Orbit Michigan deer crashes: when and where
Michigan drivers hit 58,271 deer in 2025, about 160 a day. Most of them in November and October, in the hours around sunrise and sunset, mostly on dark roads off the Interstates. Here's every county, from the state's own crash reports.
When: the hours around sunrise and sunset
In late November the sun comes up around 7:30 to 8 AM and goes down around 5 PM across lower Michigan, so the morning and evening commutes both fall in the riskiest hours.
When: October and November
The fall breeding season (the rut) has deer on the move, and Michigan's regular firearm deer season runs November 15 to 30.
Where: every county
Ranked by deer crashes in 2025, with the change from 2024. Download the table (CSV), free to use with credit.
| # | County | Crashes | vs 2024 | Injured | Killed | Local streets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland | 2,259 | +12% | 105 | 0 | 75% |
| 2 | Kent | 1,960 | -7% | 83 | 2 | 62% |
| 3 | Genesee | 1,659 | +10% | 51 | 0 | 74% |
| 4 | Jackson | 1,557 | 0% | 43 | 0 | 66% |
| 5 | Ottawa | 1,498 | +5% | 38 | 0 | 71% |
| 6 | Clinton | 1,490 | +3% | 29 | 1 | 62% |
| 7 | Allegan | 1,476 | -3% | 34 | 0 | 69% |
| 8 | Washtenaw | 1,404 | 0% | 51 | 1 | 73% |
| 9 | Saginaw | 1,387 | +9% | 36 | 0 | 64% |
| 10 | Lapeer | 1,386 | -3% | 51 | 0 | 71% |
| 11 | Ingham | 1,352 | +52% | 67 | 0 | 63% |
| 12 | Hillsdale | 1,311 | +18% | 32 | 0 | 64% |
| 13 | Calhoun | 1,306 | -5% | 23 | 0 | 56% |
| 14 | Shiawassee | 1,233 | +17% | 33 | 0 | 63% |
| 15 | Tuscola | 1,147 | -4% | 32 | 0 | 65% |
| 16 | Midland | 1,128 | +4% | 27 | 0 | 75% |
| 17 | Livingston | 1,119 | +13% | 32 | 1 | 73% |
| 18 | Huron | 1,074 | -5% | 19 | 0 | 61% |
| 19 | St. Clair | 1,047 | +1% | 22 | 0 | 77% |
| 20 | Berrien | 1,044 | -8% | 29 | 0 | 59% |
| 21 | Lenawee | 995 | +16% | 35 | 0 | 59% |
| 22 | Gratiot | 974 | -4% | 24 | 1 | 63% |
| 23 | Sanilac | 972 | -11% | 17 | 1 | 57% |
| 24 | Eaton | 964 | +1% | 51 | 0 | 53% |
| 25 | Kalamazoo | 959 | +57% | 29 | 0 | 73% |
| 26 | Isabella | 958 | -5% | 25 | 0 | 71% |
| 27 | Van Buren | 932 | -1% | 40 | 0 | 63% |
| 28 | Branch | 812 | -17% | 16 | 0 | 70% |
| 29 | Mecosta | 805 | -1% | 8 | 0 | 51% |
| 30 | Macomb | 764 | +9% | 29 | 0 | 81% |
| 31 | Muskegon | 749 | +2% | 20 | 0 | 71% |
| 32 | Bay | 737 | +14% | 26 | 0 | 59% |
| 33 | Montcalm | 722 | -6% | 17 | 0 | 58% |
| 34 | Grand Traverse | 716 | -11% | 11 | 0 | 67% |
| 35 | Barry | 712 | -2% | 22 | 0 | 60% |
| 36 | Oceana | 706 | +7% | 21 | 0 | 63% |
| 37 | Wayne | 698 | +12% | 44 | 0 | 72% |
| 38 | Newaygo | 697 | -2% | 11 | 0 | 71% |
| 39 | Ionia | 631 | +5% | 26 | 1 | 59% |
| 40 | Mason | 612 | -6% | 11 | 0 | 61% |
| 41 | Monroe | 602 | +7% | 32 | 0 | 66% |
| 42 | Osceola | 580 | -5% | 12 | 0 | 50% |
| 43 | Cheboygan | 558 | -12% | 12 | 0 | 49% |
| 44 | Delta | 546 | +12% | 25 | 1 | 29% |
| 45 | Charlevoix | 542 | -16% | 6 | 0 | 58% |
| 46 | Emmet | 536 | -4% | 8 | 0 | 69% |
| 47 | Clare | 531 | +7% | 11 | 0 | 50% |
| 48 | Gladwin | 513 | +5% | 18 | 0 | 60% |
| 49 | Cass | 507 | -21% | 9 | 0 | 57% |
| 50 | Dickinson | 480 | 0% | 14 | 0 | 30% |
| 51 | Antrim | 473 | -17% | 6 | 1 | 51% |
| 52 | Arenac | 454 | 0% | 13 | 0 | 45% |
| 53 | Presque Isle | 453 | -14% | 3 | 0 | 49% |
| 54 | Ogemaw | 452 | -11% | 26 | 0 | 48% |
| 55 | Marquette | 432 | +3% | 21 | 0 | 40% |
| 56 | Alcona | 421 | +3% | 10 | 1 | 56% |
| 57 | Wexford | 420 | -20% | 15 | 0 | 40% |
| 58 | St. Joseph | 416 | -22% | 14 | 0 | 56% |
| 59 | Manistee | 409 | -29% | 6 | 0 | 51% |
| 60 | Missaukee | 400 | -8% | 7 | 0 | 66% |
| 61 | Leelanau | 396 | -15% | 8 | 0 | 53% |
| 62 | Iosco | 344 | +7% | 10 | 0 | 47% |
| 63 | Mackinac | 326 | +8% | 5 | 0 | 22% |
| 64 | Chippewa | 318 | -16% | 11 | 0 | 38% |
| 65 | Benzie | 301 | -6% | 3 | 0 | 48% |
| 66 | Crawford | 288 | -4% | 16 | 0 | 40% |
| 67 | Iron | 272 | +7% | 4 | 0 | 29% |
| 68 | Kalkaska | 263 | -15% | 1 | 1 | 56% |
| 69 | Alpena | 233 | -12% | 8 | 0 | 51% |
| 70 | Houghton | 227 | +1% | 4 | 0 | 31% |
| 71 | Roscommon | 220 | -22% | 6 | 0 | 45% |
| 72 | Otsego | 219 | -32% | 7 | 0 | 57% |
| 73 | Schoolcraft | 203 | -5% | 8 | 0 | 17% |
| 74 | Montmorency | 192 | -18% | 9 | 0 | 49% |
| 75 | Baraga | 183 | +21% | 2 | 0 | 27% |
| 76 | Ontonagon | 139 | -19% | 6 | 0 | 13% |
| 77 | Alger | 109 | +2% | 0 | 1 | 22% |
| 78 | Oscoda | 103 | -28% | 2 | 0 | 48% |
| 79 | Gogebic | 74 | -12% | 11 | 0 | 28% |
| 80 | Luce | 65 | -12% | 2 | 0 | 48% |
| 81 | Menominee | 56 | +40% | 7 | 0 | 27% |
| 82 | Lake | 36 | -80% | 3 | 0 | 53% |
| 83 | Keweenaw | 27 | 0% | 3 | 0 | 48% |
| Michigan | 58,271 | 0% | 1,724 | 13 | 62% |
Driving through deer season
Don't veer for deer
Brake firmly and stay in your lane. Swerving into oncoming traffic or a ditch is often worse than hitting the deer.
Where there's one, there are more
Deer travel in groups. After one crosses, slow down and watch for the next.
Slow down at dawn and dusk
Use high beams on empty roads and watch the shoulders, especially near woods, fields and water.
After a crash
Pull off if you can, turn on your hazards, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the car can't be driven. Don't go near an injured deer.
Questions
How many deer crashes are there in Michigan?
58,271 in 2025, about 160 a day. 13 people were killed and 1,724 injured, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts.
Which Michigan county has the most deer crashes?
Oakland County, with 2,259 in 2025, passing Kent County, which led in 2024. Kent County was next with 1,960.
What time of day do most deer crashes happen?
6 to 9 AM (14,127 crashes) and 6 to 9 PM (14,039): 48% of all deer crashes happen in those six hours. 53% happen on dark roads without street lights.
What month has the most deer crashes in Michigan?
November, with 9,821 in 2025, then October. Deer move most in the fall breeding season, and Michigan's firearm deer season opens November 15.
Does car insurance cover hitting a deer in Michigan?
Damage from hitting a deer is usually covered by the comprehensive part of an auto policy, not collision. Check your own policy or ask your agent.
Where does this data come from?
Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, published by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, from police crash reports for 2025. The county table is free to download as a CSV.
Source: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute), reported crashes in 2025 and 2024. Times of day exclude a few crashes with no time recorded. Compiled by Orbit SI; the CSV is free to use with credit (CC BY 4.0).