LAKE NORMAN, NC- Keep an eye out for deer! The population is up - and so are your chances of hitting one! North Carolina Wildlife reps say this season could be the worst yet.

They're expecting crashes to increase between now and December.

"It goes from one extreme to the other. You might have a fatality and you might just have a minor bump," said Master Officer Kyle Voris with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

From close calls to full impact, experts say mating season and cooler temperatures have deer out in full force.

Voris says their habitats are crowded.

"Sportsmens are just not utilizing the state's national resources and getting out there and hunting as much as they could and should be which I would encourage," said Voris.

rashes are most common between 5p.m. and 7a.m.

No matter the time of day, Voris suggest being extra cautious and purchasing deer whistles.

"They're very small and not very noticeable and they produce a sound that humans can't hear but deer can. That tends to scare the deer right off the roadway," said Voris.

Experts say it is better to hit the deer if you can't avoid it rather than loosing control of your vehicle and causing a bigger accident.

There's roughly 17,000 deer related crashes each year in North Carolina.

Since 2007, more than three thousand people were hurt and 17 were killed in the state.

Of 100 the counties in North Carolina - Mecklenburg ranks ninth for deer crashes.