It’s Wine Country here, but it’s also Deer Country. And it’s this time of year – deer mating season — that the CHP says drivers need to be particularly alert for deer darting out onto roads, especially along rural roads.

“I hit a deer while rolling code (3) at about 90 miles per hour,” CHP Officer Len Johnson of the Garberville office said, recalling the nighttime encounter.

His patrol car collided with the deer at the left headlight, smashing the light and flipping the deer the left side of the cruiser, causing other damage, the 13-year CHP veteran said.

Johnson said if a deer appears ahead of you, brake firmly but don’t swerve to try to avoid the deer or to try to hit it at the corner of your car, as some people believe is best. He said he’s been to too many rollover crashes where the drivers swerved and lost control. It’s better to hit the deer.

As for some drivers’ fears that if they hit the deer head on, it’ll flip up over the hood and into the windshield, Johnson said he’s never seen that. He said if a driver hit an elk, it might flip up or if the car was small with a slopping front.

If you hit a deer, CHP Officer Randy England of the Ukiah office said you must report the accident if it caused $750 or more in damage to your car, damaged someone else’s property or anyone was injured. He also noted deer collisions happen year round in Mendocino County, not just during mating season.

If the deer is blocking the road, call 911 but don’t touch the animal.

In a list of tips for drivers, the CHP also advises:

–Be particularly attentive between sunset and midnight, during the hours shortly before and after sunrise, and in foggy conditions. Most deer-vehicle collisions occur during those times.

–Drive carefully in areas known to have high deer populations. Places where roads divide agricultural fields or streams from forestland are particularly dangerous.

–If you see a deer, slow down. Others are probably nearby.

–Use high-beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams can reflect off a deer’s eyes and warn you of its presence.

–Don’t rely on deer whistles, deer fences or reflectors to deter deer.