Customer Reviews

Hopkins Trailblazer Electronic Deer Alert

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've used and tested a number of deer alert products over the years, as I used to be the manager of a courier fleet. This unit compares well to the best of them. I live in Western PA, and now work part time as a rural carrier for the Post Office and since installing this product, I've not spotted a deer or had a small animal run into the road in front of my vehicle, which used to be a frequent occurance. I have spotted a good number of small animals turning around and escaping into the underbrush on the roadside.

I installed the unit myself and chose to have it operational whenever my vehicle is running, there is another option where you turn it on and off manualy with an included power switch from inside the vehicle.

PROS: 1) easy installation 2) choice of always on or power switch 3) works at all vehicle speeds (unpowered "whistle" units only work when you are driving 40 mph or faster) 4)mounts undetectably under the hood so it doesn't disrupt air flow and will not get knocked off in car washes or when removing snow or ice from your vehicle 5) never needs cleaning ("whistles" get easily clogged with dirt, snow and ice and then stop working) 6) unlike other units actually broadcasts in the frequency range that deer can hear.

CONS: 1) in the "always on" mode the alarm is quite audible to humans too, and people will turn and look at your vehicles in parking lots and when you pull into gas stations or convienience stores. 2) Dogs in the neighborhood that are prone to bark will start barking when you drive along residential streets and birds in the trees will often react when you are driving along or pulling into a parking space.

I have only had the alert on my car for a couple of days,so don't know if it is causing the deer to avoid me, but it would cause most anything to leave the vicinity...this thing is LOUD!!!! If you install it, by no means should it be set up to be activated when the engine is turned on..use the switch or headlight option.(You would not want to be sitting at a stoplight in town with this thing screaming...) It is a bit annoying even inside the car--you have to turn the radio up. However, I drive deer-infested roads and am willing to put up with most anything if it will keep these "rats with antlers" off my windshield!!

Works great, have used for several years on a number of vehicles after my first two encounters with deer, one totaling the vehicle, the other causing much damage. I travel in a highly populated deer area daily, at all hours, with many deer standing along the side of the road. The noise causes them to stop and look. Highly recommend.

Loud to the human ear inside vehicle. Maybe the deer will move when
hearing this noise. I usually cut them off while at stop lights or
intersections.

I live in the Poconos, lots of deer. I had it installed on my motorcycle by the dealer. I can certainly hear it beeping while I ride(my muffler actually works, so my bike is relatively quiet) but the sound is quite tolerable on the open road. You simply ignore it after a while & I can still enjoy the radio. I turn it off in town, not many deer there.

Had this deer alert installed by my local mechanic. Placed the toggle on-off switch on the drivers side, so it is easy to reach. Had it also connected to the headlight on-off button. Now I can turn on from the toggle switch and control from the headlight switch. Headlight switch turns it on. If I don't need the alert at night I just turn the main switch off so the headlight circuit is bypassed. It works great. I can hear the chirping sound. It's quite loud, but at highway speeds not notable. I would turn it off in traffic or in town; otherwise you will get people turning around. Since the alert is not speed or wind based and since I can hear it; I am confident it is working. After having 2 accidents with deer running into my car [ with wind based "high frequency" (aka inaudible) alerts], I think this investment will really pay off. Safe driving is always important but unfortunately deer accidents happen to the best of drivers and anything to keep one safe is worth it.

I purchased two of these & they both failed in the first rain. I returned them & installed the replacements in an area where they can't get wet. When I got mine there was no switch but there was a convoluted method of starting & restarting the car to turn them on. How dumb was that. Connecting them to the Hi-Beams dosen't seem much better to me. I ran a wire to an inside switch because I sure wouldn't want them running in a town or even at a traffic light. My personal opinion is that they don't work anyhow. I believe that deer whistles of both types have been professionally tested & the results indicated that they don't work. I have driven past deer standing on the side of the road and they don't appear to pay a bit of attention to them. And, my wife hit a deer last year with them blasting.

I installed it a few weeks ago and so far haven't run into any deer so I guess it's doing what it's supposed to. The installation was pretty simple and I like the fact that the switch is on the ground side instead of the hot so there's less of a chance to short. The noise is a little on the loud side but I don't hear it at all once I hit about 35-45mph. But depending on the vehicle, how much road noise you usually hear and the placement of the alert, you may hear it at that speed. I installed it hidden behind the radiator grill so it would be at the front-most point on the vehicle. Some other reviewers recommended installing it with its own switch so it wouldn't be on all the time the car is on and that is definitely good advice. I couldn't find a way to neatly run the switch wires into the actual cabin so I debated installing it so it would come on with my high beams. I finally wound up just installing the switch in the engine compartment. I thought it would be kind of a pain to pop the hood to flip it on and off but it hasn't been that bad because I only use it when going out of town and flip it just before I get on the interstate. Also, I do visit Canada quite frequently so if you happen to be in a situation where you have to cross the border(Especially if you're brown like me), it may be a good idea to have the option to switch it off so they don't find you suspicious.

Installed this on our 2012 Mustang and it's a great unit. No trouble to hear it and I hope the moose will hear it to. Easy install, quality product.

I recently purchased and received the trailblazer deer alert, very prompt service. After the installation I find I feel a lot safer in the deer areas. This was a replacement for a different type that had failed. I used the ON/Off switch so as to be able to shut the unit off while in town or just don't want it on. Very pleased with the unit.