Deer Season on Western Mass Roads: When and Where Crashes Peak

If you drive home after dark this time of year, you have probably seen it: a pair of eyes catching your headlights at the edge of the road. The crash data backs up that feeling. In Hampden County, November is deer month, and most deer crashes happen in the dark, right around commute time.

We looked at every crash reported to MassDOT in Hampden County's 23 cities and towns from 2021 to 2023, the most recent years MassDOT has finalized. Here is what the deer crashes show, and what to do if one ends up in your headlights.

• 1 in 4Nearly 1 in 4 deer crashes happened in November (165, or 23%)
• 705Deer crashes in Hampden County, 2021 to 2023
• 63%Happened in the dark
• 45%Happened October through December (319 crashes)

All figures are totals for 2021 through 2023, from MassDOT crash data.

When deer crashes peak

By month: November stands alone

Across the three years, November had 165 deer crashes. No other month comes close. On either side of it, October and December had 77 each. Put the three together and October through December accounts for 45% of all deer crashes in the county.

That timing lines up with what MassWildlife tells drivers every fall. White-tailed deer breed from late October to early December, and the agency asks motorists to watch for more deer activity, especially in the early morning and evening.

There is also a smaller bump in June, which had 79 deer crashes, the second-highest month of the year. Fall is the main season, but early summer deserves some attention too.

By hour: the commute

Most deer crashes, 63%, happened in the dark. The busiest single hour was 6 PM, with 69 crashes, followed by 8 PM (59) and 7 PM (58). The next busiest was 6 AM, with 47.

Put simply, deer crashes cluster around the hours when many people are driving to and from work. If you are on the road between 6 and 9 PM in the fall, that is the time to slow down and stay sharp.

Which towns see the most

Deer crashes are not spread evenly across the county. These five towns had the most from 2021 to 2023:

1. Wilbraham68
2. Ludlow66
3. Palmer57
4. Chicopee53
5. East Longmeadow52

These are total counts, not adjusted for population or miles driven. If your daily drive runs through any of these towns, fall evenings call for extra attention.

What to do if you hit a deer

Most deer crashes in our data did not injure anyone, but 31 of the 705 did. A little preparation goes a long way.

Before: give yourself time to react

• Slow down and pay attention to deer crossing signs.
• Scan the shoulders, not just the lane ahead. If you see one deer, look for others. Deer rarely travel alone.
• On dark roads with no oncoming traffic, use your high beams. They can pick up a deer's eyes sooner.

If a deer steps out: brake, don't swerve

MassWildlife's advice is clear: don't swerve to avoid a deer, because swerving can lead to more risk and damage than hitting the deer. AAA Northeast gives the same advice: brake firmly and try to stay in your lane.

[DANIEL QUOTE: swerving vs braking for a deer]Attorney Daniel A. Pava

After a deer crash

1. Get to a safe spot if you can and turn on your hazard lights.
2. Check on everyone in the car. If anyone is hurt, or the deer is blocking the road, call 911.
3. Keep your distance from the deer, especially if it is injured or frightened.
4. Report it to the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075. MassWildlife asks drivers to report every deer and moose collision.
5. File a crash report if the law requires it. In Massachusetts, the driver must file a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report within 5 days if anyone was injured or if there was more than $1,000 in damage to any one vehicle or other property. One copy goes to the RMV, one to the police department where the crash happened, and one to your insurance company.

[DANIEL QUOTE: what to do after hitting a deer]Attorney Daniel A. Pava

For a step-by-step list that applies to any crash, see our guide on what to do after a car accident.