A deer waits to cross a busy roadway.
Times Leader | File Photo
U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets are labeled for proper size and type of use.
Photo courtesy PFBC
A man wearing a blue life jacket.
Photo courtesy PFBC
With deer becoming increasingly active, and daylight-saving time soon to put more vehicles on the road during the hours when deer move most, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising motorists to slow down and stay alert.
Deer become more active in autumn with the lead-up to their fall breeding season, commonly referred to as the “rut.” Around this time, many yearling bucks disperse from the areas they were born, traveling considerable distances to find new ranges. Meanwhile, adult bucks more often are cruising their home ranges in search of does, and might chase the does they encounter.
With daylight-saving time ending Nov. 2, there also will be increased vehicular traffic around dusk and dawn — the peak hours for deer activity.
All make deer encounters more likely for motorists.
“The months of October, November, and December are when deer are moving around the most, and for longer durations during the day,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “We encourage all drivers to practice safe behaviors and be especially mindful of intensified deer movement at this time of year.”
Data from around the country indicates Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest risks of a vehicle collision with a deer or other large animal. A recent report shows Pennsylvania, once again, led the nation in animal-collision insurance claims in the fiscal year 2024-25.
Pennsylvania drivers also face some of the highest chances of a collision with a big-game animal. While the national average for animal collisions is 1-in-139, Pennsylvania drivers, according to the report, more than double that with a 1-in-62 chance. Drivers in only West Virginia, Montana, Wisconsin and Michigan strike big-game animals with greater frequency.
Drivers can reduce their chances of collisions with deer by staying alert and better understanding deer behavior. Just paying close attention while driving on stretches marked with “Deer Crossing” signs can make a difference.
Deer often travel in groups and walk single file. So even if one deer successfully crosses the road in front of a driver, it doesn’t mean the threat is over. Another could be right behind it.
A driver who hits a deer with a vehicle is not required to report the accident to the Game Commission. If the deer dies, only Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass. To do so, they can call the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD and an agency dispatcher will collect the information needed to provide a free permit number, which the caller should write down.
A resident must call within 24 hours of taking possession of the deer. A passing Pennsylvania motorist also may claim the deer, if the person whose vehicle hit it doesn’t want it.
Those taking possession of road-killed deer also are advised of rules related to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) that prohibit the removal of high-risk deer parts – essentially the head and backbone – from any Disease Management Area (DMA) or Established Area (EA). Those parts must be removed before the deer is transported outside a DMA or EA. For maps of these areas, the complete list of high-risk parts and other information on CWD, visit pgc.pa.gov.
If a deer is struck by a vehicle, but not killed, drivers are urged to maintain their distance because some deer might recover and move on.
However, if a deer does not move on, or poses a public safety risk, drivers are encouraged to report the incident to the Game Commission or another law-enforcement agency. If the deer must be put down, the Game Commission will direct the proper person to do so.
To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.
PFBC: PA’s cold weather life jacket requirement begins
If you plan to go boating this weekend, here’s a reminder that Pennsylvania’s annual cold weather life jacket requirement went back into effect beginning Saturday.
From Nov. 1, through April 30, anyone on a boat less than 16 feet, and all canoes, kayaks, and paddle-boards, is required to wear a life jacket.
Each year in Pennsylvania, nearly 80% of victims of boating fatalities were not wearing a life jacket.
Since the mandatory requirement went into effect in 2012, the number of boating deaths during the cold weather months has been cut in half.
Matt Truesdale, PFBC Aquatics Program Specialist said, “Cold water is nothing to mess with. If you fall in this time of year with your life jacket on, you will stay above water, and you’ll stay breathing. But if you don’t have your life jacket on, there’s a good chance that you’ll succumb to hypothermia, you’ll be gasping for air, and there’s a better chance that you’ll drown.”
Truesdale said there’s a lot of excuses when it comes to not wearing life jackets.
“Whether they’re not fashionable, they don’t’ fit you well, there’s a lot of excuses out there,” he said. “But, if you take the time to go out, and find a life jacket that fits you well and suits you, it will be comfortable, and you will enjoy wearing it out on the water.”
International Fly Tying Symposium in N.J.
About 100 professional and amateur fly tiers — men and women who turn feathers, fur and plastic foam into fish-catching lures — will hold demonstrations, seminars, and individual instruction at the 34th annual International Fly Tying Symposium, Nov. 15-16, in Somerset, New Jersey’s DoubleTree by Hilton, announced director Chuck Furimsky.
The tiers will display their fly tying craft virtually non-stop at the hotel and conference center, 200 Atrium Drive. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Parking is free.
Among the U.S. and international fly tiers registered and scheduled to display their skills at the Symposium are Tim Flagler, Tim Cammisa, Barry Ord Clarke, Doug Yocabet, Son Tao, Cheech Pierce, Joe Jackson, Tom Baltz, Jeff Blood, Ted Patlen, Allen Rupp, John Shaner, and Steve Culton.
Admission is $20 on Saturday, $15 Sunday, or $30 for a two-day pass. Children age 5 and under are free; children ages 6-12 are $10. Admission is by cash only at the box office.
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