Don’t Make These Mistakes on Oklahoma’s Roads During Deer Season

In the words of Kenny Chesney, "everything gets hotter when the sun goes down." It's not just all the people that come out to play more in the fall in Oklahoma when the heat finally subsides.

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With deer and elk season quickly approaching, and breeding season coming in November, it's best to brush up on driving tips if you happen to spot one on the road.

Look Out For Warning Signs

Oklahoma may be full of long stretches of road, which you would think would make it easier to spot deer. But they're still very quick to jump out in front of your vehicle with only a moment's notice. If you're looking closely, you can usually spot a few things that can give you a heads up that deer may lie ahead:

• reflective eyes looking back at you
• light colored figures on the sides of the road
• movement - quick or small

Any good driver knows never to swerve to miss an animal. As much damage an adult white tailed buck could do to your vehicle, it's much safer to take the hit than risking fatally injuring yourself or your passengers.

Deer On The Move in Oklahoma

@tee.man.007 #deer #caraccident #deercrash #elk ♬ Move Bitch - Ludacris

Usually, you'll find deer in areas that don't have a lot of traffic, but don't depend on that stastic to gaurantee anything. According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, "from late October into December, deer movement increases as bucks are chasing does with just one thing on their minds."

Helpful Advice For Fall

Thanks to advice from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, here are some of the best practices for safe driving during the fall:

• Drive cautiously during early morning or late evening, when the deer are becoming most active
• Honking your horn can spook off the deer from the road if you do spot them nearby
• Expect more than just one since deer travel in herds
• Understand that your lights confuse the dear, which can cause them to spontaneously jump in front of you
• Pay attention to deer crossing signs placed in highly trafficked areas for deer

Good luck on the roads in Oklahoma this fall and try to enjoy the nature that makes an appearance every now and again.

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