JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
This is the time of year when drivers in Mississippi need to be more aware of the dangers of hitting deer.
It's a huge problem in this state. There have been 16,000 vehicle-deer collisions since 2001, according to State Farm Insurance.
With the opening of archery season for deer at the first of this month, and staying open on most public and private lands until January 31, deer are on the move. With gun season coming next month, it is time to start being keenly observant for deer on the roads in this state.
"As you know, most deer-car collisions happen from dusk to dawn," said Jim walker, spokesman for the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and parks. "Mainly slow down where you know there's heavy concentrations of deer. Use your high beams when there is no oncoming traffic. But the most important thing to remember that in December, that's when the rut kicks in, that's when deer love is in the air, and that's when deer move the most."
John Mosley, owner of Clinton Body Shop, gets to fix a lot of the damage from deer-vehicle collisions and has learned about how dangerous it is.
From the middle of September to the first of February, about 35 to 40 percent of what we work on are probably related to deer accidents," said Mosley."There have been many times when vehicles will come in that the deer will come through the windshields. And cause substantial damage and even cause injury to the person driving the car and to the passengers in the front seat."
State Farm, the largest insurer, estimates the odds of hitting a deer in Mississippi at 1 in 121. It can be expensive. A 2013 Ford Explorer that just grazed a deer did $4,600 worth of damage, because the whole panel has to be replaced.
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