confused looks on their faces is priceless...

:brow

[Greenwald]

Ditto that. I don't honk at animals because I've never seen the point in stirring them up.


Ah, Man........now I really feel bad. :cry






Nah - just kiddiing. I'll probably still honk. :dance

[tourunigo]

I would suspect that straight pipes, on some select models, will produce a response in critters similar, if not more startling, than honking. So, if you are following one of these, just watch for critter chaos in their wake. Just sayin' :whistle - Bob

[AKBeemer]

I would suspect that straight pipes, on some select models, will produce a response in critters similar, if not more startling, than honking. So, if you are following one of these, just watch for critter chaos in their wake. Just sayin' :whistle - Bob

Reminds me of a story...... Annie and I were returning home on the road between Whitehorse and Beaver Creek. As occasionally happens on a trip we found ourselves passing and being passed by another couple on bikes at rest and fuel breaks. They were both riding HDs with straight pipes and had been all the way from Tennessee. They were a nice couple and we struck up conversations when we found ourselves together for a few moments. At one stop the woman mentioned how surprised they were because they not seen any moose, caribou, goats, etc; yet Annie and I saw the normal selection of wild life all along the road. I was wondering why as they pulled away from the stop when the answer hit me like a bat out of ..........

[tourunigo]

Reminds me of a story....../ ...... how surprised they were because they not seen any moose, caribou, goats, etc; yet Annie and I saw the normal selection of wild life all along the road. I was wondering why as they pulled away from the stop when the anser hit me like a bat out of ..........

Here in Nova Scotia an event called Thunder In The Highlands is held annually on Cape Breton Island and has a large turnout. I have often thought that all that rackett must change the wildlife distribution significantly. That event covers a bit of what we cover on our Salty Fog Riders Rally. I thought it would be 'tongue in cheek' funny to subtitle our gig as Whispers In The Highlands. However, I must admit two additional thoughts about that: 1) we didn't see any wildlife either and 2) maybe loud pipes do save lives (in the forest) :bolt - Bob

[From MARS]

Ah, Man........now I really feel bad. :cry






Nah - just kiddiing. I'll probably still honk. :dance

All I ask is that you don't come ride in my area! The riders around here have a good relationship with the ranchers; I wouldn't want someone to spoil it.

Tom

[Greenwald]

[QUOTE=From MARS;713329]All I ask is that you don't come ride in my area! The riders around here have a good relationship with the ranchers; I wouldn't want someone to spoil it.

Tom[/QUOTE

Well, Tom ........... the one time I did cross the entire width of Kansas (August, 2009), I did not once toot my horn at any livestock.

I was too enamored by the scenery.......4 trees, two rivers and a Wal-Mart.

Seriously, enjoy your 'wide-open spaces' and if ever I shall trod on Kansas soil again, I will remember your admonition and refrain from alerting the fauna to my presence. :dance

[Jogitu]

[QUOTE=From MARS;713329]All I ask is that you don't come ride in my area! The riders around here have a good relationship with the ranchers; I wouldn't want someone to spoil it.

Tom[/QUOTE

Well, Tom ........... the one time I did cross the entire width of Kansas (August, 2009), I did not once toot my horn at any livestock.

I was too enamored by the scenery.......4 trees, two rivers and a Wal-Mart.

Seriously, enjoy your 'wide-open spaces' and if ever I shall trod on Kansas soil again, I will remember your admonition and refrain from alerting the fauna to my presence. :dance

:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh

That's funny I don't care who you are!

[amiles]

Many moons ago I was on a trip with a group that included two Gold Wing riders. They had accessorized their machines with musical air horns. Riding North on I77 from Virginia to Ohio, through every tunnel, I was serenaded by Lara's Theme from Dr Zhivago. I sometimes have nightmares that begin and end with "Somewhere my love....."

[bogthebasher]

I grew up on a farm and had to put down a cow because a guy in a truck honked and our prize milk cow panicked (they do that sometimes), jumped the fence and ran right in front of the next car and ended with broken hind legs. Left an impression with me forever.

I have honked at a moose once (he looked amused and lowered his head in a fake charge) and an Elk (no reaction whatsoever) and a couple of deer ( one turned and fled, the other went right across my path.

I have not honked at golfers but intend to start. :dance

[Der Ziegelstein]

Anytime a fenced in animal is startled bad things can happen. Yesterday my wife's horse was all worked up and got his leg caught up in the fence. As he powered his way free he severed the tendon in his leg and exposed quite a bit of bone.

Having said that I have always liked to honk at birds on the road.

[Robsara]

I will often honk at kids on bikes/playing the yard/driveway. When they are close enough to see you can usually see the smiles, otherwise you can see the giant wave back. Kind of fun.

Once at an intersection with a stop sign as the only traffic control in the middle of "town" some kids were stranding on the corner with their bikes doing some weird hand motion when I came up to a stop. I couldn't figure out what they were doing, so I asked the little boy (maybe 7?) He said "spin out your tires!!" I said, you do it on your bike, and I'll do it on mine. He looked down, and said that was a good idea, and the gushed for me to have a great day. My 6 year old was on the back and they chatted for a quick moment before we all went away smiling.

That's not going to happen riding a car. Just sayin'.

[Jogitu]

Some of you need to meet Buzz Killington
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/3/33/Buzz_Killington.jpg

[rocketman]

I have never done that to any animals but I love honking the horn when I pass a golf course when a golfer is about to swing!:whistle

The sponsors of gulf tournaments may resent that as their profit is based on the players highest scores...:brow































(Ok, so I just made that up, but it sounds good,...........don't it?) :laugh

RM

[henzilla]

The sponsors of gulf tournaments may resent that as their profit is based on the players highest scores...:brow
(Ok, so I just made that up, but it sounds good,...........don't it?) :laugh

RM

I always wonder why one has to be quiet for the golfers and tennis players...wouldn't it be more fun to cheer & jeer like other sporting events. Talk about playing under pressure:laugh:laugh:laugh
OK all golfers and tennis players, don't get defensive... I know it's some kind of "gentlemen's game" ...but I am poking at tradition.

I still honk as I pass the driving range...especially when I see the Goldwing Trike with the club case on the back parked there and "someone" in mid swing:wave

Quiet Please:dunno

[Lee510]

I have only seen deer run away from the sound. Moose and elk on the other hand take a honk as a challenge. When I used to drive a truck for a living, I saw a Freightliner that was probably totalled. The hood was gone, engine and transmission pushed back and down, broken driveshaft, radiator into the fan, with bits of fur and unknown substance all over the place. I asked the technician what the truck hit. He told me a moose was in the road. The driver saw the moose and honked the horn. The moose turned, lowered his head and charged. Instant mooseburger!:hungover EEEWWWWW!

[marchyman]

I have only seen deer run away from the sound.

Run away? I've seen deer run, but you never know which direction they'll head. When they move at all they are as likely to move toward you as away from you.

[32232]

Run away? I've seen deer run, but you never know which direction they'll head. When they move at all they are as likely to move toward you as away from you.

+1 on that. When startled, they will dart off in any direction, changing their heading every few feet.

[Anyname]

I wish I knew where all the morons with un-muffled bikes live. I would ride by in the early morning hours and greet the new day with my Fiamms.

[tourunigo]

I wish I knew where all the morons with un-muffled bikes live. I would ride by in the early morning hours and greet the new day with my Fiamms.

that's connected to those group rides under the banner of 'Thunder In The _____ whatever. I am always perplexed by that thinking. Like a few other things in life I suppose. Oh well. - Bob

[ericthebald]

With all the Mule Deer around my place, I spend my energy looking around for them. Even if you do honk, they don't seem to pay any attention.
I ride a lot on FS & county roads and often come upon small herds of cattle. I ~have~found that just talking loudly at them in a pack and they'll clear the road more than if you honk, which they ignore more often than not. I just holler out " Hey, get off the road". :)

[From MARS]

During feeding season, late Fall 'til Spring grasses, many ranchers use their horns to call the cattle. So, you may actually wind up with more cows around you if you honk.

Tom