How-to guide · Ford of Peoria · Peoria, IL
What to Do If You Hit a Deer in Illinois
Fall is deer mating season, and IDOT and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources say deer are most active at dawn and dusk from October through December. Peoria County ranked fifth in Illinois for deer crashes in IDOT's 2021 count. Here is how to lower your risk, why you should not swerve, and what to do if you hit a deer, for drivers around Peoria.
The short answer
If you hit a deer, IDOT says to pull off to the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights and call to report the accident. Stay in your vehicle: do not get out to check on an injured deer or pull it from the road. If a crash cannot be avoided, do not swerve; try to glance off the deer and stay in your lane.
When deer crashes happen in Illinois
Deer become more active during mating season, mainly at dawn and dusk from October through December, IDOT and the IDNR say. A collision can happen any time of year, but more than 42% of Illinois crashes involving deer in 2021 happened in October, November and December, and November was the highest-risk month.
In 2021, 14,522 motor vehicle crashes in Illinois involved deer, IDOT says. Of these, 13,936 resulted in damage to property or vehicles, 584 caused personal injuries and two were fatal. More than 72% happened in rural settings, and more than 71% at twilight or nighttime.
From IDOT, "IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to resist the urge to swerve for deer" (November 8, 2022, reporting 2021 crash data), read October 28, 2026.
How to lower your risk of hitting a deer
IDOT's safe-driving tips for deer season and the rest of the year:
Watch the signs
Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with deer crossing signs.
Look for eye shine
Scan the sides of the road for eye shine, the reflection of your headlights in a deer's eyes.
Expect more than one
Slow down if you see a deer. Deer travel in groups, so more are likely nearby, and one that crosses ahead of you may be followed by another.
Prepare for the unexpected
A deer may stop in the middle of the road or double back.
Don't veer for deer
If a collision is inevitable, do not veer. Try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic or off the road.
From IDOT, "IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to resist the urge to swerve for deer," read October 28, 2026.
What to do if you hit a deer
IDOT and the IDNR give these steps:
1. Pull off to the shoulder
Get your vehicle out of the travel lanes if you can.
2. Turn on your hazard lights
Make your vehicle easy for other drivers to see.
3. Report the accident
IDOT says to call to report the accident. The IDNR also reminds motorists to report deer-related traffic accidents to the appropriate law enforcement agency when reporting is required.
4. Leave the deer alone
Do not exit the vehicle to check on an injured deer or to pull it from the road.
From IDOT, "IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to resist the urge to swerve for deer," and the IDNR, "Claim a Road Kill," read October 28, 2026.
Keeping a deer killed in a crash
The IDNR's Claim a Road Kill page says:
| Question | What the IDNR says |
|---|---|
| Who has priority to keep the deer? | The Illinois resident driver of the vehicle involved in the collision |
| If the driver leaves it | Any Illinois citizen who is not delinquent in child support may possess and transport the deer |
| Non-residents | May not claim a road-killed deer |
| Reporting | Report possession within 24 hours through the IDNR Claim a Road Kill Deer Report Form |
| Selling | No part of a deer killed this way may be bartered or sold |
| Injured deer | Except for law enforcement officers on duty, it is illegal to kill a deer crippled by a collision with a motor vehicle |
From the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, "Claim a Road Kill," read October 28, 2026. This page is a summary, not legal advice.
Illinois counties with the most deer crashes
IDOT's top 10 Illinois counties for crashes involving deer in 2021 included Peoria County in fifth place:
| County | Crashes involving deer, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cook | 493 |
| Madison | 452 |
| Will | 326 |
| Sangamon | 321 |
| Peoria | 311 |
First five of IDOT's top 10 list, from "IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to resist the urge to swerve for deer" (November 8, 2022), read October 28, 2026. The list also includes Kane, Effingham, Fulton, McHenry and Jefferson counties.
Keep your headlights, tires and brakes ready
The Works® at Ford of Peoria includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk, so working lights, good tires and brakes help you react in time. The Works is a general vehicle checkup you can book any time of year.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Ford of Peoria is at 2211 W. Pioneer Pkwy. in Peoria. Get directions.
Ford of Peoria service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-noon |
| Sun | closed |
From Ford of Peoria's website, October 28, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Hitting a deer in Illinois: FAQ
When are deer crashes most likely in Illinois?
IDOT and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources say deer become more active during mating season, mainly at dawn and dusk from October through December. In 2021, more than 42% of Illinois crashes involving deer happened in October, November and December, and November was the highest-risk month.
Should I swerve to miss a deer?
No. IDOT says "don't veer for deer": swerving could cause you to lose control and go into another lane or off the road. If a collision is inevitable, IDOT says to try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes or off the road.
What should I do right after I hit a deer in Illinois?
IDOT says to pull off to the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights and call to report the accident. Do not get out of the vehicle to check on an injured deer or to pull it from the road.
Can I keep a deer I hit in Illinois?
The IDNR says an Illinois resident driver involved in the collision has priority to legally possess a white-tailed deer killed or injured in the crash. Anyone claiming such a deer must report the possession within 24 hours through the IDNR Claim a Road Kill Deer Report Form. Non-residents may not claim a road-killed deer, and no part of the deer may be bartered or sold.
Can I put an injured deer down myself?
No. The IDNR says that, except for law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties, it is illegal to kill a deer crippled by a collision with a motor vehicle.
How many deer crashes happen in Peoria County?
IDOT listed Peoria County fifth among Illinois counties for crashes involving deer in 2021, with 311 crashes.
What does The Works at Ford of Peoria include?
The Works® at Ford of Peoria includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Book a routine checkup
Book The Works, which includes a tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection and Multi-Point Inspection, at Ford of Peoria.
Sources
Deer crash figures, driving tips and after-crash steps are from IDOT's November 8, 2022 update on 2021 crash data; road-kill rules are from the IDNR Claim a Road Kill page; both read October 28, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Service details, address and hours are from Ford of Peoria's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to resist the urge to swerve for deer (IDOT Update, November 8, 2022; 2021 crash data, safe-driving tips, what to do after a crash), Illinois Department of Transportation, read October 28, 2026
- Claim a Road Kill: deer killed or injured by motor vehicles, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read October 28, 2026
- General service: The Works, Ford of Peoria, October 28, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Ford of Peoria, October 28, 2026