Anecdotal evidence runs counter to DNR ‘deer hits’ statistics

CEDAR RAPIDS - Statistics indicate that deer-vehicle collisions have become much less likely in recent years, but many operators of auto body shops say they have not noticed a similar decline in what they refer to as 'deer hits.”

'No. Actually it's been an exceptionally busy summer for deer hits,” said Mark Divoky, proprietor of Mark's Auto Body in Solon, whose deer-related business, he said, has run counter to state statistics showing a 39 percent decline in deer-vehicle collisions since 2006.

'I don't think so. We've been awfully busy fixing deer hits. We've had just as many if not more than in earlier years,” said Don Magsamen, proprietor of Hilltop Motors in Independence.

'I'm not seeing a decline in deer hits. It's always stayed about the same,” said Chris Winters, proprietor of the Midwest Collision Center in Oelwein.

'No, we really haven't. It's been steady in recent years, and it will get worse in the weeks ahead during the peak of the harvest as deer start running around more,” said Wendy Shramek, office manager at Kelley's Auto Body in Cedar Rapids.

Of five Eastern Iowa body shops contacted, only Abra Auto Body and Glass in Iowa City reported a decline in deer-related business.

'Overall, we are seeing fewer deer hits than in previous years. I would agree deer claims are down,” proprietor John Grolmus said.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Joe Wilkinson said all statistical indicators tracked by the DNR show the same general frequency curve - increasing in the years preceding 2006, when the DNR committed to reducing the size of the herd by applying more hunter pressure on does, and declining in the years since.

The number of deer harvested, for example, increased 113 percent from 1995 to 2005 and decreased 34 percent from 2006 through 2013, according to the DNR.

The reported number of road-killed deer increased 9 percent from 1995 to 2005 and decreased 39 percent from 2006 to 2013 when expressed in terms of kills per billion miles driven, the DNR said.

The number of vehicle crashes involving collisions with animals (mostly deer) that were reported to the Department of Transportation increased 22 percent from 1995 to 2006 and decreased 30 percent since 2006.

As of Oct. 15, only 3,436 animal-involved crashes had been reported this year to the DOT. But with the most dangerous part of the year remaining, that number certainly will climb as factors such as the deer breeding season, hunting seasons and crop harvests push more deer onto the state's roads, said DOT traffic and safety engineer Michael Pawlovich.

From 2004 through 2008, the average number of animal-vehicle collisions reported to the DOT was 7,778 - a figure which fell to 6,561 for the 2009 to 2013 period, according to DOT records.

From 2004 through Oct. 15, the DOT has received reports of 75,132 animal-involved vehicle accidents resulting in 65 fatalities and 4,636 injuries.

Iowa's declining position in the annual State Farm claims data report also supports a decreasing risk of deer-vehicle collisions.

In 2010 Iowa ranked second among the states, behind West Virginia, with a 1 in 67 calculated risk of a driver hitting a deer in the coming year. In the latest State Farm claims data report, released Sept. 15, Iowa ranks fourth among the states, with a 1 in 77 calculated risk, a 5.5 percent decrease from the previous year's odds.

The body shop operators did not dispute the state statistics but merely said they do not closely correspond with their own perceptions.

In fact, one of the proprietors, Chris Winters of Oelwein, a deer hunting enthusiast, said he has definitely seen many fewer deer during recent hunting seasons.

Winters' observation matches those of bow hunters participating in an annual DNR survey, which found that deer sightings per 1,000 hours in the field decreased by 22 percent from 2006 to 2013.