Hell,its not even winter yet until tommorow but for the second year in a row, the snow is stacking up in the winter ranges. Here at my house at the upper end of the winter range, the sagebrush is covered with 36"s plus of snow in less than two weeks. We definately have more snow than at this date last year and we all know what happened last year. Once again, the intermountain valleys, Middle Park, Eagle area and the Gunnison river basin are getting the brunt of the snow. Skiers are rejoicing but I'm hoping for a big high pressure system to set up and give the animals a little break.
Another rough winter?
- Thread starter BUCKSPY
- Start date
T
TFinalshot
Guest
and we have almost zero snow up here but by now we should have 5 feet. BTW weather is not climate. . . more snow now does not equal warming or cooling, it is what it is. From one year to the next our weather changes. . .
www.tonybynum.com
"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
www.tonybynum.com
"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
4
4000fps
Guest
M
manny15
Guest
it'll melt off, its early anyways......
did you say your house was on the winter range????
No. If you want to work on that 5th grade level reading comprehension some more, I said I live on the upper end of the winter range. It was a reference to my close proximity to give an accurate appraisal of the situation at hand. The closest deer that winter near here are a couple miles down the road in some sagebrush draws. Occasionally we have a group of cow elk that hang around for a few days but they much prefer nocturnal raids on the horse ranch hay pile down the road. Nice try.
No. If you want to work on that 5th grade level reading comprehension some more, I said I live on the upper end of the winter range. It was a reference to my close proximity to give an accurate appraisal of the situation at hand. The closest deer that winter near here are a couple miles down the road in some sagebrush draws. Occasionally we have a group of cow elk that hang around for a few days but they much prefer nocturnal raids on the horse ranch hay pile down the road. Nice try.
We had virtually no snow for the entire hunting season. Was the typical snap, crackle, pop, late season hunting that is a trophy muley hunter's worst nightmare. The deer were scattered from valley bottom to the alpine and everywhere in between. Then, the hunter's prayers were answered and we got a big dump right at the very end of the season. 2-3 feet in a day. Then it turned to freezing rain and a huge crust layer formed on top. Try post-holing through a 5 inch ice crust on top of 3 feet of sugar. Very efficiant still hunting. 
Needless to say, very few big bucks were killed in BC this year. The ones that I saw dead were very very fat from a very very lush summer and fall. Now, we are into a serious cold snap that we normally don't get till way into Jan. It's been -30 to -40 Celcius here for well over a week. -40 is the same as your -40. The deer seem to be coping well. That fat that they didn't wear off during the quiet non-rut is keeping them warm. Me on the other hand. I hunted my ass off for 3 months straight and I don't have an ounce of fat on me. The cold is getting to me. Came home tonight to frozen pipes. First time in 15 years of living in this house. Not a good sign of a winter that hasn't even started yet.
Needless to say, very few big bucks were killed in BC this year. The ones that I saw dead were very very fat from a very very lush summer and fall. Now, we are into a serious cold snap that we normally don't get till way into Jan. It's been -30 to -40 Celcius here for well over a week. -40 is the same as your -40. The deer seem to be coping well. That fat that they didn't wear off during the quiet non-rut is keeping them warm. Me on the other hand. I hunted my ass off for 3 months straight and I don't have an ounce of fat on me. The cold is getting to me. Came home tonight to frozen pipes. First time in 15 years of living in this house. Not a good sign of a winter that hasn't even started yet.Here in middle park (Co.) the snow is like last year right down to the timing of it's arrival followed by high winds to pack it in- not a good sign, after a minimal kill year no less. I live on the winter range and haven't seen a deer yet but they'll be here soon which is not good cause as soon as they do they start croaking due to train and highway collisions. Glad I didn't replant my trees from last year they'ld just get chomped off again.
ICMDEER
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 2,994
Good post BUCKSPY. I was thiking the same thing; even tried to call DOW in Kremmling for a report last week but nobody answered the phone. Sorry to hear it is stacking up early again. We are fine out here in the eastern plains, just really cold. Was minus 22 last week and it has been below zero the last few nights as well. But it is supposed to warm up by Christmas so we'll hope for the best. The deer and antelope here look fine as well and the elk are bulletproof.
BUCKSPY-
Here in SE Idaho, we had a fairly mild November but the snow and cold have arrived in full force the last several weeks.
We had back-to-back severe winters in the early 80's and maybe we will again.
A few deer herds really got hid hard here last year, especially the bucks (unit 67, 69, 64, etc) and could use a break. Not looking good.
The Christian
Here in SE Idaho, we had a fairly mild November but the snow and cold have arrived in full force the last several weeks.
We had back-to-back severe winters in the early 80's and maybe we will again.
A few deer herds really got hid hard here last year, especially the bucks (unit 67, 69, 64, etc) and could use a break. Not looking good.
The Christian
D
DougW
Guest
Buckspy-2 more storms due into western CO and surrounding areas this week, then maybe a significant break next week. This is not a good time of year to be getting heavy snow in these areas....after the storms the snow ends but then the minus-teens, twenties and thirties kick in....
Doug
Doug
Dinkshooter
Active Member
- Messages
- 229
LAST EDITED ON Dec-23-08 AT 10:01AM (MST)[p]It DUMPED here in the Eagle Valley last night.
I tried to drive up some local roads Sunday to look at deer............no dice, to deep already.
I tried to drive up some local roads Sunday to look at deer............no dice, to deep already.
smokepolejohnson
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,337
What lil deer and small bucks are still kickin in northern utardia are going to have a tough time with the way things are lookin. Time to bring out the lethal doses of moldy old hay!!!
Bluehair
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 7,856
>If you want to
>work on that 5th grade
>level reading comprehension some more,
>I said I live on
>the upper end of the
>winter range.
Mr Spy:
Dood, don't be baggin' on peploes comprension. Fith grade darn near brung some our development to a compleat stop.
Even though there's pretty good snow, there's still some deer - those that survived the onslaught of outfitter/landowner attention. The migratory elk should move in pretty soon - and the deer out.
As for the snow in these parts, there's plenty but not as much as last year. But that's easy for me to say since the wifey has the place shoveled all nice and clean by the time I get home.
I saw in passing somewhere that congrats are in order (or is just one more job?). Anyway,I thought I would use my bi-annual post to wish you and the family a Merry Christmas! (from here on the winter range)
CB, aka "BEERSPY"
>work on that 5th grade
>level reading comprehension some more,
>I said I live on
>the upper end of the
>winter range.
Mr Spy:
Dood, don't be baggin' on peploes comprension. Fith grade darn near brung some our development to a compleat stop.
Even though there's pretty good snow, there's still some deer - those that survived the onslaught of outfitter/landowner attention. The migratory elk should move in pretty soon - and the deer out.
As for the snow in these parts, there's plenty but not as much as last year. But that's easy for me to say since the wifey has the place shoveled all nice and clean by the time I get home.
I saw in passing somewhere that congrats are in order (or is just one more job?). Anyway,I thought I would use my bi-annual post to wish you and the family a Merry Christmas! (from here on the winter range
)CB, aka "BEERSPY"
We have more snow in Eagle than we did last year but it seems like there are more animal down low, They must have learned a little lesson last year not to stay in the high country so long and get down to greener pastures before it gets too deep, From the looks off the feed at the end of hunting season, they should have plenty of food this winter especially since there was such a bad winter kill last year, less deer and elk mean more food for this years.
The one thing I have noticed is the coyotes, lion and bob cat tracks, Preadator control Preadator control Preadator control is all I can say,
The one thing I have noticed is the coyotes, lion and bob cat tracks, Preadator control Preadator control Preadator control is all I can say,
We are having a really rough winter down here in New Mexico this year also. I had to scape some frost off my windshield before work one morning last week. This morning I wished I had went out and warmed up the car before I went out to go to work. Maybe I'm just getting too old to deal with this nasty cold winter weather. I'll have to find my gloves before I go out to shoot coyotes this weekend. -- Bob
This is a bitter sweet subject for me. As a avid hunter I do not want to see the deer herds impacted by a harsh winter. As an avid snowmobiler I love tons of deep powder. Either way I just deal with what mother nature throws at us. One thought though. Just because it is a snowy december does not mean that it is going to be a harsh winter. The snow can shut off just as easily as it started and we could be dry in January and February and then hurting for water in the summer. Happens all the time.
Longbow6360
Active Member
- Messages
- 447
Hopefully we'll have a few deer left in the Rifle area.
G
GntShedz
Guest
I'm feeling sorry for your guys mule deer thru central CO. You guys mule deer have seemed to get the short end of the stick the past two years with the snow. I have noticed watching deer on the winter range that its the extreme cold that really gets them. Especi
L
Lowlandmulies
Guest
Happy Holidays Buckspy! How is the book coming?
Talk to you soon, good luck with the deer heard, we all could use a break
Steve
Talk to you soon, good luck with the deer heard, we all could use a break
Steve
W
WAsharpstick
Guest
Thats a bummer.......I hope middle park doesn't get slaughtered
Anyone know how the 3rd/4th seasons where up there this year? 18/28/37/371 Deer
Anyone know how the 3rd/4th seasons where up there this year? 18/28/37/371 Deer
Pretty poor sharpstick, pretty poor indeed, based on personal observation of hunter's vehicles and a visit to the local taxidermists shops. Very warm dry conditions throughout 3rd and 4th, couple nice bucks were taken that I know of nothing huge. (upper 170's) Don't believe I've ever seen fewer elk sticking out of p/u trucks than I saw this year. Hardly a scientific study though. Good news is we had a nice melting week last week but a few fresh inches this am. Elk everywhere in the transition range not many deer whether they are elsewhere or non-existant remains to be seen. South up the blue river there seem to be lots of deer along the hwy. At least I had to slow down a lot while going goose hunting at 4 am the other day, they were standing all over the road.
W
WAsharpstick
Guest
Id seen some good bucks last summer and was thinking that id hit that 2nd or 3rd season.....guess I better go talk to the folks at the DOW and see whats up..........all this snow sucks.
Kayak_to_hunt
Active Member
- Messages
- 308
Here in S central colorado we have had more snow to this point than last year. Got quite a bit from the past couple of days again and another storm is on the way.
Still early in the winter but I am skiing bc lines that usually open up in late feb or march.
Not looking like it is going to be a easy winter around here.
Still early in the winter but I am skiing bc lines that usually open up in late feb or march.
Not looking like it is going to be a easy winter around here.
I'm resurrecting this thread for a winter update. Here in Northern Utah the winter is not near as bad as some of the early season projections stated in this thread. Last year was definitely worse. I drive from Heber to Evanston two to three times a week. This corridor goes right through some prime winter range. Last year you couldn't even see any sage brush, even on the south facing slopes. This year, even with the recent storms there is plenty of sage brush and the south facing slopes are nearly all dirt with a inch or two of new snow on them. In addition, last year, in between Park City and Wanship and in between Coalville and just past the Echo rest area was a slaughter fest with dozens and dozens of dead deer. This year only one or two here and there. Not nearly as bad. We could still have a rough February that could change things up a bit, but I think this late in the game it may not drastically affect things like it did last winter. But, so far, so good!
Yes, alp75, I'd agree. Here in SE Idaho we got a two-week break in January that cleared some slopes and the game spread back out. Snow has returned but not a lot nor the bitter temps. We're not in the clear yet, but so far it's better than last winter.
The Christian
The Christian
smokepolejohnson
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,337
Alp, I agree with you and the winter conditions, I live in summit county and drive that stretch often also. Last year was as ugly as it could of been with all the road kills.
N
Nails
Guest
Talked to Gary Amerine last night and he says the deer are doing really good right now. Apparently Nov. and Dec. were pretty mild, allowing the mature bucks to go on the feed and recover some weight lost during the rut. That coupled without the bitter cold has him feeling good about the winter effects on the deer.
Nails.
Nails.
