Odds of Hitting a Deer in Minnesota are Unfortunately Really Good

A few years ago I hit my first deer - I was driving on 41st NW near the Jiffy Lube when it tried to sprint a across the road.  Deer are everywhere in Minnesota and your odds of hitting one are unfortunately pretty good.
State Farm says Minnesota ranks as the 7th worst state for car/deer collisions. West Virgina was first and our neighbors in Wisconsin came in at number 5. See the full list of states here.

Your odds of hitting a deer in our state are one in 74 chance.

Check out these tips from the Minnesota Department of Safety:

• Be especially cautious from 6 to 9 p.m., when deer are most active
• Use high beams as much as possible at night, especially in deer-active areas
• Motorists: Don’t swerve to avoid a deer. Swerving can cause motorists to lose control and travel off the road or into oncoming traffic
• Motorcyclists: Avoid night and low-light riding periods. Riders are encouraged to wear full face helmets and full protective gear to prevent injury or death in a crash.
• Slow down in areas known to have a large deer population — such as areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forest land; and whenever in forested areas between dusk and dawn.
• Deer do unpredictable things — they stop in the middle of the road when crossing; cross and quickly re-cross back; and move toward an approaching vehicle. Blow horn to urge deer to leave the road. Stop if the deer stays on the road, don’t try to go around it.
• Watch for the reflection of deer eyes and for deer silhouettes on the shoulder of the road. If anything looks slightly suspicious, slow down.
• If a deer is struck but not killed by a vehicle, keep a distance as deer may recover and move on. If a deer does not move on, or poses a public safety risk, report the incident to a DNR conservation officer or other local law enforcement agency.