Last week I was listening to the radio when I heard a representative from the Pennsylvania Game Commission advising motorists to slow down before sunrise and after sundown to help reduce the risk of having a collision with a white-tailed deer.
In my estimation, this warning does not give an accurate picture of what’s happening with deer in the Keystone State.
As you travel around Pennsylvania at this time of year, one can’t help but see dead deer along our highways and roadways. However, it’s a common theme at this time of year.
Buck are in full rut. They are ready to mate with does. The breeding season has begun.
Yes, it’s true that you need to be aware and careful as you drive at dusk and dawn but you also need to be careful throughout the entire day due to the “rut.”
The picture illustrates what I’m saying. The buck are moving to find the females, fighting other bucks for those does. My husband is a wildlife videographer and I’ve seen whitetail buck fighting in the woods very recently during daytime hours.
The buck are “rammy” because they’re waiting for the females to be reciprocal with their approaches. Because the does aren’t quite ready, the deer, both buck and does, are being pushed onto the roads getting hit and killed by drivers 24/7.
In the state of Pennnsylvania, archery hunting season runs from October 3rd through November 28th. The hunters are also pushing deer just by being in the territory belonging to the deer. Rifle hunting season for whitetail deer begin November 30th. Whitetail deer can be hunted through January with the extended archery season. I find this sad with too many deer being killed by hunters but I digress.
Hunters don’t hunt at night, obviously.
So one must be prepared 24/7 for deer walking and running onto main highways and other roads.
Last week, I saw four deer running around during the afternoon.
Typcially, deer will travel with a group of deer. They tend to walk single file. When you see a single deer crossing a road keep alert since an entire group can be following and crossing the road, one right after the other. I’ve seen this occur a lot.
In the state of Pennsylvania according to the PA Game Commission, “A driver who hits a deer with vehicle is not required to report the accident to the Game Commission. If the deer dies, only Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass. To do so, they must call the Game Commission region office representing the county where the accident occurred and an agency dispatcher will collect the information needed to provide a free permit number, which the caller should write down.”
Be extra careful in areas where deer crossing signs are posted. They are there for a reason.
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Bucks gone wild! I’m seeing dead ones all over the roads. I’ve seen buck and doe. I came close to hitting one myself during daylight hours. It’s a bad time of year for them between getting killed by hunters and by cars.
I didn’t know the hunting season for deer was so freaking long. How many deer are they killing in PA? Basically from October thru January, deer have to fear people from being shot. I had a friend who was a lousy hunter. He injured so many deer while “hunting.” I’m not against hunting but I’m also not for having a hunting season last so long. It’s absurd and unfair to the deer.
hunting season began Oct. 15th not the 3rd.
Thank you. I stand corrected.