GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — State highway officials are urging Tennessee motorists to be extra cautious now that deer hunting and mating season has arrived.
The State Highway Patrol's Sgt. Bill Miller says that deer-related crashes are most likely to occur between October and January.
Miller reminds motorists that deer usually move in small groups.
“If you see a deer on the side of the road - a deer runs across the road - be paying attention for the other deer. Be very vigilant in looking for the second and third deer because typically that is the deer that runs out directly in front of your vehicle.”
In Tennessee, there were 5,911 deer-related crashes in 2012. That's an increase of 4.2 percent from the 5,670 crashes involving deer the previous year.
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the state deer population numbers more than 900,000, and is growing by 1 to 2 percent per year.