I'm just curious to find out at what point is it just too cold for mule deer to survive?
I'm pretty sure a lot of it probably depends on what time of year it is and what kind of shape the animals are in at the time. From what I've noticed personally it seems that most of the winter kill occurs early in the spring (March/April) and a good portion of the animals that die are fawns and older bucks (3 1/2yrs+). My guess is competition during the rut wears some of them down to a point where they just don't ever recover. Right now it seems to me that most of the does and fawns are in pretty good shape with plenty of fat reserves to get them through an average winter. The feed that was available this year in most of the western states has to have helped them prepare for winter. So assuming the deer are healthy at what point will they actually start freezing to death?
The main reason I am asking is one area that I like to go check out wintering deer in got down to -52 degrees night before last. That can't be good...
Thanks,
NvrEnuf
I'm pretty sure a lot of it probably depends on what time of year it is and what kind of shape the animals are in at the time. From what I've noticed personally it seems that most of the winter kill occurs early in the spring (March/April) and a good portion of the animals that die are fawns and older bucks (3 1/2yrs+). My guess is competition during the rut wears some of them down to a point where they just don't ever recover. Right now it seems to me that most of the does and fawns are in pretty good shape with plenty of fat reserves to get them through an average winter. The feed that was available this year in most of the western states has to have helped them prepare for winter. So assuming the deer are healthy at what point will they actually start freezing to death?
The main reason I am asking is one area that I like to go check out wintering deer in got down to -52 degrees night before last. That can't be good...
Thanks,
NvrEnuf