DNR warns drivers of deer this fall

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana's Department of Natural Resources is warning drivers to drive defensively and be aware of deer this fall.

“Nearly 50 percent of all vehicle accidents involving white-tailed deer occur between October and December, with November by far the worst month,” Chad Stewart, deer research biologist for the DNR, said.

Indiana Crash Facts, an annual report compiled by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Center for Criminal Justice Research and the IUPUI School of Public & Environmental Affairs, reported 15,205 deer-related collisions in 2011.

The DNR said knowing the following information will help reduce your chances of becoming a deer-vehicle collision statistic:

• Fall is the most common season to strike a deer.
• Deer are most active between sunset and sunrise.
• Deer often travel in groups, so if you see one, another is likely nearby.
• Be especially careful in areas where you have seen deer before.
• Use high beams when there is no opposing traffic; scan for deer’s illuminated eyes or dark silhouettes along the side of the road.
• If you see a deer, slow your speed drastically, even if it is far away.
• Exercise extreme caution along woodlot edges, at hills, or blind turns.
• Never swerve to avoid hitting a deer; most serious crashes occur when drivers try to miss a deer but hit something else.

"If you hit a deer, remain calm. Do not approach the deer unless you are sure it has expired. Despite their gentle nature, their hooves are sharp and powerful, and can be extremely dangerous," Stewart said.