Deer Collision Season in Illinois
1 in 195 odds of an animal collision claim, 35th of 51 in State Farm’s 2025-2026 ranking. Illinois deer concentrate along river corridors and the wooded strips between farm fields, and the Chicago area forest preserves hold deer beside busy suburban roads.
Odds of hitting a deer in Illinois
1 in 195, from State Farm’s analysis of industry animal collision claims between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. That ranks Illinois 35th of 51 (the 50 states and the District of Columbia), in the low likelihood category, against a national figure of 1 in 145. That is a lower likelihood than 1 in 182 in the 2024-2025 edition.
Source: State Farm, How likely are you to have an animal collision? (2025-2026). Compiled 2026-09-21.
Fatal animal crashes in Illinois by month
NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System recorded 60 fatal animal crashes in Illinois from 2015 to 2024, about 6 a year, with 63 deaths. That is 0.6 percent of all fatal crashes in the state and 6th among the states by count. June is the month with the most fatal animal crashes in Illinois, 11 of 60 across the ten years. FARS counts crashes with any animal; the insurance claim season, October to December, is shaded.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), first harmful event Live Animal, 2015 to 2024. Compiled 2026-09-21.
Deer crashes Illinois reports
State counts include crashes that injured no one, so they run far higher than FARS, and each state defines and counts them its own way.
14,4362024 in Illinois: crashes involving deer
698 injuries, 5 deaths in the same count.
“In 2024, there were 14,436 crashes involving deer in Illinois. Of those, 13,733 resulted in damage to property or vehicles, while 698 caused injuries and five resulted in fatalities.”Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), with Illinois Department of Natural Resources, quoted exactly.
Compiled 2026-09-21.
When the deer rut runs in Illinois
The deer rut in Illinois runs October 1 to January 31. The peak falls around November 10.
“Last year, 6,027 (42%) crashes involving deer in Illinois occurred in October, November and December, with November being the highest-risk month at 3,037 (21%).”Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources, news release: D'oh, a deer: 'Tis the season to look out for amorous mammals, 2025-11-03, quoted exactly.
Sunset in Chicago when the clocks fall back
On November 7, 2027, clocks fall back an hour and sunset in Chicago moves from 5:39 PM to 4:38 PM, putting the evening drive home in dusk and darkness.
Chicago, 61 minutes earlier by the clock.
Clock change: Uniform Time Act, 15 U.S.C. 260a, and 49 CFR part 71. Sunset calculated for Chicago and checked against the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department.
What state agencies tell drivers
“If you cannot avoid hitting a deer with your vehicle, brake firmly and stay in your lane. Avoid sudden swerving, which can result in a loss of control and a more serious crash.”Wisconsin Department of Transportation, quoted exactly.
“If a deer runs in front of you, do not swerve. Brake firmly and stay in your lane.”Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security / Tennessee Highway Patrol, quoted exactly.
“Don’t swerve to avoid hitting a deer. Swerving can cause motorists to lose control and travel off the road or into oncoming traffic.”Missouri Department of Transportation, quoted exactly.
Questions people ask about deer collisions in Illinois
Fatal animal crash counts compiled 2026-09-21 from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). State Farm odds, agency counts and quotes compiled 2026-09-21 from the pages linked above, quoted exactly.