Winter Kill

[ChrisAU]

Any concerns with the massive amount of snow? Colorado specifically seems to be getting hammered.

 

[Maverick940]

No concerns where I hunt elk, but I don't hunt in Colorado anymore. Best of luck!

 

[Btaylor]

Any concerns with the massive amount of snow? Colorado specifically seems to be getting hammered.

Kinda curious about that as well.

 

[ChrisAU]

I'm guessing it would affect the deer more? Idk. We don't have to worry about it down here ha, don't know any of the dynamics of it.

 

[mwebs]

Snow-pack across the west, 100 is average, in my neck of the woods in Idaho the deer are having a rough winter.

 

[kmbrewcrew]

In January, I was afraid we weren’t going to get enough snow up here in MT...then February hit and we got hammered (at least around Bozeman...I know other parts got more snow early). Now, the late snow could be problematic for some of the critters...but the elk and deer seem to be very resilient. Last year the antelope were hit hard...we liked to hunt around Jordan, MT, and talked to a warden up there that said they lost something like 60% to winter kill last year (and our observations bore that out...couldn’t find many animals in areas we’d been run over with them the year before).

ChrisAU, I am guessing you’re an Auburn guy? Auburn class of ‘98 here...now living in Montana!

 

[ChrisAU]

In January, I was afraid we weren’t going to get enough snow up here in MT...then February hit and we got hammered (at least around Bozeman...I know other parts got more snow early). Now, the late snow could be problematic for some of the critters...but the elk and deer seem to be very resilient. Last year the antelope were hit hard...we liked to hunt around Jordan, MT, and talked to a warden up there that said they lost something like 60% to winter kill last year (and our observations bore that out...couldn’t find many animals in areas we’d been run over with them the year before).

ChrisAU, I am guessing you’re an Auburn guy? Auburn class of ‘98 here...now living in Montana!

Yes sir, class of '11. War Eagle!

 

[jmav58]

Spoke with the wildlife biologist here in White sulphur springs. He said that all this snow has pushed the animals out of the hills and into the hay yards around Meagher county. Said numbers were still good though.

 

[willy]

A rancher friend of my Dad's from Montana was telling him that the ranchers in his area were getting bombarded with deer and elk in their hay so a week ago they mounted up a group of cowboys and tried to chase them away. They only went so far as when the horses hit deep snow they stopped and the elk and deer did too.

 

[*zap*]

Denver area got another 12" yesterday.

 

[chickendinner]

Spoke with the wildlife biologist here in White sulphur springs. He said that all this snow has pushed the animals out of the hills and into the hay yards around Meagher county. Said numbers were still good though.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ElkNut1]

The elk are pretty much used of these heavy snow areas in every state that receives lots of snow! Heck if only one bull was left I'd get a tag & be after him! (grin) Bottom line, I'm going elk hunting no matter what! (grin)

ElkNut/Paul

 

[zpooch]

Yeah shoot the last bull.....

 

[DenverCountryBoy]

Denver area got another 12" yesterday.

More like 4".

 

[mwebs]

The elk are pretty much used of these heavy snow areas in every state that receives lots of snow! Heck if only one bull was left I'd get a tag & be after him! (grin) Bottom line, I'm going elk hunting no matter what! (grin)

ElkNut/Paul

Hopefully were all going elk hunting no matter what, but hard winters kill elk calves and effect future hunting opportunities, so the question is a valid one. Yes elk know where to find refuge, but as a previous post a few weeks ago points out those refuges are becoming increasingly threatened by ranching interests and piss the same ranchers off that hunt them. So yes most elk survive hard winters by moving into the valleys and continue to, but more calves will die than a below average winter and a lot more mule deer will as well as reflected by the proposed changes in the Idaho F&G proposed regulations for 2019-2020 because of the 2017 deer die off, due to winter snow.

 

[blindfocus]

A lot more snow than normal where I live. The elk are coming right into town and so are the wolves.

 

[5MilesBack]

We've had more snow this year at home than we've had since the winter of 2006-2007, and we're still well below average. They keep showing the statewide drought monitor and we are still in drought conditions pretty much statewide........even with all the snow the mountains have been getting. But it was so severe in some places........it's going to take a few years of 150% snowpack to bring us back.

 

[Coveyleader]

No issue. Temps have been warm, lots of snow in areas, but lots of sun as well.

It is kind of ironic that we wish the best conditions on animals so we have the best chances to kill them.

Lots of rain = horn growth = Kill them

Drought = less horn growth = He would have been bigger

Winterkill = less animals = I will still kill them

Predators = competition = less animals for us to kill

We're a strange bunch.

 

[Btaylor]

No issue. Temps have been warm, lots of snow in areas, but lots of sun as well.

It is kind of ironic that we wish the best conditions on animals so we have the best chances to kill them.

Lots of rain = horn growth = Kill them

Drought = less horn growth = He would have been bigger

Winterkill = less animals = I will still kill them

Predators = competition = less animals for us to kill

We're a strange bunch.

Not strange, just hungry.

 

[*zap*]

More like 4".

Denver 'area', I heard just a bit north had 12"+.