By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
Deer and vehicle collisions are on the increase in the month of November, as hunting and rutting seasons are open.
A young buck dashed across County Line Road at NW 164 about dusk on Friday, Nov. 3, and a sport utility vehicle slowed down as the buck, with about 8-points on his rack, trotted into a row of trees.
Three days later, Monday night, Nov. 6, near Richland Road on Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City limits, a large white-tailed deer was struck by the front end of a brand-new sport utility vehicle. There were no injuries.
Piedmont Police Chief Shayne Clark said police have not had any reports of drivers in vehicles striking deer yet this season.
Okarche Police Chief Forrest Smith said most collisions are not reported in town limits, and happened along U.S. 81.
With food insecurity up, venison could be in demand. But it is not legal to remove a fresh kill from a roadway without contacting a game warden.
Don Brown, communication and education specialist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation explained that a recent article in Outdoor Oklahoma magazine gave some details.
A deer may be in salvageable condition, but according to statues, a person is not legally able to take possession of the deer since deer are a game species.
However, a game warden can issue a permit allowing someone to harvest a road-killed deer. People can contact a game warden before removing any road-killed deer.”
If a person is issued a permit to claim a road-killed deer, the person must remove the entire deer and dispose of the carcass properly after processing it. There are also statutes that address the proper disposal of animal carcasses.
Also, a game warden can donate a road-killed deer in good condition to local families who are food insecure or local food charities.
The uptick in collisions occurs this time of year because deer enter the rutting season (mating season). Bucks begin chasing does, and seem to become less attuned to their surroundings. So, running across a highway and possibly into traffic is more common during the rut in November.
The Wildlife Department continues to operate two programs for helping the hungry: Hunters Against Hunger ( https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunting/processors/hah ) and Oklahoma Deer Share. https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunting/resources/deer/deer-share ).
In Canadian County, contact game warden Mark Murray, 405-343-5489.
In Kingfisher County, the game warden is Blake Pearson, 405-368-0887.
Also, Operation Game Thief can be reached to report poaching or other illegal activities by calling 1-800-522-8039. Cash rewards are possible. Callers should make reports between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., according to the department’s information on their website https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/law/operation-game-thief.
