How Likely You Are to Hit a Deer Driving in Minnesota?

We may be known for our 10,000 lakes here in Minnesota, but we're also known for being home to a lot of deer. So, how likely is it to get into a car/deer collision here in the Bold North?

How Likely Are Minnesota Drivers to Hit a Deer?

Sadly, just about every Minnesotan seems to have a story about hitting a deer while driving, right? In fact, I once hit a deer driving home from my parents' house on a late Christmas Eve, though, in fairness, that was back in Wisconsin. (And no, he didn't have a red nose.)

It makes sense, though, seeing as the size of the deer herd in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is estimated to be around 1 million, according to data from World Population Review's Deer Population By State report. It's even higher behind the Cheddar Curtain over in America's Dairyland, where the herd is estimated at around 1.6 million in 2026.

SEE ALSO: Rochester Drivers Just Got Some Good News at the Gas Pump

Insurance company State Farm publishes a report on car/deer collisions each year around this time, since the likelihood of hitting a deer with your vehicle is higher between October and December. State Farm's report says that, on average, drivers have a 1 in 145 chance of a collision with an animal, and notes that there were over 1.6 million animal collision insurance claims in the U.S. between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

But here in Minnesota, your chances of hitting a deer are much higher than the national average. State Farm says that drivers in the North Star State have a 1 in 91 chance of getting into a collision with a deer this year. That puts Bold North at #12 among the states where a car/deer crash is most likely.

Get our free mobile app

Wisconsin is even higher, coming in at #3 on the survey, with chances of hitting a deer at 1 in 62. West Virginia is the state where car/deer crashes are the most likely again this year, with odds at just 1 in 46.

Minnesota Ranks Among the 12 States Most Likely to Have a Deer Crash

Specifically, here are the states where a car/deer collision is most likely to happen in 2026, according to State Farm:

1. West Virginia – 1 in 46
2. Montana – 1 in 54
3. Wisconsin – 1 in 62
4. Pennsylvania – 1 in 64
5. Michigan – 1 in 68
6. Iowa – 1 in 81
7. Mississippi – 1 in 81
8. Virginia – 1 in 81
9. Maine – 1 in 85
10. South Dakota – 1 in 86
11. Kansas – 1 in 89
12. Minnesota – 1 in 91

Which Minnesota Counties Have the Most Deer-Vehicle Collisions?