NATCHEZ &8212; As hunting season approaches Miss-Lou law enforcement and insurance agencies warn drivers to watch out for deer when traveling.

Adams County Sheriff Ronny Brown said on average the station responds to two to three calls involving auto accidents with deer.

&8220;It&8217;s typical for us to get these calls from this time of year until March,&8221; Brown said.

Brown said his officers have also been involved in accidents involving deer in the past.

&8220;Last year I was the only one who hit one,&8221; Brown said.

&8220;Two years ago we had five patrol cars hit.&8221;

According to a press release from State Farm Insurance Company 3,243 deer collision claims have been reported this year. A six percent increase from 2005.

&8220;The average property damage was $2,800 per vehicle,&8221; Public Affairs Specialist David Majors said.

Owner of Byrne Hicks Insurance Agency Johnny Byrne said he thinks deer accidents are more common during the hunting season more people enter the woods, disturbing the deer in their habitat and because temperatures are colder and the deer need to keep moving to keep warm.

Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Office Chief Investigator Dennis Cowan said most of the deer collisions CPSO encounters happen on rural roads in the parish.

&8220;We&8217;ve also had a few on the major highways like 84 and 65,&8221; Cowan said.

Many of the accidents, Cowan said, occur near places where farmers have placed land in Wetland Reserve and Conservation Reserve programs.

&8220;A lot of the property is near the road and overgrown with brush and trees so you don&8217;t see the deer next to the road until it&8217;s too late,&8221; Cowan said.

Cowan said most of the calls his office receives are at night.

&8220;Everybody just needs to be careful and be looking for the gleam of their headlights in that deer&8217;s eyes,&8221; Cowan said.