Deer Collision Season in New Mexico
1 in 292 odds of an animal collision claim, 43rd of 51 in State Farm’s 2025-2026 ranking. Mule deer and elk are the large animals on New Mexico highways, with white-tailed deer in the eastern and southern parts of the state.
Odds of hitting a deer in New Mexico
1 in 292, from State Farm’s analysis of industry animal collision claims between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. That ranks New Mexico 43rd of 51 (the 50 states and the District of Columbia), in the low likelihood category, against a national figure of 1 in 145. The odds were the same, 1 in 292, 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 New Mexico by month
NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System recorded 24 fatal animal crashes in New Mexico from 2015 to 2024, about 2.4 a year, with 30 deaths. That is 0.7 percent of all fatal crashes in the state and 28th among the states by count. July is the month with the most fatal animal crashes in New Mexico, 5 of 24 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.
When the deer rut runs in New Mexico
The deer rut in New Mexico runs October 1 to January 31.
Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Mule Deer of New Mexico.
Sunset in Albuquerque when the clocks fall back
On November 7, 2027, clocks fall back an hour and sunset in Albuquerque moves from 6:08 PM to 5:07 PM, putting the evening drive home in dusk and darkness.
Albuquerque, 61 minutes earlier by the clock.
Clock change: Uniform Time Act, 15 U.S.C. 260a, and 49 CFR part 71. Sunset calculated for Albuquerque 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 New Mexico
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.