CO Snow Depths

Daxter · Dec 29, 2006

I keep hearing on the news about how bad CO is being hit with snow storms. How are these deep snows going to affect CO mule deer populations? How is the winter range looking?

Dax

BeanMan · Dec 30, 2006

Daxter,

The two storms have been Front Range/Eastern plains storms. We haven't had a flake in the Grand Junction area. Anything west of the continental divide should be ok.

Beanman

jims · Dec 30, 2006

I live on the Front Range and we have about 2' of snow down low and several more feet in the foothills. I have a feeling there is going to be some winterkill down here. We had such a hot, dry summer that browse and the deer were in pretty horrible shape before the winter even started. I feel sorry for the critters up around the Estes Park area. There were already way too many elk up there and things don't look very good. As mentioned above I don't think Western Colo has been hit quite as hard but keep your fingers crossed!

Bambistew · Dec 30, 2006

The sun came out in Den a few days ago and really melted the snow. We had close to 30" but before the last storm came through it had melted down to about 6-8, the last storm two days ago put another 4-6 on the ground. I think I might drive up to the foot hills and see how bad it is.

huntindude · Dec 30, 2006

Anyone know about the Gunnison Basin?

Tomichi · Dec 30, 2006

Can still see the bottom wire on the fences just south of Crested Butte. The hay meadows East of Town are pretty much bare. South sage hill sides still have some bare ground showing.
No 30 below temps yet. Deer in great shape elk staying back off the deer range for now. We should be in good shape if the shed hunters will leave them alone. We have alot of winter left
but things look great right now. Have seen fawns "Playing" this week which is a pretty good sign! Heavy road kill is just starting to pick up, has been minimal up to now. 12-30-06

lostinOregon · Dec 30, 2006

Beanman,

Best news I have heard in a while, thanks

Rich

camo_deerslayer · Dec 31, 2006

Gunnison Basin doesn't have much snow at all. I looked at probably 50 bucks this weekend, all looked fine.

Elkcrzy1 · Jan 3, 2007

Its a good thing they arent wintering in my parking lot here in ft collins. Im still digging cars out !!! 2-3' on the level plus monster wind drifts in ft collins. Gary

Zilla34 · Jan 7, 2007

Eastern colorado was hit the most. Lots of cattle dying out there. 10-15' drifts. If the cattle are dying, then unfortunately some game animals will perish too. Mountains are doing OK, just a little above average precip so far. Most of those animals are used to it. Elk will be ok as well as the mule deer. The animals on the eastern side of the state arent fairing as well. But it is not like a record year or anything for snow. At least not yet.

Zilla in Denver

34" in 3 weeks, but it melts fast.

jodog · Jan 8, 2007

From around Bennett, Co (1/5/07) on I70 to Limon and down 287 to Lamar I saw alot of snow and alot of deer pawing the snow for food.They are all herded up, I saw as many as 30 - 40 deer in some herds. Around 10am right along I70. I saw a big Muley buck in a couple of trees 30 yards from the interstate scratching the ground. Saw a alot of Antalope herded up looking for food. Sure didn't look good to me.

sealer · Jan 8, 2007

A few pics from Storm #2 (of 3 so far)...

BuckSnort · Jan 8, 2007

sealer,

Looks like you got your work cut out for ya shoveling that deck. Where do you live?

sealer · Jan 8, 2007

West Metro...Lakewood (Green Mtn. Area)

The_Wraith · Jan 10, 2007

I was out at my property by Hartsel (unit 57) and there was maybe a foot of snow up in the hills by my place and a little less down toward south park.