The majestic appearance and noble countenance of whitetail deer might be one of the most awe-inspiring sights in nature — especially when you spot them through the cross hairs of a high-powered rifle.

Not everybody in Northwest Missouri hunts deer in November, although it might seem that way. There are some, myself included, who sit out deer season and just cheer for hunters’ success.

In today’s newspaper, you’ll find a story by Ray Scherer about how deer are posing a danger this spring. Troopers and transportation officials say the animals are on the move and June is a busy month for deer collisions.

It’s true.

Drive down a highway and you stand a good chance of seeing a deer carcass strewn along the shoulder. Live in this area long enough and you’ll either meet someone whose vehicle was smashed in a deer collision or experience it first-hand. Last week, a colleague was traveling home to St. Joseph from Bethany, Mo., and had to swerve twice to avoid hitting one.

When deer run rampant, they are a huge nuisance. They cause accidents, damage crops and ruin the landscape.

That’s why the deer population needs to be controlled. And since there are no wolves or wildcats in Missouri these days, the only way to moderate the animal’s population is through hunting. Ramming them with a speeding semi (“Death by Peterbilt”) just isn’t a feasible deer-management method.

The numbers say this could be a bad year for deer-car accidents.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Web site, the number of deer killed during Missouri’s firearm season last year was the second lowest total in 10 years. Hunters killed 200,679 deer last fall. That’s the lowest total in this century. In 2006, for instance, hunters harvested 235,054.

The problem is that fewer deer killed last year means more of them will wander out on traveled highways this year. It also means more offspring — deer can be prodigious reproducers — and when the fawns cross the road, it will get crowded out there.

The worst times of the day are dawn and dusk. Deer are on the move, and drivers may not be able to see all that well.

Some drivers think they’re safe because they have those plastic “deer whistles” mounted on their bumper or grill. Supposedly, the contraptions emit a high-pitched sound that only deer and other animals can hear. The sound alerts them and they flee. But opinions vary as to their effectiveness. Some drivers swear they work; others dispute that and say if they were effective, every vehicle would have them.

Nobody seems to give much credence to my theory: The whistles do work. Deer hear them clearly, but choose to ignore the warning.

Regardless, the best way to avoid colliding with a deer is to just be alert while you’re driving, especially during those peak times and particularly on two-lane highways and county roads. Deer seem to avoid interstates.

Also, deer have become a city problem. More deer are hanging around town because hunting is generally banned within the city limits.

Remember also that deer often travel in groups. So, while you might get clear of a buck crossing the road, he can have does or fawns following him that you can’t see yet.

Sometimes, there’s just no way to avoid hitting a deer. They spook easy and can be unpredictable. Deer accidents also can be fatal (in fact, they almost always are for the deer). So just be careful out on the highways.

Maybe hunters will have better luck this fall and the highways will be a little less crowded with critters next year.

Steve Booher’s column runs on Monday. He can be reached at steveb@npgco.com.