2017 Winter Kill

[bobcat]

http://wyo4news.com/news/wyoming-game-fish-hold-line-meeting-concerning-harsh-winters-impact-big-game/

[actionshooter]

Talked to an Idaho Bio the other day who was not very optimistic...... 

[DOUBLELUNG]

96-97 was a killer winter here too.

Yes indeed.  Where you see references to the worst winter in 20 years, that is the point of reference.

[TriggerMike]

Looks like it's warming up in Idaho for the next few weeks. Currently 55 degrees and raining in Boise. Long range forecast is calling for daytime highs in the mid 40s to low 50s for the next two weeks

[Huntin Hounds]

The winter kill in Idaho's unit 1 will probably be pretty bad after that big snow they got. I was in Bonners Ferry yesterday and the hay fields have snow to the tops of the fence posts. Saw where several critters got smacked by trains. One of my customers was telling me he watched a fawn try and escape hwy 95 without getting smacked only to sink up to its neck in the snow when it made it off the hwy.

[bobcat]

http://www.outdoorlife.com/winter-kill-colorado-deer-elk-2017#page-8

[actionshooter]

You know its going to be bad when the state of Wyoming sends you an email telling you its going to be bad.
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/Cold-temperatures-and-deep-snow-taking-a-toll-on-W

[DOUBLELUNG]

At least some parts of Wyoming just got a break yesterday - friend in Lander wrote they had 55F with screaming winds, heavy flooding but the upslopes are open.

[bobcat]

It's 60 degrees in Casper, Wyoming and 64 in Douglas right now.   

[heavyhorned]

here in central wa, we have received 21 inches since Monday Feb,6th to now Feb 10th. there is a heavy crust on top. just about thick enough for coyotes to walk on. counted 173 deer this morning mixed mule deer and white tails. 43 were bucks. only 15 were 3 plus bucks. found 3 kills by coyotes.two were young white tail doe's, the third was a nice 3x3 muley. two weeks ago we had south facing hills nearly bare. i had not found one winter kill then. good news is we have moved from teen temps to at least 35. if you want to see what the migrating mule deer herd looks like head north about 5 miles north of Entiat,wa. you dont have enough fingers and toes to count the red spots on the hwy.

[grade-creek-rd]

heavyhorned...you sound like a guy who spends each morning drinking coffee looking at deer...really hope you pick out a big whitetail for your nephew, he needs one to fill his "Washington Grand Slam" of deer, as you know he's already killed a 25" muley and notched last years tag on a blacktail...not bad for a kid that's 11 years old and only hunting a couple of years...must be taught by your brother...

Grade

[heavyhorned]

heavyhorned...you sound like a guy who spends each morning drinking coffee looking at deer...really hope you pick out a big whitetail for your nephew, he needs one to fill his "Washington Grand Slam" of deer, as you know he's already killed a 25" muley and notched last years tag on a blacktail...not bad for a kid that's 11 years old and only hunting a couple of years...must be taught by your brother...

Grade

if i can keep track of them i will get him on them for sure. he is becoming one hell of a hunter. must be in his jeans?

[heavyhorned]

heavyhorned...you sound like a guy who spends each morning drinking coffee looking at deer...really hope you pick out a big whitetail for your nephew, he needs one to fill his "Washington Grand Slam" of deer, as you know he's already killed a 25" muley and notched last years tag on a blacktail...not bad for a kid that's 11 years old and only hunting a couple of years...must be taught by your brother...

Grade

if i can keep track of them i will get him on them for sure. he is becoming one hell of a hunter. must be in his jeans?

[WAcoueshunter]

It's 60 degrees in Casper, Wyoming and 64 in Douglas right now.   

Nice, hurry up and melt!!!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

The winter kill in Idaho's unit 1 will probably be pretty bad after that big snow they got. I was in Bonners Ferry yesterday and the hay fields have snow to the tops of the fence posts. Saw where several critters got smacked by trains. One of my customers was telling me he watched a fawn try and escape hwy 95 without getting smacked only to sink up to its neck in the snow when it made it off the hwy.

During big snow years in Alaska the trains take a heavy toll on moose. In the Mat-Su Borough where I lived for six years, they can end up with upwards of 500 moose killed by autos, and the train toll can surpass that. The moose will find a way down on the tracks where the snow is swept away by the trains and packed down, so it's easy walking, but when a train comes, they can't get back up over the bank to get away, and the trains don't/won't stop for anything. Some nights it's an absolute slaughter.

Here's a story of one of the worst years ever.  http://www.alaskarails.org/stories/ARR-moose.html