Deer Collision Season in Iowa
1 in 81 odds of an animal collision claim, 6th of 51 in State Farm’s 2025-2026 ranking. Iowa’s deer follow the timbered river valleys through corn and soybean country, and the harvest opens wide sightlines across fields beside the roads.
Odds of hitting a deer in Iowa
1 in 81, from State Farm’s analysis of industry animal collision claims between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. That ranks Iowa 6th of 51 (the 50 states and the District of Columbia), in the high likelihood category, against a national figure of 1 in 145. That is a lower likelihood than 1 in 76 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 Iowa by month
NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System recorded 36 fatal animal crashes in Iowa from 2015 to 2024, about 3.6 a year, with 36 deaths. That is 1.1 percent of all fatal crashes in the state and 21st among the states by count. June is the month with the most fatal animal crashes in Iowa, 8 of 36 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 Iowa 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.
8,0232023 in Iowa: reported crashes between vehicles and animals (all animals)
5 deaths in the same count.
“In 2023, there were 8,023 reported crashes between vehicles and animals on Iowa roads. Of those, five people were killed, 23 people suffered serious injuries and more than 260 more were listed on crash reports with minor injuries.”Iowa Department of Transportation, quoted exactly.
Compiled 2026-09-21.
When the deer rut runs in Iowa
The deer rut in Iowa runs October 15 to January 15. Peak, as the agency describes it: first 3 weeks of November.
“While deer vehicle collisions occur throughout the year, deer movement increases during the breeding season, peaking around the first week of November. Combined with the crops coming out and shorter daylight hours, that adds up to more deer vehicle collisions.”Iowa Department of Natural Resources, news release: Deer movements increase as peak of breeding season nears, 2025-10-21, quoted exactly.
Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Deer (Iowa's Wildlife) page.
Sunset in Des Moines when the clocks fall back
On November 7, 2027, clocks fall back an hour and sunset in Des Moines moves from 6:03 PM to 5:02 PM, putting the evening drive home in dusk and darkness.
Des Moines, 61 minutes earlier by the clock.
Clock change: Uniform Time Act, 15 U.S.C. 260a, and 49 CFR part 71. Sunset calculated for Des Moines 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 Iowa
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.