Illinoisian here

I used to enjoy hiking a lot when I was younger. I’d just go wherever. Private property. Sometimes reservations or parks but just wherever.

And I would occasionally come across some deer. Majestic animals. Also the bucks are huge.

I mean. I don’t think people realize how big these animals are. Pure muscle.

They aren’t as big as a horse but not that much smaller. Like a little smaller than caribou.

I was always scared of the bucks.

In the winter (mating season and hunting season), they do get pretty territorial. And I had heard of urban legend stories that they would attack women on their period. Idk if that’s true but if one of them took a run at you, yeah they would fuck you up. Impale you. Stomp you.

They got cute faces but just avoid them. Especially in the winter.

It’s like our version of a smaller moose.

Idk if this statistics includes attacks only or car accidents.

They certainly cause a lot of fatal car accidents in the rural areas too.