MARINETTE - With the bow hunting season underway and gun season coming up, authorities are warning drivers about potential car-deer crashes.

The Mayou family of Marinette got a scary lesson first-hand as a deer crashed through their daughter Alixx's windshield on her way to school. She suffered only minor cuts. The gallery at the left includes photos of the crash.

The DNR says October and November are the peak months for deer-vehicle crashes because of the breeding season.

There has been a steady decrease in reported crashes since 2004, where there were 48,316 deer carcasses removed. That was down to 28,374 in 2009.

• WisDOT Fact Sheet: Motor Vehicle-Deer Crashes in 2009 (.pdf)

Authorities say slowing down driving speeds and anticipating that you will see deer are the best way to avoid crashes. However, they say if it is unavoidable, it is best to avoid the temptation to swerve and hit the deer head-on, as it is likely to avoid a secondary crash.

The gun-deer season begins Nov. 15 in Michigan and Nov. 20 in Wisconsin.