Georgia DNR shares tips on how to avoid Deer collisions

Deer are on the move across Georgia and that can spell trouble for drivers. It's breeding season when deer are typically more active and more likely to cross roadways. And add in the time change with more people commuting at dawn and dusk, and there you have it, the risk for a collision goes up. So state deer biologist Charlie Kilmaster is joining us with some tips to help you avoid a deer in your headlights. So Charlie, good morning to you. Thanks for being with us. Good morning. Thank you for having me. Let's dive into this. I mean, this is something we know a thing or two about here in Georgia. So why is it that we're seeing more deer on the road and how does breeding season really, really increase this number? Well, so as we get into the fall, the bucks are chasing the does and they could be running across roads. They kind of throw caution to the wind and they're not paying attention to the road crossings like they would at other times of the year. And so increased road crossings and. More darker times when people are commuting is a recipe for more deer vehicle collisions. Yeah, that makes sense. You know, especially, you know, you talk about the, we moved our clocks back and yeah, it's kind of changed when things are darker and brighter. So we get it. So what are some of the biggest things, Charlie, that drivers need to be watching out for when you see a deer near the road? So deer are usually traveling in groups. So if you see one deer cross the road, don't just assume that the danger has passed. There very likely could be another deer behind it. In the case of bucks chasing does, it could be a buck running very fast after the doe, and you don't see it coming. So we see that. So slow down, even if you think they've already crossed in front of you. And also, don't swerve to avoid a deer. Thank you. Off the road, lose control of the vehicle or worse, in the oncoming traffic, actually slowing down as much as possible, bracing for impact and hitting the deer is probably safer for everyone involved than swerving and potentially hitting a tree or another vehicle. We're going to talk more about that in just a moment, but I feel like every year, Charlie, we all say, you know, oh, there's more this year than last year. Is there any truth to that? Are we seeing that there are more deer out and about this time of year, or is it just kind of something that we say every year? It's seasonal. It's seasonal. We see a peak during the breeding season, and we see another peak during the time that fawns are dropping earlier in the spring. So we see a few peaks, but the big one is right now during the breeding season. So, and again, with the time change, that also factors in because you have more people commuting in those dark hours. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. And when we're commuting at dawn and dusk. Um, that's, that puts more danger of collisions. Oh yeah. I feel like I see families of them on my way in, in the dark to get to work. So a lot of truth to what you're saying here. What about certain parts of Georgia? Are there, are there maybe certain parts or times of the fall when drivers should be especially cautious? And then on the, on the end of that, you know, how can Georgia's DNR rut map help? Yeah, so our breeding season peaks in different times depending on where you are in the state. Right now, the very end of October and first couple of weeks in November is the peak rut or breeding season for most of the state. But we do have some peaks that range from mid-October down along the coast to... Even December and early parts of January in southwest Georgia and some rut in December up in the mountain area. It really ranges depending on where you are in the state. And some are more later November too. So that rut map can really, you can look at your county and see when that peak is for your county. I want to go back to what you said about, you know, oftentimes there's less damage if you just go ahead and hit the deer and, you know, avoid swerving. But it's our first instinct, I think, to want to swerve. But why is it that you recommend most of the time you don't try to swerve? It's more dangerous. Yes. So it's awful, obviously, for the deer and all the circumstances, but hitting a deer is a lot less damaging to the vehicle than potentially losing control and exiting the road or into oncoming traffic. So it's just safer to slam on brakes and hopefully the deer will clear out of the way before you hit it. OK, one more question, since we have the expert with us before we let you go, Charlie, let's say someone's watching right now and they're saying, you know, I've seen deer wandering through my yard. Can you legally shoot a deer that's in your own yard? What should homeowners know before they even consider that question? Well, there's a lot of considerations there. You have to have either a hunting license. If you're on your own property, you don't actually have to have one, but you are required to have hunter safety and a harvest record before hunting. And then you also have to factor in any ordinances that may prohibit discharge of firearms. Restrict archery equipment in most suburban areas would be limited to archery hunting. And that is actually one of the most effective forms of population control is archery hunting in urban or suburban areas can be done very safely. Interesting. So I guess the answer to that is it depends. It depends on a lot of factors. So make sure you have the answer before you give it a shot. State Deer Biologist Charlie Kilmaster Charlie, thank you so much for coming in, or for joining us, I guess, via Zoom and sharing more about this today. Thank you. We appreciate it. And for more info, you can head to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division at georgiawildlife.com. And we'll share a link on our website, fox5atlanta.com.