Utah Snow!

Prism · Dec 29, 2003

Looks like it may turn out to be a hard winter afterall. Salt Lake just experienced its second largest December snow storm in recorded history. And old Lynn Randolph said this may end up being the second snowiest December in Utah's history.

Snowbird received over 70" of snow over the weekend!!!

The weather guys are saying we may add another 3' to 4' of snow in the mountains before Wednesday. Ontop of that it's getting pretty cold. Hard to say this early in the season, but if it keeps this up it may be pretty bad news for the critters.

The elk around Heber are already down to where I usually don't see them until late January. There are also quite a few deer down in the neighborhoods at night. Lets hope it warms up.

Tuffbucker · Dec 29, 2003

Its crazy how bad the snow has been. I have had a lot of deer and elk in the field behind my house. Unfortunately it has been whiteout conditions out here, so I cant get any pics!! Im suprised more animals havent been hit and killed yet!!!

NMRaptor · Dec 29, 2003

Send some of that down here to NM!!
-Raptor

AntlerKing · Dec 29, 2003

Went to feed my horses on Sunday, the road going into our sheds had drifted over. There was 19 1/2" at the sheds on Sunday, I'm sure there is 22-24" now. I almost buried my truck pulling out to the fields to feed them. Come tomorrow we will have 25-30" if the wind and snow keeps on going. With all the snow I haven't seen any deer or elk moving around, we sure need it. Hopefully it comes in moderation through out the winter, that's not happening now. I sure hope we get three days of sun to melt of some hill sides.

manny15 · Dec 29, 2003

Jees' I thought we had it bad, we just got 14" and they had to close the highway,....LOL.......I guess they (caltrans) can't deal with so much so soon..?..

Daxter · Dec 29, 2003

Just like clockwork about every ten years we have a huge snow year and it kills tons of deer; 82-83, 93-94, and now 03-04. Also just like clockwork the DWR tries to reach and changes the way they manage deer hunting in the state too little too late. After the 93-94 winter they broke stuff into the five limited regions, and I predict that after this winter they will implement the 25 unit system for the 05 hunting year.

Prism · Dec 29, 2003

There are a lot of people patting themselves on their backs these days about the "rebounding" Utah deer herds-the DWR and some conservation groups.

I don't doubt that they've helped, but mother nature has been the biggest help. Sure we had some isolated winter-kills but for the most part the entire west (especially Utah) has been pretty lucky the last 10 years.

We need the moisture, but if we end up with another 82/83 or even a 92/93 we'll have to start hunting whitetails with the Team Realtree bubbas in Alabama.

PleaseDear · Dec 29, 2003

I'm really worried about big time deer die off from all this super deep snowfall. The elk will start having major problems too. We need the moisture for sure but I wish it would warm up enough to give them some areas to feed in and not have floods.

RuttCrazed · Dec 30, 2003

Seems like our deer just don't have a chance. Either they are dying because of the drought or they are dying because of a heavy winter.
Daxter,
The 25 region hunt had already been discussed as being implemented for 2005. There was talk about it for 2004, but there was already a 2 year proclamation in place.

Rut

Tuffbucker · Dec 30, 2003

Okay.....now its just getting ridiculous. We need the snow, but in moderation!! The news forcasts storms in NOrthern Utah almost everyday for the next week!! Hopefully things will tone down a little bit after this, or the herds will be in some serious trouble!!