MOTORISTS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS OF DEER

JEFFERSON CITY -- Conservation agents see just about everything in the course of their work, so they aren't easily shocked. But Clay County Conservation Agent Brian Bartlett reports being absolutely amazed at what he found when he reached the scene of a deer-vehicle accident last November.

"I stopped to assist a motorist," Bartlett recalls. "She seemed stunned and her kids were panicking. She had hit a deer. I asked where the accident occurred and if the deer was still alive. She directed me to look in the back seat, where I saw the head of a ten-point buck."

The driver had seen the deer stop by the side of the road ahead of her, but when she drove by, the deer ran into the side of her vehicle. Its head came though the rear side window, and the deer was decapitated.

No one was hurt in the accident, but the driver and her three children, two of whom were in the back seat at the time of the accident, were emotionally shaken. The accident might have been avoided had the driver slowed down when she first saw the deer.

Deer-vehicle collisions are more common this time of year because of changes in deer behavior during the mating season. The "rut," which peaks in November, causes deer to move more and to be less cautious.

Defensive driving can help you avoid accidents.

Deer are most active during the evening and early morning hours. When possible, avoid or limit driving at those times. If you must drive during these periods, reduce your speed and watch for deer, especially near wooded areas or where deer crossing signs are posted. The sooner you see a deer, the more time you have to react to its movements.

Slow down immediately when you see a deer, if you can do so without causing a traffic hazard. Do this even if the deer already has crossed the road. The animal could turn back into your path. Also, deer often travel in groups, and others may follow.

A few minor adjustments in your traveling habits can reduce your risk of being involved in a deer-vehicle collision. Tips that may help you avoid a deer-related accident include:

* Deer are often dazed or confused by vehicle headlights. Try to scare the deer away from the roadside by flashing your lights or sounding your horn. Use emergency flashers or tap your brakes to alert vehicles behind you to the danger ahead.

* Some deer-auto collisions are unavoidable, occurring when a deer runs into the side of a moving vehicle or leaps out in front of a car. If this happens and you cannot stop, slow down but don't swerve wildly to avoid the animal. Some of the most severe deer-related accidents result when drivers lose control of their vehicles while trying to avoid deer. It's better to steer straight than to risk losing control and colliding with oncoming traffic or hitting trees or other objects along the side of the road.

* Watch for deer year-round. Deer-vehicle collisions can happen any time and any place.

* Report deer-vehicle accidents to local law enforcement officials. Your report will help the Missouri Department of Conservation track the incidence of deer-vehicle accidents.

* To keep a road-killed deer for its meat, you must first get written authorization from a conservation agent.