Ruby Reed lives on State Route 40 in Zanesville and sees deer on the road on a regular basis.

"One time I had hoof prints on the top of my car, it leaped on top and jumped to the other side," said Reed.

Reed said living in this part of the state, you just come to expect them. She sees three or four each morning before work.

"When the mating season starts, the deer are more active," said Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz.

Lutz said the animals frequently jump out of the woods and onto the roads.

"They're running out in front of cruisers and damaging cruisers, too," said Lutz.

Lutz said some of his deputies have already been involved in deer crashes, and the department has dealt with minor damage costs.

"We have been contemplating push bars on the front. They wrap around the grill so when you do hit the deer it doesn't do damage to the car," he said.

According to the Ohio Insurance Institute, there were 24,590 car crashes involving deer last year. Here are the top five counties: Summit County had the most crashes with 601, then Hamilton and Richland counties both having 592, Stark County had 536 and Williams county had 523. For a complete list visit the Ohio Insurance Institute.

Drivers aren't the only ones that need to be on the lookout. Airports also have deer problems.

"You'll see deer walking across the runway.  There have been a few aborted landings due to deer too," said Elizabeth Swingle, a pilot at Zanesville Aviation.

Pilots need to keep a sharp eye, just like driver, "I'm real cautious, I mean you gotta be."

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