Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
including cars and agricultural losses, at over $100 million per year. Thankfully, less
than 2 percent of car-deer crashes result in human fatality.
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
If you're driving in Wisconsin, face the fact that at some point you're going to meet
a deer on a highway. October and November are the worst months statistically, but
May and June are pretty bad, too. April-August, crashes happen mostly after 8pm.
The rest of the year, they typically occur 5pm-7pm. Deer, like any wildlife, are most
active around dawn and dusk, but they are active day and night. Most crashes oc-
cur on dry roads on mostly clear days. And the old adage about their freezing in the
headlights is absolutely true. The best thing you can do is pay close attention, don't
speed, and keep an intelligent stopping distance between you and the next car. Use
your peripheral vision, and if you see one deer, expect more. If one appears,
do not
swerve or slam on the brakes,
evenifthis,sadly,meansrunningthroughthedeer.All
experts agree this only causes much more danger to you and other motorists.
State parks and forests require a vehicle access sticker,which youcan buydaily ($7res-
ident, $10 nonresident) or annually ($25 resident, $35 nonresident).
Inadditiontothatfee,Wisconsin'smammothmultiuse
trail system
isalsoundertheDe-
partmentofNaturalResources,anda
trail pass
(residents$4daily,$20annually)isneeded;
note that some trails are not state trails, but county trails, and you'll need a different pass.
Hikers do not need to pay; only those using bikes, horses, skis, or ATVs do.
The Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
(DNR, 608/266-2181,
www.dnr.wi.gov
)
is an invaluable source of information on state lands and environmental
issues.
