As deer get ready for mating season, mechanics and body shops are getting ready for their most active season as well.

"We've had 13 deer hits this week that we've had to write estimates for,” says Steve Lauer of Abra Auto Body and Glass in Altoona.

Lauer says damage can be close to $10 thousand or more depending on how hard the car hits the deer.

“It looks like the deer hit direct center which of course took out all of your radiator and condenser and transmission coolers and stuff like that,” says Lauer, describing damage to one of the many vehicles in the shop Saturday morning. “And of course, it has to be towed then."

Overall Lauer says business has been booming this year in comparison to last.

"It seems like people are tending to fix the things lately," says Lauer.

He says it could be do to the economy starting to get better but also due to a more active deer season.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says nearly 25 percent of all deer and car crashes happen in November.

“A lot of times there's nothing you can do about it, and all you can do is drive safely and be careful and aware and use your brights as much as possible at night,” says Lauer.

Lauer says if you do hit a deer, it's safer to stop and make sure you can continue on.

“Pull over and see what kind of damage. If it's drivable and even if you suspect that it may not be drivable, go ahead and get help," says Lauer.

The DOT says more than 16 thousand car versus deer crashes happened in Wisconsin in 2008.