Minnesota drivers have a nearly 1-in-80 chance of hitting a deer in the next year, making this the eighth-mostlikely state for such collisions. Minnesota actually dropped from sixth to eighth in the last year, falling behind Wisconsin, which stayed at No. 7.

The statistics come from an analysis prepared by the State Farm insurance company using Federal Highway Administration data.

South Dakota moved from third to second on the list with 1-in-68 odds. Iowa dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 with 1-in-71.9 chances. West Virginia was No. 1 with odds of 1 in 40.

The insurer offered some tips to avoid deer:

•They travel in herds. If you see one deer, watch for more.

•Be extra vigilant from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., prime time for deer crashes.

•Pay attention to deer crossing signs.

•Use high-beam brights in deer areas.

•If a crash is inevitable, don't swerve. You might hit a moving car head-on, which would be worse in most cases.