The number of highway collisions with wildlife – especially deer – is on the rise according to the province's insurance company, SGI. The current winter is expected to be especially deadly because more animals are on the move.

"It happens so quickly. It's just like somebody cutting you off or something like that," Jordan Goodlad told CBC News in describing his encounter with a deer on the road between Melfort and Saskatoon in March. "You almost don't realize it 'til it's done."

Goodlad was in a Saskatoon repair shop surveying the damage to his car and a repair estimate of $1,300.

Jordan Goodlad points out the damage on his car following a collision with a deer. CBCInsurance claims on collisions with wildlife cost SGI $48 million in 2010, when there were 13,733 hits.

Eight people died in those collisions and 376 suffered injuries.

More than ¾ of the total claims — 10,494 — were for accidents involving deer.

Preliminary figures for 2011 suggest the winter season will be one of the worst ever. There was heavy snow in many areas, forcing deer to roam further as they try to find food.

Deer on the move

Officials from Saskatchewan's environment ministry told CBC News that in addition to there being more deer on the move looking for food, the animals are also darting across highways to escape predators, especially coyotes.

The province has issued additional hunting licences to reduce deer numbers. In the last two seasons, hunters were authorized to target bucks and fawns in southern areas.

No decision has been made on what to do in the 2011 fall hunting season. The ministry may add hunting permits or lengthen the season.

At any given time, Saskatchewan is home to between 350,000 and 400,000 deer, although there's been no recent official count.

Messy problem

The Ministry of Highways & Infrastructure is responsible for cleaning up carcasses along highways. A spokesman told CBC News that if the dead animal is not in a driving lane, it will not be the highway crew's first priority.

The arrival of spring melt is also uncovering a lot of deer that were struck and thrown into ditches.