States Where You Are Most Likely to Hit a Deer

Yevgeniy Zateychuk // Shutterstock

States where you are most likely to hit a deer

Your odds of being killed by an animal in the U.S. are incredibly low—around just one in 1.4 million. And the most common culprits when those tragedies do occur aren't the alligators, scorpions, or snakes you'd probably expect—they're deer. As humans continue to build cities in the natural habitats of deer, these animals are more likely to run into the middle of the road (causing 1.33 million vehicular accidents in 2018 alone). These accidents are more common between October and December during deer mating season, and right before or after dawn and during the night when deer are most active and it's harder to see.

These accidents are dangerous and expensive, costing drivers an average of $4,341 in 2017; and being aware of your surroundings is fundamental in avoiding them. Stacker used insurance company State Farm's annual deer collision study to rank which states (plus Washington D.C.) had the highest odds of a collision involving a deer, elk, moose, or caribou. These statistics are based purely on comprehensive and collision insurance claims filed between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018—so odds may be higher if some accidents went unreported.

State Farm also found that 2018 was a safer year for deer on the road than the year before, with the odds being about one in 167 that a driver has a collision with one of the aforementioned animals on the road, down from 1 in 162 in 2017. It's slightly more likely than getting audited by the IRS (1 in 175) and about twice as uncommon as having a twin (1 in 90).

You probably won't be surprised to find that more rural Appalachian and Midwestern regions had some of the highest odds in the country, while the desert Southwest had some of the lowest. Curious to see if your state topped the list? Click through to find out—and remember to always keep your eyes on the road, no matter the odds.

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#51. Hawaii

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 6,379 (0.02% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 6,823 (0.01% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 7% increase

#50. California

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 1,125 (0.09% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 1,117 (0.09% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 0.7% decrease

#49. Nevada

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 1,088 (0.09% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 966 (0.10% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 11.2% decrease

#48. Arizona

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 1,073 (0.09% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 973 (0.10% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 9.3% decrease

#47. Washington, D.C.

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 883 (0.11% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 713 (0.14% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 19.2% decrease

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#46. Florida

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 831 (0.12% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 847 (0.12% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 1.9% increase

#45. Rhode Island

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 538 (0.19% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 280 (0.36% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 48% decrease

#44. Massachusetts

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 469 (0.21% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 593 (0.17% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 26.5% increase

#43. New Mexico

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 453 (0.22% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 397 (0.25% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 12.4% decrease

#42. Alaska

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 396 (0.25% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 407 (0.25% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 2.7% increase

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#41. Washington

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 395 (0.25% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 356 (0.28% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 9.8% decrease

#40. Louisiana

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 315 (0.32% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 332 (0.30% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 5.7% increase

#39. Colorado

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 277 (0.36% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 253 (0.40% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 8.9% decrease

#38. Texas

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 266 (0.38% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 269 (0.37% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 1.2% increase

#37. Connecticut

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 263 (0.38% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 304 (0.33% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 15.7% increase

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#36. Oregon

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 256 (0.39% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 254 (0.39% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 1.1% decrease

#35. New Hampshire

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 242 (0.41% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 252 (0.40% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 4.1% increase

#34. Utah

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 239 (0.42% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 222 (0.45% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 6.9% decrease

#33. New Jersey

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 232 (0.43% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 229 (0.44% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 1.6% decrease

#32. Illinois

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 200 (0.50% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 204 (0.49% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 2.3% increase

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#30. Tennessee (tie)

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 173 (0.58% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 143 (0.70% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 17.2% decrease

#30. Vermont (tie)

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 173 (0.58% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 150 (0.67% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 13% decrease

#28. New York (tie)

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 165 (0.61% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 161 (0.62% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 2.4% decrease

#28. Oklahoma (tie)

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 165 (0.61% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 194 (0.52% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 17.7% increase

#27. Idaho

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 164 (0.61% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 151 (0.66% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 8% decrease

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#26. Nebraska

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 149 (0.67% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 134 (0.75% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 10.5% decrease

#25. Indiana

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 147 (0.68% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 145 (0.69% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 1.3% decrease

#24. Delaware

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 139 (0.72% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 132 (0.76% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 5.1% decrease

#23. Maryland

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 138 (0.72% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 127 (0.79% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 7.8% decrease

#22. Alabama

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 136 (0.74% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 131 (0.76% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 3.8% decrease

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#21. Maine

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 135 (0.74% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 127 (0.79% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 5.7% decrease

#20. Ohio

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 134 (0.75% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 128 (0.78% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 4.7% decrease

#19. Georgia

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 131 (0.76% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 122 (0.82% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 7.1% decrease

#18. Kansas

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 130 (0.77% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 127 (0.79% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 2.5% decrease

#17. North Carolina

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 113 (0.88% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 109 (0.92% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 3.6% decrease

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#16. Missouri

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 110 (0.91% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 112 (0.89% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 1.6% increase

#15. Kentucky

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 107 (0.93% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 100 (1.00% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 7.1% decrease

#14. Arkansas

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 106 (0.94% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 97 (1.03% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 8.9% decrease

#13. North Dakota

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 103 (0.97% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 87 (1.15% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 51.9% decrease

#12. Virginia

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 99 (1.01% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 94 (1.06% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 4.7% decrease

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#11. South Carolina

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 98 (1.02% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 95 (1.05% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 3.3% decrease

#10. Mississippi

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 91 (1.10% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 95 (1.05% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 4.1% increase

#9. Wyoming

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 88 (1.14% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 79 (1.27% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 9.4% decrease

#8. Michigan

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 80 (1.25% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 85 (1.18% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 5.8% increase

#7. Minnesota

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 77 (1.30% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 74 (1.35% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 4.8% decrease

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#6. South Dakota

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 75 (1.33% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 73 (1.37% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 2.7% decrease

#5. Iowa

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 73 (1.37% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 69 (1.45% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 5.3% decrease

#4. Wisconsin

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 72 (1.39% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 72 (1.39% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 0.6% increase

#3. Pennsylvania

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 63 (1.59% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 63 (1.59% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 0.2% decrease

#2. Montana

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 57 (1.75% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 57 (1.75% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 1.3% increase

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#1. West Virginia

- 2018 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 46 (2.17% of drivers)
- 2017 chances of hitting a deer: 1 In 43 (2.33% of drivers)
- One-year percent change: 7.5% decrease