MO Missouri Porch

Wildlife & Encounters

Deer on the road — don't swerve

The most dangerous animal in Missouri isn't a bear, a mountain lion, or a snake. It's a deer in the road. Missouri sees about 3,000 deer-vehicle crashes a year, and the single best thing you can do is keep your wits and your lane.

The one rule that matters most

The most dangerous animal in Missouri is a deer in the road — and the single best thing you can do is DON'T SWERVE. Most serious injuries come from losing control or hitting something else. Brake firmly and stay in your lane.

When and where deer cross

Crashes peak in October and November (the rut peaks in mid-November) and are worst at dawn (about 5–7 a.m.) and dusk (about 6–9 p.m.). If you see one deer, expect more.

It helps to picture the size of the problem. In a recent year MoDOT counted 2,952 crashes, 4 deaths, and 420 injuries on Missouri roads — out of a statewide herd of about 1.7 million deer. With that many animals sharing the landscape, the goal isn't to be surprised that a deer steps out. It's to be ready for it.

Avoiding a crash

A few calm habits that do the work

  • Don't swerve. Brake firmly and stay in your lane — losing control or hitting something else is what usually causes the worst injuries.
  • See one deer? Expect more. They travel in groups, so the first one across is rarely the last.
  • Use your high beams when there's no oncoming traffic — they help you spot eyeshine sooner.
  • Scan the ditches and shoulders, not just the pavement ahead.
  • Slow down near woods, creeks, and fields, and heed deer-crossing signs — they mark places deer really do cross.
  • Buckle your seat belt and put the phone down. A second of attention is the difference.
  • Skip the deer whistles and roadside reflectors — they don't reliably work, so don't let them lull you.

After you hit a deer

First take care of people, then the rest

Get safely off the road and put your hazards on. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or the deer is blocking traffic. Don't approach an injured deer. Report it for insurance, and contact law enforcement or the Highway Patrol as needed. Check with MDC before keeping a road-killed deer.

Deer in the yard

A deer in the yard is a nuisance, not a danger — use fencing and deer-resistant plants. Don't feed deer: it draws them toward roads and can help spread chronic wasting disease (CWD). See the Hunting hub for CWD rules.

Before you act

Missouri Porch explains; the experts decide.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Animal facts and wildlife rules change — and a bite, sting, or exposure is a medical question, not a website question. When in doubt, make the call.

This is general information, not medical or legal advice. For a bite, exposure, or emergency, call your doctor, your county health department, Poison Control (1-800-222-1222), or 911. For wildlife rules, check with MDC.

Heads up: If a crash hurt someone or left a deer in the road, that's a 911 call, not a website question.

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