SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — With clocks now turned back and the deer breeding season under way, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is warning drivers statewide to expect more deer on the road during the morning and evening commute.
The department’s Wildlife Resources Division says two things drive the fall spike. The rut, which runs from October into late December depending on the part of the state, sends bucks roaming in search of mates and pulls them across highways. And the end of daylight saving time shifts rush hour into dawn and dusk, the hours when white-tailed deer move most.
Kevin Rose, the agency’s assistant state deer biologist, said deer usually travel in small groups, so a driver who sees one should assume others are close by and slow down enough to stop. He also urged drivers not to swerve. Veering away from a deer can send a car into oncoming traffic or off the road, outcomes he said are more dangerous than hitting the animal while staying in the lane.
Other advice from the agency: a deer standing calmly on the shoulder can bolt into the road if startled, and roadside vegetation draws deer close to traffic at several times of year. If a collision cannot be avoided, brake as hard as is safe to reduce the impact. The division publishes a statewide rut map at GeorgiaWildlife.com/rut-map that shows when deer activity peaks in each area.
Insurance data back up the warning. State Farm estimates U.S. drivers filed more than 1.6 million animal collision claims between July 2025 and June 2026, putting the average driver’s odds at 1 in 145. November is the riskiest month, followed by October and December. The insurer also says car-mounted deer whistles have no scientific evidence behind them, and that damage from hitting a deer is generally handled under comprehensive coverage.
Section: More Atlanta GA crime news
Filed under: Atlanta GA Traffic News
