Ditto on what folks have said. Tons of snow on the top which should be a good thing for the summer range browse. The middle elevations where the deer are wintering look good. There is quite a bit of snow, but lots of brush above the snow line and south and west facing slopes are bearing off. The brush looks a little rough, but a good wet growing season ought to help with that. I did find one dead doe the other day, but I pulled her jaw and she was ancient, probably died an age related death. Fawns still look good. It started out pretty rough out there with lots of snow all at once and really cold temps, but things have improved dramatically. I would say the winter in the Books is milder than down at the lower elevations in the Basin and on the south slope.
Unless we see a dramatic change in weather patterns should be a really good year to draw a tag (come on 7 points do something for me). Buck to doe ratios are high, the average harvest age from 2007 is almost as high as the Pauns, with some good antler growth precip I predict some good bucks this fall.
Dax
