Here’s What To Do If You See a Deer While Driving In Oklahoma

November is a high-risk month for deer-vehicle collisions in Oklahoma. Rut season for deer typically starts during November in Oklahoma and that's when deer are at their most active, so drivers will want to remain extra cautions this month and know exactly what to do when they're face-to-face with a deer on the highway.

Rut season is the breeding season for white-tailed deer, therefore bucks are chasing doe with one thing on their mind, and they don't have the sense to look both ways when crossing the road. So it's up to Oklahoma drivers to have the knowledge of what to do when they see a deer in the headlights.

Here's what Oklahomans should do if they're driving and come across a deer in the road.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has extensive information on November deer-vehicle collisions. They provide information from the Quality Deer Management Association on what to do for motorist that encounter a deer on the highway. Check out the tips below.

• Do not swerve away from deer. It's better to go straight ahead and brake than to drive into oncoming traffic.
• Anticipate deer on the highway during dawn and dusk, which is when movement tends to increase. But during rut season, deer move during anytime of day and night.
• Put headlights on the brightest setting if no oncoming traffic.
• If you spot a deer early, slow down, honk your horn and flash your headlights to frighten them away. If other drivers are nearby, flash your hazard lights or tap your breaks to alert them.
• Be mindful that deer can become dazed and confused by headlights and can dart in front of you.
• Watch for "Deer Crossing" signs as these are areas with a history of deer crossings.
• Don't rely on "deer whistles" as studies have shown that deer react no differently.
• Watch for more deer if you spot one. If you see a doe, a a buck or more deer may be following close behind so slow down and be prepared to stop.

@justinwright7373 Deer hit by a car trying to cross a busy highway. #triggerwarning #deer ♬ Jackass theme - Saltyapple3

What do you do if you hit a deer?

If you hit a deer, you'll want to make sure everyone in the vehicle is not hurt and call emergency services just to be safe. As for the deer itself, if it's in the middle of the roadway, you will want to call emergency services for assistance as you should not put yourself in danger to remove the deer from the road.

If it's on the side of the road or ends up in the ditch and out of the way of traffic, it's best to leave it. But according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the driver or anyone else can salvage the animal for its meat, but they must have the proper permissions so a local game warden or law enforcement will need to be contacted.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation stated that "someone who removes any portion of the meat or the head or antlers without permission could be charged with illegal possession of wildlife parts."