Wisconsin officials warn to watch for deer in June [shotgun weddings-Chicago Tribune on the case]

Chicago Tribune ^ | 6-10-08

[SJackson]

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin highway officials are warning motorists about deer on the roadways in the coming weeks.

"While October and November are commonly the time when there are a lot of vehicle-deer crashes, people are probably surprised to learn that June is a bad month, as well," State Patrol safety chief Dennis Hughes said. "In fact, in four of the last five years, June was the worst or second worst month for motorists' injuries related to deer crashes."

During this time of year, deer frequently dart onto roadways. Officials say at times, they are looking for a place to give birth or yearlings are wandering independently after separating from their mothers.

"The best way to avoid a deer crash is to drive cautiously and stay within the speed limit," Hughes said. "You also should be buckled up in case a crash can't be avoided."

Deer are the third most commonly struck object in Wisconsin traffic crashes, behind collisions with another vehicle or a fixed object, authorities said.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this Upper Midwest/outdoors/rural list please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

Authorities say if motorists see a deer by the side of the road, they should slow down and blow their horn

I'm with the Tribune on that, slow down and honk.

Silly article, but I'm curious, given the record snowfall in central Wisconsin, the heavy rain too though not relevant, am I the only one who has noticed does running with two fawns more frequently? Purely anecdotal. I'm also hearing whip-o-wills where I haven't for years.

[50cal Smokepole]

Re does with twins — yep, it's a fact. What was once an unusual site is now normal in the southern half of WI (where there's still heavy ag activity). Triplets are starting to be seen in the zone I hunt. Despite the heavy snow this last Winter, the stress on the herd was relatively minimal, according to the WI DNR.

[Man from Oz]

A doe ran into the side of my new Titan a few weeks ago... $3,400 dollars damage. This occurred within the city limits of Manhattan, KS. I was probably going 40 mph at the time so no, I wasn’t speeding. With the expansion of expensive homes and lack of control of the eastern Red Cedars, natural habitat is ever increasing. Something needs to be done about this overpopulation issue. BTW, this is the 4th one that I have hit as a 19 year Kansas resident. I am not proud of this fact as this has cost me and the insurance company lots of money.

The herds need to be thinned down significantly but alas, I don’t think there would be a lawful method to do it within the city limits which would avoid the controversy that would surely occur.

MFO

[Northern Yankee]

I'd love to hear a whip-poor-will again!

There have been a lot of does with multiple fawns. Despite the heavy snow this winter the whitetail population did fine. (At least in our neck of the woods.)

[Northern Yankee]

I'd love to hear a whip-poor-will again!

There have been a lot of does with multiple fawns. Despite the heavy snow this winter the whitetail population did fine. (At least in our neck of the woods.)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“...am I the only one who has noticed does running with two fawns more frequently?”

Husband said he saw a doe and twin fawns on the side of the road just yesterday, so there must be some merit to the High Snow/Twins/Nature Always Wins, theory. :)

[Beagle8U]

I'm not sure heavy snow has as much to do with it as supply of good feed does.

In my area of southern MI we don't get enough deep snow to ever bother the deer, yet the norm for all mature does is 2,3, or even 4 fawns.

The only ones I ever see with a single fawn are those that are yearlings themselves.

A doe fawn born in May- June will be bred Dec-Feb. They breed here at 6 months and often have a single fawn their first year.

[Freedom4US]

Years ago I read somewhere (this is not “safe”, so it probably works? All the Usual Disclaimers Apply)

If at night, turn your lights off. Yes, turn your lights off. Typically, deer are completely blinded by oncoming car headlights. They can hear just fine. Theoretically, if it is “safe” to do so (after all, you’re about to hit a deer) you can try quickly flipping the lights off for a few seconds provided you aren’t going to otherwise cause problems. Spit out the wrigleys and try blowing the horn too simultaneously, and then flip the headlights back on. Hopefully the deer will bolt away from the road instead of bounding through the windshield.