FWIW, we had a severe deer over population in some parts here until they got the ok to cull them. As the herd grew food became scarce and they became less shy about cars, peds, bikes etc. I had several close calls when one or more would be behind a tree or around a corner. Yelling or calling to them would do little good. Often they would not even look up, even when you are 10 feet from them.

I find they scatter readily to my bell while they tend to ignore even car horns. They dont ordinarily dine alone, so if I saw even one within 10yds of my route, I would start ringing the bell and they would generally dash away, dash away home. I dont know if it is the pitch or because it an unusual sound to them but they tended to react.

I give them fair warning so I dont have to slow and to not surprise them into a close call. They tend to run away from it and not do the stupid squirrel thing of crossing to the other side of the road, even if Mom or Cousin Billy were on the other side.

They culled the herd so the numbers are much better, but I still tend to ring the bell because of their past lack of response to AARP Men on Bikes.

Get better soon! I did an endo a week or so ago and my hand is just now well enough to work the brakes.