CO winter kill?
- Thread starter GWM
- Start date
elks96
Long Time Member
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- 3,802
>I have been hearing that winter
>mortality in NW Colorado may
>be high this year.
>I have some calls in
>but haven't spoken directly to
>a biologist.
>
>Anyone know what is going on?
>
>
>gwm
There is a pretty lengthy thread under the Colorado Forum. Unfortunately after all my kicking around and talking with the officers etc. Anything north of the White River to the Colorado Boarder is oging to be hit pretty hard for both deer and elk. They are expecting over 30% mortality on Deer in The Yampa River Valley areas. South of the white river will be higher than average, but not as bad as it could have been. So Craig, Hayden, Maybell, Axial Basin, Danforth Hills, all high mortality. UNits further south along the Colorado River Basin normal mortality to slightly higher.
>mortality in NW Colorado may
>be high this year.
>I have some calls in
>but haven't spoken directly to
>a biologist.
>
>Anyone know what is going on?
>
>
>gwm
There is a pretty lengthy thread under the Colorado Forum. Unfortunately after all my kicking around and talking with the officers etc. Anything north of the White River to the Colorado Boarder is oging to be hit pretty hard for both deer and elk. They are expecting over 30% mortality on Deer in The Yampa River Valley areas. South of the white river will be higher than average, but not as bad as it could have been. So Craig, Hayden, Maybell, Axial Basin, Danforth Hills, all high mortality. UNits further south along the Colorado River Basin normal mortality to slightly higher.
elks96
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 3,802
>It's got to be pretty nasty
>when you start talking about
>elk being affected!
It was really bad looking all the way south to Rifle but that warm snap hit just in time. The thing that was crazy to me was the amount of crust. In an area where the deer and elk winter the snow was crusted hard enough I could walk on top of the crust (I am 285 pounds with out all my gear). In the same area the snow was deep enough that it would cover the top strand on the fences.
I have friends that have lived in Craig for 20+ years now and they say the conditions were worse than 07/08 when we got hit so hard. They said the temps were colder and the crust was way worse. They usually have some 15 to 30 deer winter on their ground and 40 to 60 elk. This year the snow was so deep they had 2 deer winter in their yard and no elk at all.
We have had some great weather as of late but for those areas mentioned is was just too late.
>when you start talking about
>elk being affected!
It was really bad looking all the way south to Rifle but that warm snap hit just in time. The thing that was crazy to me was the amount of crust. In an area where the deer and elk winter the snow was crusted hard enough I could walk on top of the crust (I am 285 pounds with out all my gear). In the same area the snow was deep enough that it would cover the top strand on the fences.
I have friends that have lived in Craig for 20+ years now and they say the conditions were worse than 07/08 when we got hit so hard. They said the temps were colder and the crust was way worse. They usually have some 15 to 30 deer winter on their ground and 40 to 60 elk. This year the snow was so deep they had 2 deer winter in their yard and no elk at all.
We have had some great weather as of late but for those areas mentioned is was just too late.
I made a trip down to Gates of Lodore this past weekend and can say for certain this year is nothing compared to the 07/08 winter down that direction. I remember hunting coyotes down around maybell that winter and there being deer and elk carcasses just about everywhere.
This past weekend we saw a ton of deer from craig all the way to the gates and for the most part they all looked healthy. The snow down in that area is completely melted for the most part.
This past weekend we saw a ton of deer from craig all the way to the gates and for the most part they all looked healthy. The snow down in that area is completely melted for the most part.
North central mtns will probably be moderate. Deer were/are in good condition but the winter pushed them down into harms way and they just got hammered by trains and autos... but the dead ones were fat, if that counts as a positive???
Still pockets of small fawns dropping heavily, but I guess since they usually are dead 2 months ago it is a good sign that they are freshly killed now instead??
But I predict we have a "thriving deer herd" that can 'easily sustain more pressure" and opportunity will increase (as will revenue)
Do not listen to these dolts (CPW) unless you have only got them and nobody else as a source. They know little and what they do know they learn far too late, always behind the curve and they have a vested interest in getting you to come... no matter the facts on the ground.
Still pockets of small fawns dropping heavily, but I guess since they usually are dead 2 months ago it is a good sign that they are freshly killed now instead??
But I predict we have a "thriving deer herd" that can 'easily sustain more pressure" and opportunity will increase (as will revenue)
Do not listen to these dolts (CPW) unless you have only got them and nobody else as a source. They know little and what they do know they learn far too late, always behind the curve and they have a vested interest in getting you to come... no matter the facts on the ground.
fullthrottle
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,361
Yep, nobody should burn there points on a 3rd season tag in Colorado this year keep building points all the deer are most likely wiped out....
Founder
Founder Since 1999
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- 11,473
From what I saw the other day, it didn't look real bad. The area I visited, the deer had wintered just as low as they could get. North slopes still had a foot of snow, but I didn't see too many dead fawns in comparison to the number of deer I saw.
They sure had eaten up all the sage and grass they could get to though! Probably a close call in the area I visited.
Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
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They sure had eaten up all the sage and grass they could get to though! Probably a close call in the area I visited.
Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
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wildwilderness
Active Member
- Messages
- 155
The lower elevation winter range on the Western slope from Rangely to Montrose has been great
