Peak deer accident season has arrived

You don't have to be a hunter to know that deer are on the move again this fall. It's now also peak season for deer-related crashes.

About half of all deer/vehicle collisions happen in October, November and December. With the onset of the breeding season, or rut, for white-tailed deer, bucks begin chasing does and they can burst out of any wooded area or charge across any open field into your path.

In Kentucky, 3,084 highway crashes involving deer were reported to police in 2022, up about 100 from the prior year, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. There were four reported fatalities and 20 serious injuries due to deer collisions in 2022.

Hitting a deer is also an expensive proposition. AAA Insurance reports that its average deer-related claim in the region is about $5,600, more than $600 higher than last year.

Of 12 western Kentucky counties, five were in the top 30 for deer crashes statewide: Graves County with 60, Calloway County with 50, Marshall County with 41, Lyon County with 32, and McCracken County with 30.

Motorists are asked to report all deer-vehicle collisions to police.  KYTC traffic engineers use the crash data in placing deer-crossing warning signs and other safety measures.