• Home
• News
• Local

KEARNEY — Corn harvest is still under way, hunters have been out in full force and it’s mating season for deer.

The combination couldn’t be worse for motorists to have deer-related accidents.

“It’s the worst time of year right now,” said Bob Meduna, district wildlife manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “It’s the breeding season, and harvest is still going on, and the deer are really on the move.”

The rutting season also means does chase away their fawns during the courtship, causing more deer to roam.

Each year, deer cause thousands of vehicle crashes in Nebraska, and unfortunately the only defense against them is defensive driving. Although it’s hard to teach, Capt. Chris Kolb of the Nebraska State Patrol in Grand Island said it’s best if motorists try to slow down and hit a deer instead of trying to swerve to avoid it.

Swerving can cause a vehicle to roll, go into the oncoming lane and collide with another vehicle or to go into the ditch. Letting off the accelerator and braking are the best options, depending on the other traffic, and if drivers have time to react.

“The safest thing might be to take the hit and deal with the damage afterwards,” Kolb said.

Earlier this month, a Kearney couple — William “Kent” and Jane Mattson — died and a Columbus woman was seriously injured when the driver of the vehicle she was riding in swerved to miss a deer on Interstate 80 near Grand Island.

Even law enforcement isn’t immune to deer crashes. Within the last two weeks a Buffalo County deputy sheriff hit a deer while on patrol causing an estimated $1,842 damage to the cruiser.

Last year, there were 3,374 reports of crashes involving deer, but the actual accident number is greater because more than 5,000 deer carcasses are discovered annually.

Hunters help thin out deer during hunting season, which runs from mid-September to mid-January, depending on the type of weapon being used. According to Game and Parks’ Web site, there are 130,000 permits available this season.

As much as motorists and law enforcement dislike this time of year, the season brings business for Bobby Turner, owner of Turner’s Body Shop in south Kearney. Most of the damage he sees to vehicles is front-end or side damage.

A deer hunter himself, Turner wishes Game and Parks would require hunters to shoot a doe first, before shooting a buck because does repopulate.

But this year Kearney insurance agent Vern Miller thinks claims involving deer crashes are down. Within the last month, he’s received 20 to 25 claims ranging from $2,500 to $6,000 in damage.

Miller has received several claims from motorists hitting turkeys. Meduna said the turkey population increased in Hub Territory in 2003-2004.

e-mail to:

kim.schmidt@kearneyhub.com

Deer accidents

Fatal accidents involving deer statewide

Year    Accidents

2003    1

2004    2

2005    4

2006    4

2007    1

2008*    3

*— as of Oct. 30; two

involved motorcycles

Reported accidents involving deer

Year    Accidents

2003    3,975

2004    3,412

2005    3,170

2006    3,488

2007    3,374

Source: Nebraska Office

of Highway Safety