Fall is the time of year that you need to be more vigilant while driving because it is peak deer activity season.

  “Motorists should be alert and pay close attention to roadsides as we are nearing the annual peak time of year for deer movement,” said Charlie Killmaster, (honest, that’s his name!) state deer biologist with DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division. “Keep in mind that deer often travel in groups, so if a deer crosses the road ahead of you there is a good chance that another will follow. In many cases, that second deer is the one hit as the driver assumes the danger has passed and fails to slow down.”

  There are two main reasons why drivers may see more deer along roads in the fall:

  Mating Season – Deer mating season occurs between October and late December, depending on location. Male deer go into “rut” and begin actively searching for mates. This behavior results in an increase in deer movement, bringing them across roadways.

  Time Changes – As we begin to “fall back” for daylight saving time, rush hour for most commuters tends to fall during the same hours in which white-tailed deer are most active, dawn and dusk.

  Following are some tips and information to help avoid potential collisions:

  Deer Are Unpredictable: Always remember deer are wild and, therefore, can be unpredictable. A deer calmly standing on the side of a road may bolt into or across the road rather than away from it when startled by a vehicle.

  One Deer Usually Means More: Always take caution and slow down when a deer crosses the road in front of you. Deer usually travel in groups, so it is likely that others will follow.

  Time of Day: As deer are most active at dawn and dusk, they are typically seen along roads during the early morning and late evening, the same times most people are commuting to and from work.

  Time of Year: While deer-car collisions can occur at any time of year, the fall breeding season is a peak time for such accidents. During the fall breeding season, deer movement increases and this often brings them in contact with roadways that cross their natural habitats. Road shoulders generally provide beneficial food plants both during extremely dry times of the year and following a long, hard winter. Deer are attracted to these plants in late-winter, early spring and late summer.

  Georgia’s deer rut map (GeorgiaWildlife.com/rut-map) is an excellent tool for motorists to determine local peaks in deer movement. Drivers should be especially wary of deer during these time periods.

  Minimize Damage: If it is too late to avoid a collision, drivers are advised to slow down as much as possible to minimize damage. Resist the urge to swerve to avoid the deer, as this may cause further damage, sending drivers off the road or causing a collision with another vehicle.

  When you’re out on a hunting adventure not only should you know some basic first aid you need to know the warning signs of someone having a stroke or a heart attack. Here are some things to look for. It could save someone’s life or your own.

  For a stroke just remember F.A.S.T. What does that stand for?

  F – Face drooping. Does one side of the person’s face droop or numb? Do they smile evenly?
  A – Arm weakness. Is one of their arms weak or numb? Have them raise their arms. Does one drift downward?
  S – Speech. Is their speech slurred? Can they speak or are they hard to understand? Have them repeat a simple phrase like “The grass is green.” Do they repeat it correctly?
  T – Time to get help. Call 911 and tell them “I think my friend is having a stroke”. The quicker they get help the better off they will be.

  A few warning signs of a heart attack include:

  Discomfort in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes. It could go away and come back. The pain can feel like something is squeezing your chest or putting pressure on it.

 You could have pain or discomfort in other parts of the upper body. In addition to pain in the chest you may have pain in one or both arms, the neck, back, stomach or jaw.

  If all the above wasn’t enough you may experience shortness of breath. It may occur with or without chest pain.

  And lastly you could break out into a cold sweat, experience nausea or get lightheaded.

 So stay alert if you or one of your buddies experiences any of the above symptoms. Don’t worry about being macho or looking like a fool. It’s better to error on the side of caution and get help immediately! You want to be around for the next hunting season.

 Thanks to the American Heart Association for some of this information.

  I believe Nature does not seem to have any hurdles it cannot conquer. For mega-millions or billions of years Nature has gone over, around, under and through any hurdle it has encountered. I believe Nature does not waste time looking back, it just keeps going forward.

  I have noticed that some people have a tendency to build hurdles that are really not there with words like “what if”, “it could be”, “in the past”, etc.. I wonder what it would be like if we learned from Nature to cross the hurdles as they are given us and keep going forward. We would have more time to think about the hurdle we have rather than the one that might be. Devote more time to the actual hurdle and go forward.

  Would we have a simpler life, one with more direction and be better at handling the hurdle we are faced with? I believe we would all be happier.

  Once again, look, listen and learn from Nature. Face only the hurdles you are dealt with, not the ones that might be. Nature is a great teacher if we take the time to learn from it. Don’t build things in, don’t live in the past!

  I don’t believe this Alaskan Bear is concerned about the downed tree. He is just stepping over the hurdle and going on his way.