That makes sense. I once hit a deer on a dark deserted road the night before Thanksgiving. Because I didn't see it until I hit it, I didn't have time to even brake. In my case, my hood flew up and broke my windshield and I had a most difficult time stopping since I couldn't see. But had I seen the animal before I hit, it would have been easy to brake and swerve and then run off the road.
The hood probably saved your life; I've seen way too many people killed when the deer came through the windshield.
I am across the street from our lake and the woods are behind me, so I see them all the time crossing to get water; I am VERY careful here, but I forget once I get off these streets.
I have heard people saying that they are really bad this year, but I think they say that every year, don't they?
There is a saying about deer...
When you see one you better watch for the next couple because those are the ones you could hit...
Early morning is a prime time for deer to be grazing near the highway, etc...