2021 Deer Season Safety Tips & FAQs for Drivers

Sep 22, 2021

With the approach of fall, deer rutting (mating) season will soon be getting into full swing in Kansas and Missouri. According to Outdoorlife.com, the estimated population of whitetail deer in Kansas is around 685,000 statewide, with approximately 53,000 mule deer predominately in the western part of the state. In Missouri, there are approximately 1.5 million deer statewide, with whitetail being the predominant species.

In other words, that’s a lot of deer to contend with here in the greater Kansas City area. And, as rutting season heats up, the chance of hitting a deer who is crossing a road or highway increases dramatically. According to the Kansas Dept. of Transportation, there were more than 10,700 deer-related car accidents in 2018. The agency notes that eight people were killed and 556 people injured in deer-related car accidents in 2019.

Attention Kansas City Drivers: Deer season is here!

According to the experts, deer are most active in the morning and at dusk. Deer mating season continues to accelerate throughout October, November, and December. This means that more and more deer are on the move during these fall and winter months.

Here are expert tips from State Farm Insurance on how to avoid hitting deer or other animals:

Slow down! Reducing your speed, especially at dusk and dawn, gives you more time to react if you encounter a deer on the road.
Buckle up! Not only is this the law, but it’s also common sense. If you hit a deer without a seatbelt on, you’re increasing your chance of serious injury.
Heed deer-crossing warning signs! Deer-crossing warning signs are often placed where there have been reports of known accidents involving deer. These signs indicate that there may be increased deer activity in the area and, therefore, the potential for deer crossing the road or highway is increased. Nevertheless, you should still drive defensively through rural or wooded areas regardless of whether there are any visible deer-crossing signs.
Use your high beams! Give yourself the best chance of spotting deer in the road by using your car’s high beams. Be sure to dim your high beams when you see oncoming traffic.
Don’t be a distracted driver! Anything that takes your eyes off the road, like changing a radio station or even grabbing a sip of soda, can result in you not seeing a deer darting out in front of you. The more vigilant and focused you are behind the wheel, the better chance you have at avoiding a costly deer collision.
Avoid swerving to miss hitting a deer! While this advice might sound counter-intuitive, swerving abruptly to avoid hitting a deer could cause you to lose control of your vehicle, resulting in a more serious accident. Apply the brakes but be prepared to hit the deer rather than swerving into traffic or hitting a tree.
“Deer Whistles” and other gimmicks don’t work! It’s easy to be misled into thinking that gimmicks such as deer whistles will help alert deer to your car’s presence. Recent deer-whistle scientific studies demonstrate that both air-activated and electronic deer whistle devices are ineffective.

Deer Season Safety FAQS

I hit a deer. Now what?

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, this is what to do when you hit a deer:

If possible, pull over to the side of the road so as not to obstruct traffic.
Call 911 and report the accident.
Stay inside your vehicle and wait for help to arrive.
Do not try to move the deer. When first-responders arrive, they will take care of the animal.

Do I need to file a police report if I hit a deer?

Yes! Filing a police report will be important when filing an insurance claim. You should also document the incident by taking pictures. If there are witnesses, get their information when it’s safe to do so.

Does my insurance cover my hitting a deer?

That depends on your auto insurance coverage. According to Progressive Insurance, if you have additional comprehensive insurance on your policy, you’ll usually have to pay a deductible for vehicle repairs. Progressive also notes that any injuries sustained should be covered by your medical payments or personal injury protection coverage. Check your policy or contact your insurance agent for more detailed information.

Will hitting a deer increase my auto insurance premiums?

That depends on where you live. The State of Kansas and the State of Missouri require motorists to carry $25,000 in bodily injury liability, $50,000 per accident bodily injury, and $25,000 in property damage coverage. Kansas also requires additional Personal-injury-protection (PIP or no-fault) coverage, while Missouri requires uninsured motorist coverage as well. Contact your auto insurance company for more information.

What collision-repair options do I have in Kansas City?

Unfortunately, hitting a deer with your car can cause significant vehicle damage. But don’t worry. With five convenient McCarthy Collision Center locations throughout the greater Kansas City area, you have plenty of options to obtain top-quality auto repair. Here are but a few reasons why you should choose McCarthy Collison Centers for the best auto-body car repair in Kansas City:

Certified Auto Body Repair Specialists – Our team of autobody repair specialists are both certified and have years of experience. We are proud that our technicians are also I-CAR Gold Class® certified, which is the highest level of training certification in the auto-repair industry.
The Most Advanced Auto-Body Repair Equipment – At McCarthy Collision Centers, we used the latest auto-repair technology to ensure that your vehicle is repaired quickly and properly.
Authentic OEM Parts – We only use genuine original auto parts from the manufacturer to ensure that your car is repaired to the highest standards.
Free Auto-Body Repair Estimates – Unlike the other guys, you’ll never have to pay for an auto body repair estimate when you take your car to a McCarthy Collision Center.
24/7 Emergency Towing – If your car isn’t drivable, we offer 24-hour emergency towing in Kansas City, for your convenience.
We Work with All Insurance Companies – Let us take the headache out of dealing with your insurance company. We handle all the insurance paperwork for you, and we work with all car insurance providers.

How do I contact a McCarthy Collison Center?

If you’ve hit a deer or have been in any other kind of auto accident in Kansas City, just call 1-800-NEW-AGAIN or visit your nearest McCarthy Auto Body Shops. You can even submit a free online car repair estimate from the convenience of your home or office.

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