This is the traditional time for vehicle-deer collisions across the KVOE listening area, and it has already been active for wrecks.
Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch says sunrise and sunset are peak spots, but he says deer can be active at any point of the day.
Last year in Kansas, there were better than 9,600 vehicle-deer crashes leading to over 500 people injured and four killed. Deer may collect in wooded areas for protection, but they may come out of bean or hay fields across roads.
Koelsch says it’s important to wear seatbelts at all times. He also says it’s best to hit a deer in the way instead of swerving to avoid it. Swerving may make a driver lose control and hit a fixed object instead, increasing the risk of significant injuries or death.
Drivers are required to report crashes involving at least $1,000 in property damage to law enforcement. People wanting to remove a deer carcass from a crash site need to get a salvage tag from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Click here for more information from the Kansas Highway Patrol on avoiding deer collisions. Click here for information from the Kansas Insurance Department on the claims process.
