If you hit a deer do you have to report it to the police?

[MsDisney23]

Just wondering how that works. Do you have to call the police or can you keep on going? Also is it illegal to pick up a dead deer on the side of the road???

 

[PatsMom]

I think that if I hit a deer (a distinct possibility where I live) I would file a police report just to have it to turn in to my insurance company. Hitting a deer is going to do some damage to your car!

 

[CowboyCO]

You do not need to contact the police, but I would contact the Division of Wildlife. In most states, it would be illegal to take the carcass. Not sure why you'd want road-kill, but what to I know...

 

[funnygarcia]

In some states it is perfectly legal to take a fresh road kill for yourself. Contact your local DNR/Fish and Wildlife to report the hit and ask about roadkill laws (or if you need to pay for a tag, as it is the beginning of hunting season).

You could a file self report form with police , for insurance purposes. Unless someone was hurt or if the road is blocked somehow, there is no need for police to come to the scene.

As for why you would eat road kill? what difference does it make if it was hit by a car or hit by a bullet?
It's still dead.
As long as it's a fresh kill it would be safe to eat.

 

[daisax]

A cruiser passed me on Halloween night as I was sitting in unexpected traffic on a quiet street -- I figured trick or treaters were holding things up, but somebody had hit a deer. Guess rutting season has started (I've seen them walking here and there, but not many deer strikes yet).

If nothing else, the police can arrange to get the body out of the street so nobody else will hit it.

 

[Ilovemylife]

Yes, the rut has started here and driving at night (for the next three weeks) is going to be very hazardous.

If you have damage to your car or want to tag the carcass, you have to call the police.

 

[Geoff_M]

Check with your state DNR (or it's equivalent). Laws vary from state to state. It also matters, usually, if you hit the deer or someone else did. I doubt that it would have to be reported to law enforcement.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I would eat roadkill if I killed it... as someone said, what is the difference between a car and a bullet? Venison is good eats! And, I might as well get something for all the trouble killing it caused.

 

[HonnyDipp]

My mom hit a deer about 5 years ago. For insurance purposes, she had to involve the police

 

[jodifla]

You have to call the policer Michigan. My husband hit a deer last year, and didn't report it....so the police called him! I guess someone saw the accident, and called the police, hoping that my husband would give them the rights to the deer.

In Michigan, if you hit it, apparently it's yours! My DH did say the other person could have it.


But the police did say we were supposed to call it in.

 

[Geoff_M]

I would eat roadkill if I killed it... as someone said, what is the difference between a car and a bullet? Venison is good eats! And, I might as well get something for all the trouble killing it caused.

Several years ago one of my friends hit a deer on the way South Bend, IN in January. The deer was killed instantly, and they drove to a pay phone to call the authorities about what they needed to do. When they drove back to the deer, someone had already made off with the hind-quarters of venison that were undamaged by the collision!

In Michigan, if you hit it, apparently it's yours! My DH did say the other person could have it.

Yep, we figure up here that it's a small consolation for tearing up for vehicle! However, I THINK that if you keep it you're required to buy a "deer tag" from the DNR.

 

[georgina]

I hit a deer on a highway once. There was a state trooper parked along the road a short distance up, so we reported it, but the ins company didn't ask for a copy of the report (the adjuster could see deer hairs stuck in the damaged part, so that was good enough for him).

The state trooper went back to the scene to find the deer, but it had run off, which is pretty amazing considering I hit it at 65 mph and it bounced from the front of the car along the side, denting it in several places. There wasn't much traffic, it was after 1 AM, so I don't think anyone else had come along and picked it up.

 

[X and G's mom]

I have hit a few deer, living in North Central Wisconsin what would one expect
The first time I hit a deer it was Thanksgiving night (I was in high school). I didn't kill the deer, but when I got home and yelled to my dad to come quick, he was dressed and ready in less than 30 seconds We did call the police and my dad used his hunting tag to tag the deer. The police had to kill the deer.
The second time I hit a deer, the adjuster just came and said, yep, you hit a deer. Go get the car fixed I didn't even have a police report.
The third time I hit a deer was just this last March. The deer ran right into my side and only left a scratch!!!! I have a Saturn with those nice side impact things!!! The deer was still living, but was pretty broken up. I called the police and told them to come and kill the deer, but I didn't want to keep it.

 

[C.Ann]

Just a few weeks ago a friend hit a deer on her way up here to the lake.. The deer ran off, but there was quite a bit of damage to her car.. When she got to my place, she called her insurance company.. They advised her there was no need to call the police because the deer ran off and was not lying dead in - or alongside - the road..

Insurance adjustor met with her several days later and cut her a check for the damages - no questions asked..

I think it varies from state to state..

My son-in-law hit a deer once and didn't quite kill it.. He didn't want to leave it alongside the road suffering though, so he managed to tie all four legs and get it into the trunk of his car - leaving the trunk part way open.. He took it to a vet and the vet euthanized it.. Vet said that was the first time anyone had ever done that and didn't charge a dime for it.. Son-in-law said he just couldn't leave it lying on the side of the road to die a slow, painful death.. (And he would KILL ME if he knew I shared this story.. Doesn't match up with his "Nascar/football" loving personality.. Heaven forbid people get the idea that he has a "soft side".. )

 

[pperfectmom]

I'm pretty sure the police would roll their eyes at you if you called them after hitting a deer around here. I have hit only one in my life and the insurance adjuster certainly never questioned me about it. The damage an animal does is a whole lot different than a normal collision. I would call someone if the animal would be a road hazard and you can't move it yourself. As for eating road kill, I have definately done that plenty times. My DH has been known to cut the tenderloin out and we have also eaten roadkill rattlesnake. I have friends that will stop and skin out a deer on the roadside to tan the hide so if you see any freaks beside the road in KY, we probably know them.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

A deer hit my mother's car some years ago - and yes, the DEER hit her; nothing crossed her path, but she heard a loud thump from the passenger side, looked over, and saw the deer running away. There was no damage to the front of the car at all, but the passenger side door was smashed in, deer hair stuck in the cracks, and the mirror was completely gone. No blood. She didn't know what to do, so she called the police. They did come and take a report, as well as called Wildlife to go look for the deer (to put it out of its misery if it was suffering. They found nothing - and they never found the mirror either ). Her insurance company said they didn't really need the police report, but if she had one, they'd take a copy for their records