Kids Outdoor Outpost – October 2016

Deer Alert

Several years ago, my son Jared and I saw a 10-pointer still in velvet that had been hit and killed on the side of a well-travelled road. I immediately called the county and informed them that they had a deer to pick up.

What are the odds that you will be involved in an accident with a deer? Actually in Georgia, it’s one chance in 128. But in Gwinnett County, you must really be aware of the possibility. From 2012-2014, there were 1,082 deer collisions in that county, which was the No. 1 Georgia county for deer collisions

Last May, a student at North Forsyth High School in Cumming was killed when his car was struck by a deer that had been hit by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. It’s important to remember that as the daylight hours begin to get shorter, it also brings increased deer activity and the arrival of their mating season. This year, Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. on Nov. 6, and it’s a good time to remind your parents to be aware, especially when they are driving in the low-light conditions to and from work.

Southern states like ours, North and South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi are high-risk states for deer collisions. Each year there are usually more than 50,000 deer/vehicle collisions in the state of Georgia. Sometimes you not only wreck or damage your car or truck, but you may be even be injured. 

Our state was once very rural with many farms. Today, much of it has changed. Communities and subdivisions have replaced areas that had been deer habitat. The result is that we have pushed these deer in to new and sometimes smaller home ranges. So now, they’re left to share this space with their new neighbors (us) and actually feast on our shrubs, plants and nuts in many backyards. 

All of this leads to increased opportunities for deer to cross our roads in search of food and mates and get hit. 

Again, make sure that you tell your folks to reduce their speed in areas that are known to have deer and/or deer crossing signs. A few tips to share with them.

• Use your high beam headlights in these areas.  

• Use one long blast of your horn to alert the deer to your approach.

• Brake slowly to reduce your speed. Don’t  swerve, as this may confuse the animal. Be aware that deer generally travel in groups. If you see one deer, there are probably more that are ready to cross.  

• If you should strike a deer, avoid touching it. It may simply be stunned, still alive, frightened and confused. You may be injured in attempting to move the deer. However, if the deer has been fatally struck, it is actually legal to take the deer to a game processor. 

• Do not contact DNR if you hit a deer. According to the State Farm’s website, drivers who hit a deer should contact local law enforcement (like city or county) if the deer is blocking traffic or creating a threat to other drivers. If the collision results in injury or property damage, you may need to fill out an official report. This report also can prove useful when filing your insurance claim. 

Let’s hunt deer, not hit ’em!