I was somewhat surprised a few years back, while in Wisconsin, to learn that nearly one-third of all bodywork done in auto shops there involved deer-vehicle collisions.

The average bill was upward of $3,000 to $4,000 per vehicle, with direct encounters sometimes costing much more. I bring this up because last this week I got notice that a Missouri lawmaker has presented a bill that would pay owners of motor vehicles $250 should they encounter a deer on a roadway.

What concerns me is the money to pay for unscheduled meetings would come from Missouri's Department of Conservation, which here in Utah is the Department of Wildlife Resources.

Otherwise, sportsmen, out of their license fees, would be asked to pay the tab.

Here in Utah it is estimated that upward of 10,000 deer are hit by vehicles and killed annually. Some believe this number to be considerably higher, that not all collisions are counted and, in some cases, injured deer run off, out of sight, and die. It also does not include bumps and small dents to vehicles from more casual contact.

A similar bill, if passed here, would mean sportsmen would have to pay at least $2.5 million, which would be money that could not be used for wildlife management.

My guess is the total would be much higher. Who's to know if that dent in the fender was caused by a wandering buck or a garage door?

The Missouri law would require owners to provide "clear and convincing evidence" that the damage was caused by a collision with a deer and that the owner was legally operating the vehicle at the time of the accident.

And just how is that possible? Deer hair on the grill? A witness in the car? A shop owner's judgment? Or would it require the carcass of the deer be brought in as proof?

Missouri lists its deer count, bucks and does, at around 303,000, which is very close to Utah's population of around 287,000.

Why is it, please tell me, that every time there's a problem with wildlife, it becomes sportsmen's responsibility to pay? True, they are the main source of money needed to maintain stable deer herds, but this is something everyone wants, hunters and nonhunters alike.

Wildlife viewing is, after all, the most popular wildlife activity in America. Here's something novel: Put the financial burden on everyone who claims to love wildlife.

Deer on the roadways are a problem. Deer moving down into neighborhoods in the winter are a problem.

Then, of course, the question often arises on who's at fault in these accidents — deer or driver?

Deer carcasses — and occasionally those of moose and elk — are frequently seen in Parleys Canyon. The evidence is clear, and the solution is simple: Slow down and be cautious.

But drive up Parleys any night and count the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit, most traveling well over the limit and with lights on low beam.

When the widely used, yellow diamond-shaped panel with the leaping deer outlined in black appears alongside the road, slow down and be vigilant.

It's not up to sportsmen to subsidize drivers or insurance companies for deer/vehicle encounters, especially when safe driving is the responsibility of the driver and not deer or sportsmen.

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E-mail: grass@desnews.com