Gunnison area winter kill?

[adamwipp07]

Ive heard from some people that this winter has been ruff on the elk and deer population in the gunnison area? Wondering if there is any truth to this, and if I should be worried about hunting there this year?How has the rest of colorados winter been?

 

[Zim]

I saw a season snowfall report that I think showed a 15% above average total so far.

 

[Waygoner]

Snowpack in the high country is above average, but the wintering grounds lower didn't get as much snow. Deer and elk should come through the winter fine.

 

[Kayak_to_hunt]

IMO while this may not (fingers crossed) be as bad as the 07-08 winter it has been still a very hard winter for the gunnison basin animals. We had a ton of snow early and some area's around crested butte spent most of the winter above 135% - 140% of normal snowpack.. Some of the wintering grounds have not seen the snow of 07 - 08 while others have been hit hard with snow.

Just to put it into perspective from 2000 - 2007 the gunnison units were 2nd in colorado for mule deer book entries and since the winter of 2007 there have been 0 book entries for the gunnison basin. They just have not recovered to the same level of pre 2007.. Fair to say that this winter will not help the deer pop any...

I live in the area and love to hunt these units but I am going to look a bit further to the east this year at a 0 point unit and wait for the gunnison units to rebound.

 

[Magnummatt]

I would hear what waygoner is say n on winter kill. It will take 10 years for the gunny basin deer to come back IMO from 07/08 winter. This winter isnt even close to that winter.Still some nice bucks around just not alot of them.