SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Local auto body shops are reporting a surge in deer-related vehicle damage as the animals’ mating season reaches its peak across the Ozarks region.

Aaron Bruton, vice president of Hammer’s Autoworks in Springfield, said the shop is staying busy as deer mating season continues.

“From now until really kind of January, this is what we would consider our peak season,” Bruton said.

Only a month into deer mating season, Bruton has seen numerous vehicles come in for repairs after striking deer. Recent cases include a Lincoln Navigator owned by an Illinois family traveling to Branson and a Kia Sportage with fewer than 20,000 miles.

“That particular repair could easily get to $20,000 just depending on the depth once it’s torn apart,” Bruton said of the Navigator damage.

The

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