Erlkönig: cessna-vs-deer.shtml

NOTE: For those of you unfamiliar with the term "CFI," it stands for
      Certificated Flight Instructor.  A Cessna is a light aircraft,
      usually containing two or four seats.

This CFI and his Student are holding on the runway for departing cross
traffic when suddenly a deer runs out of the nearby woods, stops in the
middle of the runway, and just stands there looking at them.

Tower:  Cessna XXX cleared for take-off.

Std:    "What should I do?  What should I do?"
Inst:   "What do you think you should do?"

(think-think-think)

Std:    "Maybe if I taxi toward him it'll scare him away."
Inst:   "That's a good idea."

(Taxis toward deer, but deer is macho, and holds position.)

Tower:  Cessna XXX cleared for take-off, runway NN.

Std:    "What should I do?  What should I do?"
Inst:   "What do you think you should do?"

(think-think-think)

Std:    "Maybe I should tell the tower."
Inst:   "That's a good idea."
Std:    Cessna XXX, uh, there's a deer down here on the runway.

(long pause)

Tower:  Roger XXX, hold your position.  Deer on runawy NN cleared for
        immediate departure.

(Two seconds, and then -- I presume by coincidence -- the deer bolts from
the runway, and runs back into the woods.)

Tower:  Cessna XXX cleared for departure, runway NN. Caution wake
        turbulence, departing deer.

It had to be tough keeping that Cessna rolling straight for take-off.