Winterkill

[Seatown5]

Just curious what it's looking like over in the northeast. I have got to imagine it's been a tough winter for the animals.

[jennabug]

Tag

[Wanttohuntmore]

Curious as well from those that live near them.

[stickman999]

Following

[Magnum_Willys]

Gonna be a rough one. This is in Stabler - Wind River area SW WA.

[buckcanyonlodge]

Not good. If we don't get some rain to know down some of this snow , the turkey population is going to suffer. Down by the lake there is 18 in. of hard crust snow with another 12 inches on top of that(Sunday night) higher elevations more than that. We are supposed to get another 8 in. tonight. Come on spring. I have at least 200 turkey here at the Lodge. What a mess.

[jennabug]

Wow, Rick, that's a ton of snow!  and Magnum.  What a mess, indeed.
Do most people take a break from hunting until populations recover (assuming they suffer badly)? 

[Magnum_Willys]

Do most people take a break from hunting until populations recover?

Say what ?

[boneaddict]

And it's not getting better anytime soon....

[JimmyHoffa]

Wow, Rick, that's a ton of snow!  and Magnum.  What a mess, indeed.
Do most people take a break from hunting until populations recover (assuming they suffer badly)?

There might be fewer animals the next season, but generally lots of snow means lots of browse.  Fewer animals with more to eat, seems like seasons following a bad winter tend to have some big animals; so not likely to find that many wanting to sit out a season.

[jennabug]

Do most people take a break from hunting until populations recover?

Say what ?

  Newbie question I guess

Wow, Rick, that's a ton of snow!  and Magnum.  What a mess, indeed.
Do most people take a break from hunting until populations recover (assuming they suffer badly)?

There might be fewer animals the next season, but generally lots of snow means lots of browse.  Fewer animals with more to eat, seems like seasons following a bad winter tend to have some big animals; so not likely to find that many wanting to sit out a season.

Hmmm, I guess there is an up-side then?

[bowhunterforever]

I have found 6 dead turkeys so far this winter. That's in lincoln and stevens county.

[tgomez]

Nothing new and the snow will be gone in 4 weeks. It's Eastern Washington and the turkey have survived these winters many many years so really what's new? Turkeys will be fine. Buy your tag and go hunt your birds.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think the bad thing for turkeys is a cold rain in late spring/early summer.

[buckcanyonlodge]

I'm sure hoping the snow will be gone in 4 weeks... Come on spring

[elkboy]

Jennabug, most hunters follow the lead of whatever state agency is responsible for monitoring game populations and their year-to-year variation. Agency biologists may decide to do things like reduce antlerless (doe deer, cow elk) harvest until populations have recovered to some minimum level. On rare occasion, seasons may be closed in a given management unit. Hunters at a local level may decide among themselves to not hunt certain kinds of animals, based on their own observations. For example, in my area, some of the landowners up and down the creek valley I hunt decided to request that all archery and muzzleloader hunters refrain from harvesting whitetail does this last year, despite the legality of taking does in these seasons, because of locally observed whitetail mortality.  I hope that helps.

[Jimmer]

Hopefully big game animals don't take too big of a hit. I try to feed this time of year as much as I can afford. Turkeys?? I hope the winter takes a little toll on them around these parts, they are so thick, they are a nuisance. Each summer I see 7-10 chicks following each hen and watch them grow. Rarely taken by predators and rarely effected by weather.

[jennabug]

Yes, I guess I was thinking of mostly big game harvest after a rough winter.  I'm glad to hear that some biologists, hunters and land owners take that into consideration. 
I've had the pleasure of seeing the huge flocks of turkeys at Buck Canyon Lodge, and some die off would be good!

[buckcanyonlodge]

There is usually a big die-off around the middle of April. You might have to come up and witness the yearly April die-off in person!!

[jackelope]

There is usually a big die-off around the middle of April. You might have to come up and witness the yearly April die-off in person!!

[jennabug]

There is usually a big die-off around the middle of April. You might have to come up and witness the yearly April die-off in person!!

  I hope to do just that.

[Whitenuckles]

There is usually a big die-off around the middle of April. You might have to come up and witness the yearly April die-off in person!!

Hey Rick, I'll be over there the weekend of the 25th. Let me know if you want any help with youth hunts. Gotta ton of long beards on my property.

[Whitenuckles]

Hopefully fishing is good right now!!!