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Five states where you're most likely to hit a deer this fall
Here are the five states where you're most likely to wind up with Bambi on the hood of your car if you aren't careful (with the likelihood of doing so):
1. West Virginia: 1 in 42 (I didn't see this one coming!)
2. Iowa: 1 in 67
3. Michigan: 1 in 70
4. South Dakota: 1 in 76
5. Montana: 1 in 82
What's particularly surprising is that none of the states usually considered to be leaf-peeping destinations made the top five, let alone showed high risk of deer collisions. Massachusetts and New Hampshire are low-risk, with New York, Vermont and Maine only showing medium risk. You're more likely to wash venison off your hood in Arkansas than you are in New Jersey, a state where deer corpses are not uncommon on the side of the road.
Interestingly, the number of miles driven by U.S. motorists, according to State Farm, has grown only 2 percent in the past five years ... while the number of deer/car smacks has surged 20 percent. From July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010, there were approximately 2.3 million collisions between deer and vehicles. The average cost for an incident was $3,013.
[Chart via Terms + Conditions: Insurance Industry Blog]
Related:
America's best drive: the Beartooth All-American Road
Ten most badass animals native to the US
7 of the craziest, most dangerous, most dizzying hikes in the world (VIDEOS)
The 10 countries with the world's worst drivers
Interestingly, the number of miles driven by U.S. motorists, according to State Farm, has grown only 2 percent in the past five years ... while the number of deer/car smacks has surged 20 percent. From July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010, there were approximately 2.3 million collisions between deer and vehicles. The average cost for an incident was $3,013.
[Chart via Terms + Conditions: Insurance Industry Blog]
Related:
America's best drive: the Beartooth All-American Road
Ten most badass animals native to the US
7 of the craziest, most dangerous, most dizzying hikes in the world (VIDEOS)
The 10 countries with the world's worst drivers
Filed under: North America, United States, Transportation, News, Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 7)
Katie Oct 5th 2010 12:57PM
I can't believe that Idaho and Washington (state) are low risk? There isn't a day goes by that I don't see a new deer carcass along the side of the road that I drive into town. Even last fall, a deer ran into the side of my car! I know there will be disbelievers out there that will say I hit the deer however the insurance company has the report from the Highway Patrol AND the body shop where I had it repaired that from the damage, there was no way I hit the deer, the deer hit me.
Oh well....go ahead and speed along our highways and byways in Idaho and Washington....you'll see!
american infidel Oct 5th 2010 12:58PM
this is disgusting, arbitrary and celubrious. How do they even know what their saying is even factual ?? I believe here in Nevada we have our own fair share of............. oh, i thought they were talking about beer accidents. Never mind.
Emilio Paletta Oct 5th 2010 1:31PM
How could you possibly leave out Pennsylvannia, my wife hits one a week herself!
Hankl Oct 5th 2010 1:32PM
Southold Town eastern L.I. has a large deer vs. vehicle rate. My family, three drivers, have five vehicle vs. deer accidents, SO far.........
Tracie Smith Oct 5th 2010 1:35PM
Do they not have a hunting season up there? I live in South Mississippi, we have deer hunting season from, I believe Nov.-Jan. Part of the season is for guns, part is for bows and arrows. We also have a Doe season, but we have bag limits on how many deer are allowed by one person, per season. It keeps down the deer-car interaction on the highways and backroads.
I can't imagine driving down the road and seeing upwards of 25 dead deer on the road...WOW!!! The animals down here that are more likely to be hit are possums, racoons, rabbits, squirrels, and some deer...Glad I live down here.
Best place on earth to live is the South.
deerhunter Oct 5th 2010 1:39PM
I've never seen a deer accident in my whole life. I train all my deer to go outside when they need to go.
Bambi Oct 5th 2010 1:51PM
If the deer had guns, hunting would be more interesting.
american infidel Oct 5th 2010 2:35PM
i agree with Tracie Smith. I haven't eaten pygarg, chamois or ox in a long time.
CATHY Oct 5th 2010 2:06PM
to tracie; WHAT YOU SAID IS VERY TRUE BUT I HAPPEN TO BE A SPIRIT OF NATURE. I AM HALF INDIAN AND I LIVE MY LIFE IN A PEACEFUL STATE OF MIND. I BRAKE FOR ANIMALS WHEN IM IN MY CAR I DONT LOOK TO DELIBERATELY HIT THEM AND TAKE A RISK WITH MY LIFE OR NOT CARE. GOD PUT THESE ANIMALS ON EARTH FOR US TO ENJOY AND GIVE THEM RESPECT. ALL ANIMALS HAVE FEELINGS I KNOW BECAUSE I TALK TO ANIMALS. I AM JUST AN ANIMAL LOVER. HOW ABOUT YOU WOULD YOU CARE?
Paul Oct 5th 2010 2:23PM
That's true, John. That includes "flatlanders" as well. Dinner will be ready soon after you get here!
Bubba Oct 5th 2010 2:30PM
Well,here in Vermont if'n you hit a deer they'll letcha keep it to eat. That's why we drive old beat up trucks.
Genie Oct 5th 2010 2:43PM
Wow, I'm surprised CA is a "low risk" area. The area I live in has a LOT of deer. Just in one night on a 30 minute drive, I saw 7 of them on or near the road/highway...and that's just the ones I spotted - who knows how many were just out of headlight range.
David Oct 5th 2010 3:00PM
I sorry
What?! Oct 7th 2010 10:24AM
I remember at one time in Wyoming, I was driving the mountains during the night and all of the sudden, a deer popped up in my headlight. I pumped my brakes several times so fast that later after the incident, I couldn't believe the speed of my foot on the brake. Actually, my vehicle at the time had a braking problem that requires several pumps to slow down or stop.
Mary Oct 5th 2010 3:33PM
I looked out my bedroom window at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Bambi and her BFF were munching on a bush in my backyard in Maryland a 20 minute drive from the District. I never really got to enjoy anything from my garden this last summer due to the fricken deer. They walked over my 3 foot fence (installed to keep the rabbits out) and ate everything, and after my garden, they treated my yard like it was their own personal smorgasbord - roses, daylilies, hosta, bushes....all munched down or eaten. A few weeks ago, there were 5 deer in my yard. Driving throught the neighborhood after grocery shopping on Andrews AFB, there were two gangs of deer (herd is too nice of a word). One gang had 7 members and the other at least 15 deer. Where is Ted Nugent and his bow when you need him?
crumbs444 Oct 5th 2010 3:40PM
i once was walking along the tracks to a fishing hole when i heard a twig snap and looked up and there stood a giant elk. we stood frozen for about 20 seconds in a stare down, 30' apart, before the thing took off like a bolt of lightning. it was as big as a horse, ran right past me and then ran across a busy thoroughfare where it was almost hit by a compact truck. i was so happy i didn't get the thing killed by spooking it the way i had.
Mary Oct 5th 2010 3:43PM
Virginia is having at least 4 controlled bow hunts to get rid of the deer. Maryland needs to have some. I have sat by deer that had been hit by other drivers, until someone from law enforcement would show up and put it down or a hunter with a gun and a kill tag. Deer meat from those controlled hunts are given to homeless shelters and food pantries after the hunters take what the law allows. One morning as I was driving onto Bolling AFB in southeast D.C. I almost hit a deer while on an exit ramp.
crumbs444 Oct 5th 2010 3:48PM
hmm i did not know they had deer in hawaii?
Mary Oct 5th 2010 3:56PM
To an earlier question, yes they do have deer hunting season in the Mid-Atlantic states of Maryland, Pennyslvania, and Virginia including Washington D.C., but what the normal hunters take out is not near effective enough in controlling the deer population growth. As more farmers have sold their land to be developed into housing additions, it has left less room for nature's creatures to gather out of the human's habitat. Some folks don't even hunt, they just buy "kill tags" that way if they come upon a downed deer, they can just attach the carcass to their vehicle and take it home without having to fire a single shot. Bow hunters are used for control hunts in suburban neighborhoods and parks to reduce the likelihood of a human being shot or a house being damaged. Some gun users tend to shoot at anything that moves. Bow hunters ensure they have the deer plainly in their sight.
Mary Oct 5th 2010 4:01PM
As we enter deer rut (mating season) in Maryland and the surrounding states, most people who have to drive on suburban and country roads are advised to drive at slower speeds at night, and most of us use our high beams if there is no other driver in sight. Using high beams can point out deer at the edge of the road, and a horn works really good at making them run in the opposite direction to keep them from running in front of any drivers who may be in back of your vehicle. I have tried it and it works. Deer hate loud noises like vehicle horns.