Game Species

Deer/Vehicle Collisions

Deer on HWY Deer-Vehicle crashes continue to be a major concern for Wisconsin motorists. Annually, approximately 45,000 deer are salvaged with permits or removed from roadways by DNR contractors. The majority of deer-vehicle collisions occur during the months of October and November when deer are most active during the breeding phase. Many collisions also occur during May and June during spring fawning, when yearling deer are seeking out new home ranges. Regardless of the time of year, motorists should be aware of the potential for deer to cross roads at anytime. Taking proper precautions like driving slow during evening and night time hours and scanning roadsides for deer can prevent many of these accidents from occurring. In the event that a motorist hits a deer with their vehicle, they should report the incident to the local sherriff's or police department. A motorist who hits and kills a deer with a vehicle on a highway has first priority to claim and request a free tag for the deer they struck. If they do not want the deer, any other person at the scene may request a free tag for the deer. A person who wishes to claim a deer carcass that was hit by a vehicle, must contact the local authorities to obtain a vehicle killed deer tag before moving the deer. If the motorist is able to remain on the scene in a safe location, they should wait for the authorities to come and issue a permit, or they may be given instruction by a law enforcement agency to take the deer to a designated registration station that will tag the deer for them. Deer hit by vehicles may not be tagged with deer hunting carcass tags or registered as deer that were harvested by a firearm or bow and arrow during the hunting season.