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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I've just ran over a pheasant :(

195 replies

lexiepix · 26/02/2015 17:32

On a narrow country lane, doing 50, they usually move out of the way but this one stayed right in the middle.

It made such a thud, a huge cloud of feathers afterwards and I've just been picking the feather out of my grill.

I had no idea what way it was going to go so didn't swerve, also I didn't break much as expected it to move as they do 1000s of times before.

I'm feeling really shit about it. Am I a total cunt for not slowing or swerving?

OP posts:
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6
mytartanscarf · 26/02/2015 17:36

No, pheasants are notoriously stupid, honestly! Don't worry, it is a shame but how they aren't extinct I don't know!

Teapot74 · 26/02/2015 17:37

Would only be worried that you didn't go back, pick it up and sling it in the pot when you got home :(

NormHonal · 26/02/2015 17:37

No, if you had slowed or swerved you could have put your own life or the lives of other car passengers in danger.

Brew or Wine. I remember when my DMum hit one when I was a child travelling in the car, and how shaken up she and I were afterwards.

Don't blame yourself.

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 26/02/2015 17:37

They usually run straight for the tyres ime.
Don't feel bad

nowayjose1 · 26/02/2015 17:38

As another poster said, they are well known for being ditzy and not moving out of the way quick enough!

Madamecastafiore · 26/02/2015 17:38

God don't be upset they are notoriously bloody stupid.

bobs123 · 26/02/2015 17:39

I'd be pleased - pheasant and beef stew...yum!

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 26/02/2015 17:39

They are idiots (especially once the breeding season starts). My uncle ran over one once-didn't want to waste good food-stuck it in boot. It flew out once he got home.

DawnOfTheDoggers · 26/02/2015 17:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheFecklessFairy · 26/02/2015 17:40

On a narrow country lane, doing 50 Shock Shock Shock

Original poster
lexiepix · 26/02/2015 17:43

Thanks I'm feeling a bit better about it now. Although I'm more annoyed with myself that I took the decision not to hit the brakes as was running late.

When I say narrow country lane I don't mean that narrow or country, its a narrow a road through farm land where it is 60.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 26/02/2015 17:46

Pheasants are prize idiots when it comes to cars. Nothing you can do about it at all.

SpottyTeacakes · 26/02/2015 17:48

Dh once applauded a pheasant for crossing without getting hit then promptly ran over its lady friend Grin

I wouldn't worry op. At least it wasn't a deer.

Summerisle1 · 26/02/2015 17:48

Pheasants are unbelievably and notoriously stupid. I live down a country lane and narrowly miss running one over most days. They can't ever remember that they are birds and thus have the ability to fly. So they run about like...well like headless chickens...and only take off at the very last minute. Or sometimes not. I killed one last week which eventually took off only to ignore the miles of open countryside available to it and instead, fly straight into my windscreen. Don't feel bad about it. They really do have the most fearful death wish.

bettyboop1970 · 26/02/2015 17:48

You were driving too fast! YABU, you could have slowed down and driven round it. Where we live there are many pheasants and DP has never ran one down. Pheasants are notoriously oblivious to roads. Be more careful!

tobysmum77 · 26/02/2015 17:51

Don't pick them up. I know someone who did this once and the bloody thing came back to life in the car Grin

TheFecklessFairy · 26/02/2015 17:54

Thank God it wasn't my DIL on her horse. You'd probably have killed both of them.

Next time lexiepix it might just be a tractor!!

figgypuddings · 26/02/2015 17:54

There are 52,000,000 pheasants in the UK and they are more common than the robin.
Apparently.

ladybird69 · 26/02/2015 17:56

I crashed my car into a ditch avoiding a group of lady pheasants who were panicking and running all over the road!!!! Dumb stupid birds. Couldn't believe it as I sat there and watched them make it to the other side of the road and then fly over the hedge!!!!! You can fly you stupid birds fly over the road!

Pokeymont · 26/02/2015 17:57

Pheasants are thick. I'm amazed I haven't run one down. I've thought I was going to hit one many a time. If I think I'm going to collide with one I don't do anything at the last minute. It's really dangerous to swerve or slam on the brakes.

Just think of it as providing supper for a whole load of scavengers.

littlepeas · 26/02/2015 17:57

God, those birds are stupid. I live down a country lane and encounter them daily - I once hit the same one twice (no one behind me and a bit of time to slow down, so did, but the bloody thing ran TOWARDS me, I clipped it, it tried to fly off, but ended up colliding with my windscreen!). If you see a pheasant at the side of the road it will run out in front of you, it is one of the only things in life that is certain. Basically, don't feel bad.

mytartanscarf · 26/02/2015 17:58

They were bred to be stupid so the upper class could shoot them Hmm

There are loads of country lanes here that are narrow and you can safely do 50.

I have a horse and I am sure I'm in no imminent danger from the op; I'm bigger than a pheasant for starters!

maninawomansworld · 26/02/2015 17:58

I wouldn't worry about it - there are loads of them.

YABU however not to pick it up and take it home for dinner, they are absolutely delicious if cooked right.
Pheasant shooting season finished a few weeks back and I've got about 30 of them in my freezer to see me through until October when I can go back out and get some more. They are brill in curry because the meat is so lean and has a nice flavour to it - rather than chicken which just takes on the taste of the sauce. They are also spectacular wrapped in streaky bacon and slow roasted!

I had a (non shooting)friend in the car with me once when I hit one. I saw it was injured but not dead so I pulled over and went back for it. She was so pleased that I was 'going to take it to a vet', until I wrung it's neck and had it for lunch on the following Sunday.

Leaving it in the road is a bit of a waste!

TattyDevine · 26/02/2015 17:59

Ugh. I've not done it yet, but they seem to WANT to be run over the way they lurch pointy faced towards wheels.

Once I was driving down a lane and someone had hit one and it was still twitching so I went over it to finish it off Sad

It made a satisfying crunch but I had to do it.

littlepeas · 26/02/2015 17:59

Well you should probably feel bad bout doing 50 on a narrow country lane, but not about the pheasant.

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