How's the winter?

[Cohntr62]

I've been wondering about the severity of this winter in regards to wildlife in the NW Colorado Meeker-Craig area. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[elks96]

So far it has been good. Lots of fat healthy little ones. The range is a concern. We need the moisture as we are now hovering around 70% normal snow pack. Storm coming tonight! Elk herds are looking good deer numbers are still down but those that are around seem to be doing well.

Sheds are starting to drop soon and the turkey hunts coming up will help me know more, but other than predators (coyotes are down) lions going strong, bobcats holding strong the deer do not have much to worry about. Gas activity is decreased, vehicle traffic down, etc. If we can get a warm/wet spring things are looking good. Again numbers are still down from years past.

 

[tailchasers]

Shortly after Christmas the snow started dumping. Right now in town we have about 2 feet of snow. North of town the snow depth is more than double as is south of town. Range condtions are not good with last summer severe drought as I have seen the deer eat the dried up sagebrush tops for the last month. The deer seem to look healthy but a crappy spring can take this all away. I have watched the same 2 dozen deer daily this winter and they are brousing nearly all day long. We had an extended cold period with temps around -34 degrees and 2 feet of snow so you can figure the stress they were under. North of town the snow came in such aboundance in such a short period of time the deer did not have time to fully migrate to the winter range. I am hoping for the best for these deer north of town but am afraid of the worst. Elk seem to be doing ok but the wimpy muleys might be struggling depending upon how this spring works out.

"From my cold dead hands."

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."