As the seasons change, so do the habits of deer-which could be problematic for drivers.

During this time of year, deer are found near roads more often, which can lead to their demise or serious injury of drivers and passengers.

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott has the answer to why this happens.

“During the fall and winter months, harvesting is going on in rural areas like DeKalb County,” Scott said.

Scott said with the crops being harvested, deer end up being pushed to more wooded areas searching for food.

Near these wooded areas are roads where they become “deer caught in headlights.”

Scott said deer mating season also attributes for deer becoming more noticeable by drivers.

In the last two weeks, there have already been nine deer-related car accidents in DeKalb County, Scott said.

Depending on where the deer impacts with the vehicle, serious damage can be caused.

“A lot of the time deer run into the side of a car not causing too much damage,” Scott said. “If deer are hit from the front of the vehicle, then more significant damage is caused.”

In some circumstances Scott said accidents occur when a driver tries to avoid hitting the deer, and they end up either going into a ditch or sometimes strike another vehicle.

“The mix of darkness and bad weather adds to even more problems,” Scott said.

Hitting a deer can help some drivers plan out their dinner.

Those who want to keep the deer have to notify the Department of Natural Resources , Scott said.

“If someone has a background with hunting they’ll take the deer with them and later have it butchered,” Scott said. “A non-hunting person is someone who wouldn’t do that.”