What to do if you're about to hit a deer with your car

INDIANAPOLIS — Though nearly 125,000 deer were bagged in Indiana during hunting season last year, thousands are unintentionally killed when they smack into moving vehicles — or the vehicles hit them.

Since Oct. 1, about 3,600 deer have been struck on Indiana's roadways, according to Todd Ringle, public information officer for the Indiana State Police Evansville District. Generally, the hit is fatal to the animal, and an adult white-tailed deer, which can weigh from 100 to 300 pounds depending on its age and gender, is not a friend to a car's chassis.

From July 2015 to June 2016, a State Farm Insurance study estimates that vehicles have hit more than 1.3 million deer across the USA, mostly during October, November and December. And mating season, hunting season and long nights coincide, so you're likely to see more deer on the move after the sun sets.

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Here are some tips from the Indiana State Police and Geico insurance to avoid hitting a deer or minimizing the damage if you do:

1. Use your bright headlights if possible when driving in the morning and evening, especially around dawn and dusk. A deer's eyes will reflect in your car's headlights, making them easier to spot.

2. Look for the road signs. The yellow hazard signs with an image of a deer are placed along high-traffic routes for the animals. If you see one deer by the side of the road, chances are good others in the gang will be around, so slow down.

3. Avoid distractions, such as devices or eating, so you can watch for animals. This is important at any time but especially necessary because your vision is at its most compromised when deer are most active.

4. Stay near the center if you're on a four-lane or wider road with little traffic. This gives a deer plenty of space and can give you more time to react if one darts into the road.

5. Honk if you see a deer in the road. One long blast of your car horn can scare a deer out of your way and might be your final chance to try to avoid a collision.

6. Don't swerve to avoid a deer. You'll likely end up hitting a guardrail or tree instead and cause more injuries. Hard as it may be, it's best to strike the deer.

7. Stay in your lane and brake firmly if you have to hit a deer. Just before you hit the deer, take your foot off the brake. This will cause the nose of your vehicle to come back up, reducing the chance of the deer smashing into your windshield.

8. Get to a safe place before reporting the accident if your vehicle is not disabled after hitting the deer. This might be a driveway, a parking lot or the next exit if you're on an interstate.

9. Move your vehicle to the side of the road if possible when your vehicle is disabled. Use your hazard lights, call police and keep your seat belts on.

The most likely states where a driver is likely to have an insurance claim because of a deer, elk or moose? West Virginia, Montana, Pennsylvania, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Wyoming and Mississippi, according to State Farm. Indiana ranked 23rd.

Follow Allison Carter on Twitter: @AllisonLCarter