With most deer-vehicle collisions taking place in rural Ireland, farmers, rural dwellers and all road users are being urged to be vigilant between dawn and dusk at this time of year when deer are at their most active.

Damien Hannigan of the Irish Deer Commission said: "In our forests and across our mountains, tensions are rising as the rutting or deer breeding season gets under way, the time of the year when male deer are driven by an urge to reproduce.

From late September until early November, the clash of antlers will be heard as males show off their virility to potential mates.

Like gladiators entering an arena, they parade around, showing off their armoury of antlers.

"While the rut is an amazing experience to witness, it is also a time when there is an increased incident of road traffic accidents involving deer as male deer go in search of females and younger males are ousted by dominant males forcing deer to cross public roads and motorways," Hannigan explained.

"One of the behaviours during the rutting season is for the dominant male deer to gather a large group of females from the surrounding area to breed with, so farmers may see large groups of deer in areas where they are not normally seen, if their farm is an area a male deer gathers females," the Irish Deer Commission spokesperson said.

"While wild deer are a flight risk, testosterone levels increase significantly in mature male deer and they become intolerant of other male deer and unpredictable," he said.

He advised farmers and others who live in rural Ireland to always maintain a minimum safe distance of 50m if they encounter wild male deer on their lands.

"Only male deer have antlers and normally the larger the antlers, the more mature the deer is and likely to be involved in the rut," Hannigan added.

Drivers in high risk areas should reduce speed where they see a warning sign and stay alert, according to the Irish Deer Commission.

It advised drivers to "prepare to stop".

"Never swerve as you could hit another obstacle or oncoming vehicle," it said.

When you see a deer, dip your headlights as the full beam may cause the deer to freeze.

If a deer has crossed in front of your vehicle, be aware that others may follow. Do not approach an injured deer, the commission said.

If you are involved in a road traffic accident involving deer or come across a deer that has been involved in a road traffic accident, immediately contact the local gardaí.

The Irish Deer Commission said it operates a humane deer dispatch scheme, "with 160 trained volunteers assisting agencies and charities dealing with an increasing number of deer-vehicle collisions on our roads".