Another tough winter for the whitetails

[Skycruiser]

This winter is the double-whammy after last year's. I expect our WT population will take another big hit. Hopefully, the DFW will have a moratorium on doe tags for a year or so.

[270Shooter]

 
No late hunt fro me next year.

[WAcoyotehunter]

they are really struggling in Pend Oreille county. 

[ICEMAN]

they are really struggling in Pend Oreille county. 

I really hate to hear that. 

[heavy hauler]

5 feet of snow in dec is gonna make it real tough on um

[fc2038]

they are really struggling in Pend Oreille county. 

How are they lookin? Is the weather starting to have an effect on the way they look? Are they starting to skinny up or is there enough food for them as the snow has not iced over?

[SHANE(WA)]

They didnt do crap this year with the doe tags kept them the same as the year before when we had a booming deer pop. wtf. Deer are not doing good around here, just standing there like they are stuck, lots starting to get splatted on highway now

[PolarBear]

The deer are so hungry at my buddies place in Republic that they are going into his hay barn an eating his alfalfa like there is no tomorrow.  They are also pushing the horses and cows off of their hay to get at it themselves.  At least they are getting grub and the upside is the sheds that are being left in return.  I had my buddy go over to my place and open up my barn for the deer (and moose) to get at the hay. 

[WAcoyotehunter]

they are really struggling in Pend Oreille county. 

How are they lookin? Is the weather starting to have an effect on the way they look? Are they starting to skinny up or is there enough food for them as the snow has not iced over?

They still look ok- but it's early in the year.  They're burning LOTS of calories getting around and predators are going to have a field day this winter. 

[fc2038]

they are really struggling in Pend Oreille county. 

How are they lookin? Is the weather starting to have an effect on the way they look? Are they starting to skinny up or is there enough food for them as the snow has not iced over?

They still look ok- but it's early in the year.  They're burning LOTS of calories getting around and predators are going to have a field day this winter. 

Let me guess there is no end in sight for all this snow you are getting. Wow another week of this a small melt and then a freeze say good buy to 60% of the deer. 

[WAcoyotehunter]

i think you're right.  We've had 70"+ at the house (2500') just above the river.  Of course that's settled quite a bit, but is still over my waist.  We have another 8" forcasted tomorrow.  It's not looking like this winter will end anytime soon. 

The low growing shrubs are already covered, they cant dig through 3+ feet of snow to access the forbs, so they're eating suspended veg- twigs, landscaping shrubs and higher shrubs.  Once those run out they will really be hurting for calories. 

[fc2038]

Man that is to bad. How are the turkeys holding up? I have a bad feeling this is going to be worse than the 96 if I recall correctly that was the last really bad one. O really hope not but it is going to take time to melt all that. Damn. That is going to really put the hurt on the mule deer over there. Hell they haven't recovered from that bad winter 12 years ago.

[Birdguy]

That is not what you want to hear this early in the winter . Lots of animals have not recovered from the winters of 95 and 96. The only good that can come from a snow pack like this is more water providing it does not all melt off at once and flood everything. Sounds like a great year to lower the predator populations as a means to help offset the winter hardships. We as hunters are used to allegedly "control" game. If that's is the case there ought to be a lot of dead yotes, thanks to the hunters of our state. I also believe there is a thread on here about to feed or not to feed as a supplement for times like this. We all need to do our part. 

[fc2038]

Good point Mr. Bird guy kill some cougs on some rotting deer. Still hate and hope not to see it go bad

[EastWaViking]

I counted 9 dead deer in about a three mile stretch of highway 2 this morning.  The deer I did see alive were already looking thin.