It is not surprising that people are thinking about deer – and their movements – as the Wisconsin firearm season gets underway. But non-hunters should also take this time of year to give a second thought to the deer population as well – considering that this time of year is also the prime season for deer-vehicle collisions and also when many install a deer fence to keep them from entering your premises.
This time of the year is when deer migration starts in North Dakota. Firearms hunters are on the prowl following the steady stream of migrating deer which causes them to be more alert than usual. This contributes to a lot of pressure on them, pushing them to stay defensive and even make a run.
As a driver, you need to act defensively to both anticipate and avoid collisions with deer along the road.
Besides being aware of the potential for deer during this time of year, it is also important to know what time of day you are more likely to encounter them.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has taken to their Facebook page and other forms of social media to get the word out about when the most deer-vehicle collisions occur. According to WISDOT, there are two prime times of the day when the most collisions occur: Early in the morning and again in the evening.
Early morning: The number of deer-vehicle collisions increases between 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM,
Afternoon: The number of deer-vehicle collisions spikes again between 4:00 PM and 12:00 AM (midnight).
Taking care and driving defensively are the first steps towards avoiding deer. But what should you do if you do encounter a deer? Here are some tips:
- It is possible for headlights to confuse a deer and cause it to freeze
- Firmly apply the brakes
- The long blast of your horn might startle the deer, causing it to run away from the road
- When you see a deer, there are usually more waiting (or hiding) in the woods.
Wisconsin’s deer season runs through November 27 for gun hunters, through December 7 for muzzleloader hunters, and through December 11 for antlerless hunters in 2023.
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