Washington Ranks 44th for Animal Collisions at 1 in 305, but Fall Still Raises Your Deer Risk on Roads Near You
November 15, 2026
Your odds of hitting a deer in Washington this season are low compared with most of the country, but they are not zero, and they spike in fall. According to State Farm’s 2025-2026 analysis, Washington drivers face 1 in 305 odds of an animal collision claim.
That number hides a lot. Western Washington has black-tailed deer, eastern Washington has mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk, and the risk shifts with the month, the hour and the highway you drive.
This article breaks down the odds, the calendar, the costs and the paperwork, so you can judge your own exposure and drive accordingly.
Your Odds of Hitting a Deer in Washington This Season (Short Answer)
The short answer is 1 in 305. That figure comes from State Farm’s analysis of animal collision claims between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, and it places Washington in the low-likelihood category.
Fall is the exception to the “low” label. Claims for animal collisions climb in the fall when deer are mating, with November the highest-frequency month, followed by October and December, according to State Farm figures reported by Consumer Reports.
Key Insight: The 1 in 305 figure counts insurance claims for all animals, not only deer, and averages the whole year. Your personal risk in November on a rural eastern Washington highway at dusk is well above that average.
How Washington Ranks for Deer and Animal Collisions
Washington ranks 44th of 51 in State Farm’s 2025-2026 list, which includes the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The odds were 1 in 307 in the prior edition, so the state moved only slightly from year to year.
The top of the ranking looks very different. State Farm’s list opens with West Virginia at 1 in 46, Montana at 1 in 54, Wisconsin at 1 in 62, Pennsylvania at 1 in 64 and Michigan at 1 in 68.
| State | Odds of an Animal Collision Claim | Rank (of 51) |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 1 in 46 | 1 |
| Montana | 1 in 54 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 1 in 62 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 in 64 | 4 |
| Washington | 1 in 305 | 44 |
How the Odds in Washington Compare With the National Average
The national average is 1 in 145. State Farm reported national odds improving from 1 in 139 a year earlier, with more than 1.6 million claims industry-wide in the 12 months ending June 30, 2026.
Put simply, a Washington driver is about half as likely as the typical American driver to file an animal collision claim. A driver in West Virginia is roughly six to seven times more likely than you are, going by the rounded odds.
Low odds do not mean low stakes. The Washington State Department of Transportation notes that peer-reviewed studies suggest about three times as many large-animal collisions occur as show up in carcass removal data, so the official counts understate what happens on the road.
When Are Deer Collisions Most Likely in Washington? (Month by Month)
October through December is the danger window, and November leads. State Farm’s national claims data shows the same pattern, and the risk is higher in late fall and early winter when deer move more.
Spokane County gives a local picture. KHQ reported that WSDOT crews removed 315 carcasses in 2024, with about 23% between October and December, and 336 in 2025, with about 43% in those same three months.
| Period | Risk Level | Why |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | Moderate | Deer stay active while winter range shrinks |
| April to June | Moderate | Fawning season and spring green-up pull deer toward roadsides |
| July to September | Lower | Longer daylight and fewer rut movements |
| October to December | Highest | Rut, hunting pressure and early darkness |
The table is a seasonal framework based on the fall peak in State Farm and WSDOT data, not a month-by-month count from a Washington agency.
Deer Rut and Hunting Season in Washington: Why Fall Is Riskiest
Fall combines three things at once. Bucks chase does during the rut, hunters push animals off their usual ranges, and shorter days put more commuters on the road in the dark.
Consumer Reports adds that deer are more active when we are driving more in the dark because of the shorter daylight hours. That overlap explains why claims jump in the fall.
If you hunt or drive near hunting areas, check the season dates in our Washington deer hunting season guide. Open seasons mean more animals on the move and more people on backroads at dawn and dusk.
Time of Day and Daylight Saving Time: When Deer Crashes Happen in Washington
Dawn and dusk are the high-risk hours. WSDOT’s data shows the likelihood of hitting a deer is tied to the October to December stretch around nightfall, and Consumer Reports quotes an expert noting that deer are most active at dawn and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Daylight saving time ends in early November, which pushes sunset before 5 p.m. in much of Washington. That moves your evening commute into the hours when deer are already crossing roads.
Pro Tip: In the first two weeks after clocks fall back, treat your usual evening drive as a night drive. Use high beams on empty rural stretches and slow down near wooded or brushy edges.
How Many Deer Crashes Happen in Washington Each Year?
No single number captures it, because Washington tracks wildlife crashes through collision reports, carcass removal and salvage reports. WSDOT removed 39,258 wildlife carcasses from state highways from 2019 to 2023.
An older WSDOT-linked analysis found that about 3,000 deer and 85 elk carcasses were removed annually when the study was written, so recent totals are far higher. Because studies suggest actual collisions run about triple the removal counts, the real annual figure for deer is likely well beyond what agencies record.
Fatal crashes are rare. Federal FARS data shows 23 fatal animal crashes in ten years in Washington, or about 2.3 per year.
Which Roads and Counties in Washington See the Most Deer Crashes?
Rural state highways carry most of the risk. The Methow Valley in north-central Washington is one of the likeliest places in the Pacific Northwest to hit a deer, with 242 carcasses removed from Highway 20 between 2009 and 2015.
Spokane County is another busy spot, as the KHQ carcass counts above show. WSDOT also posts wildlife crossing signs only where there are at least five documented deer-vehicle collisions per mile per year for at least two of the past 10 years.
Where WSDOT has built crossings, results are clear. The US 97 Janis Bridge near Tonasket in Okanogan County reduces annual deer-vehicle collisions by up to 90%.
Other Animals You Could Hit in Washington
Deer are the animal most often involved in claims, but not the only one. State Farm’s national list of animals in collisions also includes rodents, dogs, raccoons, cattle, cats, turkeys and coyotes.
In Washington, elk are the major concern east of the Cascades. WSDOT’s analysis tracks elk separately, and a collision with an animal that large can total a vehicle and seriously injure occupants.
How Much Does a Deer Collision Cost in Washington?
The average deer-vehicle collision in Washington cost an estimated $14,000 in 2022, according to Washington Fish & Wildlife. That figure covers vehicle damage and other costs, not only your repair bill.
Added up, the cost to the state is large. One regional report put the 2022 average at $14,014 per collision, which totals over $187 million per year in damages and other costs on Washington highways.
Nationally, State Farm paid $1.9 billion in animal-vehicle collision claim costs in the 12 months ended June 30, 2026.
Does Car Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer in Washington?
It does if you carry comprehensive coverage. Damage from deer crashes is typically covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision.
There is one catch. If you swerve, miss the deer and then hit another car or an object, the claim will likely be treated as a collision loss. Liability-only policies pay nothing toward your own repairs.
Because nobody owns a wild deer, no one else is liable. Our Washington deer collision liability breakdown explains why you cannot bill an owner or, in most cases, the state.
Do You Have to Report a Deer Collision in Washington?
Washington’s guidance is to report when a carcass is left on the road. Drivers who come across one are asked to report it to the Washington State Patrol or WSDOT.
If the animal is still in the lane, call law enforcement and tell them so. Reporting also helps WSDOT, which has collected carcass location data since 1973 to find collision hotspots.
Want to keep the meat? Washington legalized salvaging road-killed deer and elk in 2016, and a free WDFW salvage permit is required within 24 hours. Your insurer may also require a police report for the claim, so ask before you leave the scene.
How to Lower Your Odds of Hitting a Deer in Washington
You cannot remove the risk, but you can shrink it. Start with timing and speed, since State Farm says risky behavior such as speeding or phone use raises the likelihood of an animal strike by 23 percent.
- Slow down at dawn and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., especially from October through December.
- Use high beams on empty rural roads and scan the shoulders, not only the lane.
- Expect more than one deer. If one crosses, others usually follow.
- Brake firmly but do not swerve. Washington Fish & Wildlife says swerving can cause a more serious crash, and drivers should ease off the gas and brake slightly if a hit cannot be avoided.
- Skip deer whistles. State Farm states that no scientific evidence supports car-mounted deer whistles working.
Also, never feed deer near roads, since it draws them toward traffic. Our page on feeding deer in Washington covers the rules.
Your Odds of Hitting a Deer in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Odds of Hitting a Deer in Washington?
State Farm’s 2025-2026 analysis puts the odds of an animal collision claim at 1 in 305, ranking Washington 44th of 51.
What Month Has the Most Deer Collisions?
November leads, followed by October and December, based on State Farm’s claims data cited by Consumer Reports.
What Time of Day Are Deer Most Active?
Dawn and the evening hours between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. carry the most risk, so slow down and use high beams where it is safe.
How Much Does a Deer Collision Cost?
Washington Fish & Wildlife estimated the average at about $14,000 in 2022, per KHQ.
Is Hitting a Deer Covered by Insurance?
Typically yes, under comprehensive coverage. Swerving into another car or object usually moves the claim to collision coverage.
Can You Keep a Deer You Hit in Washington?
Yes, with a free WDFW salvage permit obtained within 24 hours, and you must remove the whole carcass from the road right of way.