Nov 17, 2013 3 min read

In case you haven’t noticed – and if you haven’t, you aren’t paying attention – there are a lot of dead deer along the berms and in the medians of the local highways.

The deer are in their full rut right now, making them more careless and mobile than ever. Add in some careless drivers, and you have the potential for disaster.

Just last month, a driver in northeastern Pennsylvania was killed when a deer he struck with his SUV went up over his hood, through his windshield and killed him.

According to the estimates from one large insurance company – who would know better? – there were about 115,000 auto-deer collisions in Pennsylvania in the past year. That’s a lot of dead deer and a lot of potential for more fatalities.

Deer are most active at dusk and dawn. But at this time of year, you can expect to see them at just about any time of night, when they are most active.

It’s best to slow down, take notice of your surroundings and use your high beams when possible. Also make note of areas where you have seen deer in the past. There’s a good chance you’ll see them there again.

The life you save might not just be that of a deer, it might be your own.

There are times when deer-car accidents can’t be avoided. But being just a little more cautious, especially at this time of year, certainly doesn’t hurt.

• A month into the Pittsburgh & Suburban Rifle League season, the Frazier-Simplex Rifle Club and Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club stand tied atop the league standings with 4-0 records.

The two Washington County teams meet Wednesday at Dormont-Mt. Lebanon’s range to see which team will take an early lead in the standings.

Both assured that last Wednesday night with Frazier-Simplex beating the Allegheny County Rifle Club of Millvale, 1,478-1,425, and Dormont-Mt. Lebanon topping Green Valley, 1,474-1,454.

Zac Szabo (299), John Husk (298), Cyril Walther (294), Morgan Duerr (294) and Jim Husk (293) shot for Frazier-Simplex.

Tom Benedict (297), Dean Trew (295), Tom Gerner (295), Nicholle Benedict (294) and Amy Smith (293) were Dormont-Mt. Lebanon’s shooters.

Szabo was the high individual shooter for the week, while Benedict and Duerr tied for the ladies’ lead. Jim Husk was high senior shooter for the week.

Given the scores of both their early matches this season, Wednesday’s match should be a close one.

• If you were hoping to wait and purchase a doe license for Wildlife Management Unit 2-A, which includes all of Greene and most of Washington counties, you’re out of luck. All 49,000 licenses have now been sold.

At this point, 18,140 licenses remain for WMU 2-B, which includes the northeast corner of Washington County.

Outdoors Editor F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.