When there's a chill in the air this time of year, the normally cautious white-tail deer are in the rut and less likely to be aware of on-coming vehicles.
Wisconsin is among the nation's leader in deer-vehicle crashes.
The DNR's Big Game Section Chief Bob Nack says drivers should be cautious....
".....it's the breeding season for our deer here in Wisconsin, also known as the rut. This is the time when all the action happens. Those bucks that are chasing does don't have much of anything else on their mind other than spending some quality time with the does. They're not paying attention and they're moving a lot and people need to be aware of that....."
Nack has a few tips for motorists...
"...obviously to pay attention. Be an attentive driver. We all know there are lots of distractions when you are driving, if you have kids in the car or the phone is ringing. Keep your eyes on the road and pay attention. The second tip is if you do see a deer that is crossing the road, be alert and be ready for more....."
The chance of colliding with a large animal more than doubles during October, November and December during the rut. According to State Farm Insurance, Wisconsin has the fifth-most deer-vehicle crashes in the nation. There are special rules for taking possession of a deer killed in a crash.
Those details and details about keeping a deer in a state CWD zone are on the DNRwebsite.
