The Danger Of Deer Collisions: Where ND Ranks in 2026

The Deer Rut is On

Yep, the mating season is here for deer in North Dakota, which occurs between October and December in our state. A collision with a deer and your vehicle can be a very unnerving experience. Have you ever hit a deer with your ride?  I know I have a couple of times. One in North Dakota and another in Minnesota.  I have had several close calls over the last several years. My son came within a couple of hundred dollars of totaling my pickup after a deer collision near Kintyre, North Dakota, a couple of years back. Thankfully, he was okay.

Rick Rider

I do a lot of fishing and hunting, and that often has me driving early in the morning or late in the evening, when deer are most active.  Deer are nocturnal, and your chances certainly increase of hitting an animal if you drive when it's dark.

Rick Rider

Peak Timeframe for Deer Collisions

October is often the peak month for motorists in North Dakota who experience deer collisions, but November, especially early in the month, can be just as dangerous, according to MyWild. You should be very aware of potential run-ins with these four-legged creatures this time of year as deer enter the rut and become a lot more active.

I came across a report from State Farm recently with a study on states with the most deer/vehicle accidents. The states are ranked from 1 to 50. It even gives you the percentage of how likely a collision is for each state. Every year, deer collisions with automobiles cause close to one billion dollars in damages.  As cities continue to grow into previously rural areas, you can expect that to only get worse.

So how likely is it to hit a deer in North Dakota?  It's certainly on the higher end of the spectrum.

The Top 10 States For Deer Collisons in 2026

10. South Dakota (1 in 86)

9.  Maine (1 in 85)

8.  Mississippi (1 in 81)

7.  Virginia (1 in 81)

6.  Iowa (1 in 81)

5.  Michigan (1 in 68)

4.  Pennsylvania (1 in 64)

3. Wisconsin (1 in 54)

2.  Montana (1 in 53)

1.  West Virginia (1 in 46)

So, How About North Dakota? 

We didn't make the top 10 but were just inside the top 20 at #17 with a 1 in 100 chance of hitting a deer.  The top counties most likely to encounter a deer collision are:

Nelson

LaMoure

McHenry

Kidder

Eddy

Minnesota was just ahead of us with a 1 in 91 chance of hitting a deer at #12.