Missouri Ranks 15th for Deer Crashes With Odds Near 1 in 97, and November Is the Riskiest Month for Drivers
November 12, 2026
Your odds of hitting a deer in Missouri this season are about 1 in 97 for a full year of driving, according to State Farm’s most recent analysis. That is better than a coin flip’s worth of worry on any single trip, but it is also steep enough to put Missouri in the insurer’s high-risk group. The odds are not spread evenly across the calendar, and the next few weeks are the worst of the year.
November sits at the center of the rut, gun season opens on November 14, and the evening commute is now in the dark. This article walks through where Missouri ranks, how the state compares with the national average, which hours and roads carry the most danger, and what a crash costs. You will also find out what your insurance covers and whether you must report the collision.
Your Odds of Hitting a Deer in Missouri This Season (Short Answer)
State Farm’s 2025-2026 analysis puts Missouri drivers at roughly a 1 in 97 chance of filing an animal collision claim. That figure places Missouri in the company’s high-risk group. The number covers every kind of animal, but deer make up most of the serious claims.
The risk for any one driver climbs sharply in the fall. State Farm names November, October and December, in that order, as the months when drivers are most likely to hit a large animal. If you commute at dawn or dusk on a rural road in the next few weeks, your personal odds are well above the annual average.
- Annual odds: about 1 in 97 (State Farm, July 2025 to June 2026)
- Peak months: November, then October and December
- Peak hours: 6 to 7 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.
- Typical cost: a few thousand dollars per claim, covered by comprehensive insurance
How Missouri Ranks for Deer and Animal Collisions
Missouri lands in the upper third of states, but the exact rank depends on which source and which year you read. Missouri ranked 15th nationwide for deer-vehicle collisions last year, according to the State Farm annual report. A separate listing of the same State Farm data shows Missouri at rank 15 with 1 in 97 odds.
The state has bounced around the list. The prior list put Missouri at No. 14 with a 1 in 83 chance, and it cracked the top 10 in the 2023 rankings at 1 in 80. The Missouri State Highway Patrol offers a steadier picture: Missouri has consistently ranked 10th to 15th in the country for collisions involving deer each year.
| Report Period | Missouri Rank | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 (State Farm) | 10th | 1 in 80 |
| 2023-24 (State Farm) | 14th | 1 in 83 |
| 2024-25 (State Farm) | 17th | 1 in 97 |
| 2025-26 (State Farm) | 15th | 1 in 97 |
The rankings measure insurance claims, not every crash. Drivers who skip a claim, or who hit an animal without damage, never show up in the count.
How the Odds in Missouri Compare With the National Average
Missouri drivers hit animals more often than the typical American. State Farm’s 2025-2026 analysis puts national odds at 1 in 145. At 1 in 97, a Missouri driver is roughly 50 percent more likely to file an animal claim than the national baseline.
The national picture is large in raw numbers. State Farm estimates that between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 there were more than 1.6 million auto claims related to animal crashes. Missouri is not the worst state by a long way, though. In the 2025-26 estimates, Wisconsin had odds of approximately 1 in 62, Minnesota 1 in 91 and Mississippi 1 in 81.
Key Insight: A 1 in 97 annual figure sounds small, but it is a yearly average spread across all drivers and all months. A rural commuter who drives at dusk in November carries a much higher personal risk than a city driver who is home before dark.
If you drive across state lines, the neighbors vary. Our guides to deer hunting season in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois show when deer pressure peaks next door.
When Are Deer Collisions Most Likely in Missouri? (Month by Month)
The calendar matters more than any other factor. MoDOT says most deer strikes with vehicles occur during October and November. The fall alone makes up 41% of all related animal claims, and November is the most dangerous month, followed by October and December.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety adds a sharper comparison. The November rate of animal strike claims is more than twice the yearly average.
| Period | Risk Level | What Drives It |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | Low to moderate | Late-season deer move to food sources in cold weather |
| April to June | Moderate | Fawning season and young deer dispersing |
| July to September | Low | Dense cover and shorter travel ranges |
| October | High | Breeding season begins |
| November | Highest | Rut peaks and gun season opens |
| December | High | Late rut and continued hunting pressure |
The table above is a qualitative summary of the seasonal pattern described by State Farm and MoDOT, not a month-by-month crash count.
Deer Rut and Hunting Season in Missouri: Why Fall Is Riskiest
Bucks chase does and ignore traffic during the breeding season. MDC Deer Biologist Jason Isabelle explained in a MoDOT release that deer increase their movements during the breeding season, which begins in October and peaks in mid-November. Hunters also push deer around, which sends animals across roads they would normally avoid.
Missouri’s 2026-27 calendar overlaps the worst driving weeks. The archery season runs from September 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and the firearms November portion runs from November 14 to November 24, 2026. You can see the full schedule in our Missouri deer hunting season guide.
Pro Tip: Treat the opening weekend of firearms season as a peak-risk window. More deer are on the move, more hunters are driving rural roads at first light, and the rut is at its height.
Hunters themselves face collision risk on the drive to and from the woods. Elk are a smaller concern, but if you travel to the state’s herd area, read up on elk hunting season in Missouri too.
Time of Day and Daylight Saving Time: When Deer Crashes Happen in Missouri
Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. Most collisions involving deer occur in October and November, particularly between 6 and 7 a.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. Those hours overlap with the busiest commute times of the day.
The clock change makes the evening window worse. When daylight saving time ends, sunset arrives an hour earlier, which puts more rush-hour traffic into the dark just as deer movement picks up. One study reported that breeding season movement is only part of the story, and the dark hours are a key determinant of risk, with collisions found to be 14 times more frequent in the two hours after sunset than before it.
- Dawn, roughly 6 to 7 a.m.: deer return from feeding areas to bedding cover.
- Late afternoon and evening, 6 to 9 p.m.: deer leave cover to feed and travel.
- Midday: the lowest-risk window, though not zero.
A recent fatal crash shows how quickly things go wrong at dusk. On U.S. Route 40 in Boone County, an SUV hit a deer that was then propelled into the path of a Jeep, entering the passenger compartment and striking the driver. Troopers said the Jeep driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
How Many Deer Crashes Happen in Missouri Each Year?
Missouri reports roughly 2,800 to 3,600 deer crashes a year in Highway Patrol data. In 2023, Missouri drivers experienced 3,591 crashes involving deer. In those crashes, there were four fatalities and 420 people were injured.
The most recent full year is lower. In 2025, Missouri saw 2,829 crashes involving deer with 435 injuries and six deaths, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. These counts only include crashes reported to police, so they understate the true number of collisions.
| Year | Deer Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,591 | 420 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2,829 | 435 | 6 |
Notice that crashes fell while injuries and deaths did not. Fewer reported crashes does not mean each one is safer.
Which Roads and Counties in Missouri See the Most Deer Crashes?
Rural highways carry the most risk per mile, but cities are not exempt. MoDOT states that rural areas are not the only places where vehicle strikes occur. Edges of towns, creek corridors, and wooded stretches near fields all draw deer into traffic.
MoDOT recently completed a statewide study to pinpoint hot spots. Missouri has the 17th most wildlife vehicle collisions in the nation for 2024 and 2025, according to a 547-page MoDOT study. Part of locating hot spots involved using Missouri State Highway Patrol crash data involving wildlife. The study aimed to identify the top 10 places with the most wildlife-vehicle collisions and then propose mitigation measures.
County-level rankings are published in the MoDOT study and in Highway Patrol crash data, so check those sources if you need numbers for a specific county. As a rule, expect elevated risk wherever highways cut through timber and farmland, including stretches such as U.S. Route 40 in Boone County, where the November crash described above occurred.
Other Animals You Could Hit in Missouri
Deer dominate the numbers. According to the MoDOT study, 95% of all wildlife-vehicle collisions were deer-related. That leaves a small share for everything else.
The other animals you may meet on a Missouri road include:
- Raccoons, opossums, and skunks: common at night, especially near towns.
- Coyotes and foxes: usually dusk and overnight.
- Wild turkeys: a hazard on rural roads in spring and fall.
- Feral hogs: a heavy-impact risk in the southern counties.
- Elk: rare, and limited to the southeastern herd area.
The State Farm odds include all of these animals, not only deer. A large animal like a hog or an elk can do as much damage as a deer, so the same defensive driving habits apply.
How Much Does a Deer Collision Cost in Missouri?
A typical deer claim runs into the thousands. One regional insurance agency, citing State Farm, reports that damages from deer accidents often average $4,341 per claim, and November claims average around $4,600. That figure is a national estimate, not a Missouri-only average, and it dates to an earlier State Farm report.
Repair bills vary with speed, impact point, and vehicle type. Variables such as speed and point of impact factor into the extent of damage. In some cases, hitting a deer can make your car unsafe to drive and possibly affect your car insurance.
Common Mistake: Swerving hard to miss a deer. A glancing hit with the brakes on is usually less dangerous than a rollover or a head-on crash with oncoming traffic.
Costs that are easy to forget include a rental car, towing, and a higher deductible if your policy has a separate comprehensive deductible. Injury costs sit on top of the vehicle bill.
Does Car Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer in Missouri?
Usually yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage. State Farm says damages from auto-deer crashes are typically covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision. Liability-only policies do not pay to fix your own car.
There is one important exception. If you swerve to avoid a deer, miss it, and then collide with another car or an object, this will likely be considered a collision loss. That distinction changes which deductible applies, so describe the crash accurately when you file.
Call your insurer soon after the crash, and take photos of the scene, the damage, and the animal if it is safe to do so. Your policy language controls the final answer, so read your declarations page for the comprehensive deductible.
Do You Have to Report a Deer Collision in Missouri?
Missouri does not publish a simple “report every deer strike” rule for drivers in the sources reviewed here, so the practical advice is to call law enforcement for any crash with injuries, major damage, or a hazard left in the road. A police report also helps with your insurance claim. In neighboring Kansas, by contrast, a deer crash that causes injury or property damage totaling $1,000 or more must be reported immediately to the nearest law enforcement agency.
Missouri has a specific rule for the carcass. An individual who has struck and killed a deer with their vehicle may claim the deer carcass if written authorization to possess the deer is granted by an MDC agent. Do not simply load the animal into your truck.
For a carcass in the lane, MoDOT handles removal. Motorists can report an animal carcass in the roadway by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or using the agency’s Report a Road Concern page. If a deer is on the shoulder, MoDOT will address it during normal weekday work hours.
How to Lower Your Odds of Hitting a Deer in Missouri
You cannot remove the risk, but you can shrink it. The most effective changes are about timing and speed. Slow down at dawn and dusk from October through December, and leave more following distance than you would normally.
- Scan the road edges. Watch for the reflection of deer eyes in your headlights and slow down so you can react.
- Expect more than one deer. If one crosses, others often follow.
- Use high beams on empty roads, and dim them for oncoming traffic. Flicking your high beams on an animal in the road may cause it to scurry away.
- Stay alert after a close call. The next deer is often seconds behind the first.
- Buckle up and put the phone away. Most injuries in deer crashes come from secondary impacts.
- Avoid swerving. Brake firmly and hold your lane if a crash is unavoidable.
Pro Tip: Shift your route when you can. A highway with lighting and wide shoulders is usually safer in November than a narrow county road through timber, even if it adds a few minutes.
Hunters traveling between states can compare conditions in Tennessee and Ohio, where similar fall patterns apply.
Your Odds of Hitting a Deer in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Odds of Hitting a Deer in Missouri?
About 1 in 97 for a full year, according to State Farm’s 2025-2026 analysis. That is higher than the national figure of 1 in 145, and your personal odds rise in October, November, and December.
What Is the Worst Month for Deer Crashes in Missouri?
November. It is the peak of the rut, and State Farm lists it ahead of October and December for large-animal collisions.
What Time of Day Are Deer Most Dangerous?
MoDOT points to 6 to 7 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. during October and November. Daylight saving time ending pushes more of the evening commute into those hours.
How Many People Die in Missouri Deer Crashes?
The Highway Patrol recorded six deaths in 2025 and four in 2023. Hundreds of people are injured each year.
Is Hitting a Deer Covered by Insurance in Missouri?
Typically it falls under comprehensive coverage. If you swerve and hit another vehicle or object instead, it is likely treated as a collision claim.
Can You Keep a Deer You Hit in Missouri?
Only with written authorization from a Missouri Department of Conservation agent. Contact MDC rather than taking the carcass on your own.
Who Do You Call About a Dead Deer on a Missouri Road?
Call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636). Crews clear lanes as needed and handle shoulders during normal weekday hours.
Missouri’s deer risk is real but predictable. Plan around the rut, treat the dusk hours in November with extra caution, and make sure your policy includes comprehensive coverage. For related reading, see how Missouri’s 2026-27 deer season lines up with the peak driving risk.