They dart across fields, hide in ditches, and sometimes appear in headlights with no warning. It’s deer season in Missouri — not just for hunters, but for drivers, too.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is urging motorists to stay alert, as fall marks the peak time for deer-related crashes.

Below are a few tips for being a deer-wise driver and hopefully avoiding a collision:

Deer in Road, illuminated by headlights

Know The Peak Hours: Deer movement increases this time of year due to mating season, and hunting or crop harvesting can push them into areas where they’re not usually seen. Drivers are urged to stay watchful, especially during evening and nighttime hours. Most collisions occur between October and December, with November seeing the highest number, often between 8 and 9 p.m.

Slow When You See One: If you spot a deer, or narrowly miss one, slow down. Deer often travel in groups, and where there’s one, there are likely more.

Recognize Hotspots: Natural features like streams and wooded corridors can also increase deer activity, particularly near farmland. However, these crashes aren’t just a rural problem — about one in five deer-involved crashes (21%) happened in urban areas last year.

Choose The Lesser Of Two Evils: Don't cause a bigger crash. If a collision with a deer looks inevitable, slow down and take reasonable measures to avoid it. But experts at Hi-Tech Auto Body & Towing at Lake of the Ozarks say it's still better to hit the deer than to crash into another vehicle or run off the road. A deer collision will almost certainly cause less damage than crashing into a ditch.

In 2024, Missouri recorded nearly 3,000 deer-related crashes, an average of one every three hours, resulting in four deaths and 420 injuries statewide.

Nathan's Minivan After The Deer Hit

The Highway Patrol warns that swerving to avoid a deer can lead to even more serious crashes, particularly into oncoming traffic. The safest choice is to stay alert and always buckle up.

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