We’re currently in the middle of the perfect storm of harvest season, hunting season, and mating season, which has resulted in an increase in automobile accidents involving deer.

Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard says while it can be difficult to prepare for something as unpredictable as deer in the road, caution goes a long way in preventing accidents. “The only thing, if you’re asking safety-wise, is just slow down and keep your eyes on the road, and kind of scan back-and-forth, you know ditch-to-ditch. Be paying attention for what’s around you.”

Leonard adds that deer accidents can happen at any time of year, but mid-to-late fall has historically seen much higher numbers and this year has been no exception. This is typically due to a combination of the harvest removing a lot of the places deer have been hiding, hunters spooking deer into areas the animals are unfamiliar with, and the rut, which has a tendency to keep deer on the move.

If you do have the misfortune of hitting a deer on the road, whether it’s a serious accident or not, Leonard says it’s important to report the incident to local law enforcement.