Weird Winter and Antler Growth

HullinPhx · Feb 23, 2015

I know it has been debated 100000 times on this site and others but I am really confused what is going to happen this year in the AZ high country ( Around Flagstaff )..

So over the Christmas break there was a lot of snow everywhere, it did not last that long as it was pretty wet snow. Then nothing for the last 2 months and even some 60 degree days in there. Now Flagstaff is getting hit hard again not as big as as it was in December but still a heavy wet snow.

So what if any impact on antler growth will this goofy weather have on the elk and deer?

I am leaning towards the side of this is a really really good thing as I believe that the elk and deer were able to maintain a nice layer of fat all winter since it was not a very hard one. Now all of the nutrition's they get this spring will go directly to growing big antlers and not replenishing their fat they burned off over the winter.

I could be totally 100% wrong in that and I really dont have any historical information to go off of since this winter has been nothing like I have ever seen..

brian390 · Feb 23, 2015

So far in Flagstaff this year since September 1st, it has seen 10.16 inches of precipitation, and the average is 11.40 inches. So right now Flag is -1.24 inches from average, and last year at this time Flag had 7.40 inches of precipitation. So we are above last year in precipitation. For snowfall since July 1st, Flag has seen 30.8 inches, and the average is 69.2 inches. So Flag this year is 38.4 inches of snow below average. Last year at this time Flag had 33.5 inches of snowfall. So Flag is doing better than last year in precipitation but worse in snowfall. But I don't think these numbers are including the snow and precipitation from this current snowstorm. Next weekend they're predicting a significant storm so we will see if that happens. I think that it should be pretty decent antler growth especially if we get some more good storms.

seldom · Feb 23, 2015

>I know it has been debated
>100000 times on this site
>and others but I am
>really confused what is going
>to happen this year in
>the AZ high country (
>Around Flagstaff )..
>
>So over the Christmas break there
>was a lot of snow
>everywhere, it did not last
>that long as it was
>pretty wet snow. Then
>nothing for the last 2
>months and even some 60
>degree days in there.
>Now Flagstaff is getting hit
>hard again not as big
>as as it was in
>December but still a heavy
>wet snow.
>
>So what if any impact on
>antler growth will this goofy
>weather have on the elk
>and deer?
>
>I am leaning towards the side
>of this is a really
>really good thing as I
>believe that the elk and
>deer were able to maintain
>a nice layer of fat
>all winter since it was
>not a very hard one.
>Now all of the nutrition's
>they get this spring will
>go directly to growing big
>antlers and not replenishing their
>fat they burned off over
>the winter.
>
>I could be totally 100% wrong
>in that and I really
>dont have any historical information
>to go off of since
>this winter has been nothing
>like I have ever seen..
>
>
>

Not much snow but lots of rain,antler growth will be good for 95 percent of the hunters.

AZ4life · Feb 23, 2015

According to national weather service history maps, it has been a pretty average year in elk country for most of the state. I live in Kingman, and it sure would seem to me that we have received much more winter rain than normal. But the maps say we are right at average. I guess maybe many of us have gotten so used to recent "drought" conditions that a true historic AVERAGE year seems like a GREAT rain year

HullinPhx · Feb 24, 2015

I understand what everybody is saying regarding the amount of snow fall and rain year to date.. what I am talking about is the fact that there was almost of no precipitation for two months and there was 60 degree days on Jan and Feb.. that is unknown factor is this equation..

John

AZMIGHTYMULIES · Feb 24, 2015

According to Arizona's Department of Hydrology , the last Storm ( 01/31/15 ) made this past January the 3rd Wettest January on Record for most of Arizona , but really specifically for Northern Arizona .
This latest storm , between Sunday and yesterday the NPS for the Grand Canyon is reporting 18-24 inches of snow on the AZ Strip and Kaibab . This latest storm makes for the 13th Day of Storms since 11-15-15 .
So, so far the way things are looking , 2015 is looking to be a great Antler Growth year!
What also helps is last Summer due to the amount of precipitation received, there is a lot of New habitat growth and this great precipitation we've been receiving is sustaining that Habitat Growth which will result to great Antler Growth !!

seldom · Feb 24, 2015

>I understand what everybody is saying
>regarding the amount of snow
>fall and rain year to
>date.. what I am talking
>about is the fact that
>there was almost of no
>precipitation for two months and
>there was 60 degree days
>on Jan and Feb.. that
>is unknown factor is this
>equation..
>
>John

I am confused where you heard we had no precep for 2 months we didn't get the snow but had 3 rain storms one if it was cold enough would have brought 18 inches of snow we are lacking snow but not mousture.

AZ8 · Feb 24, 2015

If March turns wet: watch out! People will be praying for a tag!

sirroyal · Mar 1, 2015

Its wet! Real Wet! This is the year to draw a tag friends!

SirRoyal
It's a Paradox , Unbelievable but
true!

AZMIGHTYMULIES · Mar 1, 2015

For this time of year, this is the wettest I've seen on the AZ Strip since this time in 2011 . Went out there yesterday and glad I brought extra Fuel , while being in 4Low and getting stuck twice in the nastiest spots sucked up a ton of gas . The Higher Elevations such as Black Rock , Mt .Logan , Mt Trumbull , Hudson Point , could have by now 3' of snow with todays storm . That snow could last over a couple months easily .

sirroyal · Mar 2, 2015

AZMIGHTYMULIES Thank you for the reports about the Strip! That's awesome news!

SirRoyal
It's a Paradox , Unbelievable but
true!

AZMIGHTYMULIES · Mar 2, 2015

According to Doppler Radar , things may be tapering off for the AZ Strip now . So, updates for different parts of the AZ Strip region . BlackRock MT , 32.24" of new snow along with .68" of Rain . The rain accumulation alone is within the last 24hrs .
Tweeds Point , 27" of New snow , and the rain alone within 24Hrs is .22" . Hudson point or Last Chance Canyon 29" of New snow and then rain within 24Hrs is 1.09" .
Yellow John or Mt .Dellanbaugh , 37" of New Snow and Rain in 24 Hrs is .86" .
Mt Trumbull is 41" of New snow and rain in last 24 hrs is .54" .
According to the Rangemanagement Specialist , and the Website readings , due to the severe storm Cells there were a series of times it rained then transitioned to snow . There are a few tools and ways precipitation data is collected . Tubes are used to collect rain precipitation . Snow is analyzed by depth and weight readings .
This is why I provided both rain and snow data .
Also what I've learned is any snow accumulation that gets melted goes into different tubes and is analyzed every Quarter (every 3 months) for better reliable Hydrology data.
All in all, the region is saturated and will be for a long time !!!! and I hope I draw 13b Tag this season

brian390 · Mar 2, 2015

Yeah, the strip got hammered last night. For the Flagstaff area as of 6pm today here are some updates. Since September 1st this year Flag has gotten 15.70 inches of precipitation and the average is 12.03 inches. So Flagstaff is 3.67 inches of precipitation above average. Last year at this time Flag was at 8.84 inches of precipitation. Since September 1st this year Flag has now gotten 53.8 inches of snow and the average is 74.7 inches. Last year Flag had 34.6 inches of snow at this same time.