Officials with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are warning drivers around the state of increased deer activity over the next couple of weeks.

Drivers Should Be Alert For Deer Across New York State

We are in the middle of rutting season, and officials with the New York State DEC are warning drivers to be alert for increased deer activity across the state. We are in the middle of rutting season, and that means deer will be more active and will be expanding the area where they roam.

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Deer will be more active near roads across the state, and that could lead to more deer/vehicle accidents.

Key Facts About Deer Rutting Season In New York State

While rutting season officially started on October 1st, we are still a couple of weeks away from the peak of the season, according to mywild.report.

Pre-Rut (October 11 – November 7): Bucks begin expanding their home ranges and rubbing trees or scraping the ground to mark territory.Seeking Phase (October 25 – November 7): Bucks actively travel and search for the first available does, offering prime movement visibility for hunters.Chasing Phase (November 8 – November 14): Buck movement hits its highest intensity of the season as they aggressively chase does. Peak Breeding (November 15 – November 22): Most mature bucks lock down with a doe, causing visible buck movement to temporarily slow down.Post-Rut (November 23 – December 6): Worn-down bucks return heavily to feeding areas to recover. Second Rut (December 7 – December 20): A smaller, secondary wave of breeding occurs roughly three to four weeks after the primary peak for does that were not successfully bred in November.Deer More Active In Neighborhoods In New York State

I have seen an increase in the number of deer in my daily drive into work. I live in Hamburg, New York, and drive every morning into downtown Buffalo along Route 5. I have seen a number of deer along the roads, especially on Rogers and Able roads in Hamburg.

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A lot of times they will run away as my Jeep comes near them, but a few times they just stop and stare. I always make sure to drive slowly and be on alert. I also use my high beams when I can.

According to the New York State DOT, there are over 30,000 reported accidents between Deer and vehicles each year in New York State.

New York State Whitetail Deer Trail Cam Photos

Gallery Credit: Clay Moden