Winterkill

[Sitka_Blacktail]

In Alaska where any winter can turn into a deer killer, Fish and Game has concluded that heavy snows in the spring are the worst. Fat reserves are long gone, especially on older bucks that fought hard during the rut and yearlings. And endurance has been pushed to the max on a crummy diet.  A snowfall that they can easily make it through early in the winter is a nightmare in the spring.

Hopefully things will warm up and the majority of our herds will make it.

[huntnphool]

 My guess is it will melt off pretty quick in the next couple of weeks.

[hunter399]

Isn't a lot of the state gonna warm up a bit,maybe rain,then refreeze. 

I may have to plan on snowshoe in to one area and dropping a few deer blocks.

[Skyvalhunter]

I am not liking the looks of things. If we have a slight melt then a hard freeze it will be really tough on the animals

[Rainier10]

My game camera is under the snow line at my cabin.  Elk are standing in snow up to their shoulders.  I have no idea what the deer and fawns are doing.  Hoping to get over there Sunday if the pass opens and make some paths.

[Mfowl]

Cle Elum this AM.

[Ironhead]

4' of snow at the bottom of Mud Creek in the Entiat. Winters become very very long when there is 4' of snow the first week of January. Snow doesn't usually start to melt until late March. Its going to crust over its just a matter of when?

[bigmacc]

This aint good folks, a couple melts, a few freezes, a little more snow mixed in then repeat. You start to get layers, lots of winter left for this to transpire. Unlike that 68-69 freeze that affected mostly the Methow herd, this winter could affect a lot of the states herds, elk and deer.

[eliandsky]

Update in cashmere it’s raining and crusted over. Hopefully it’s a warming trend.


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[vandeman17]

watched deer pushing through the snow up to their chests in wenatchee yesterday. As things go away, I will be dumping feed out to help the local herd that comes through our neighborhood every day. It might only be 10-15 deer but every little bit helps

[buckfvr]

Not looking good here either, 1000' above Lake Roosevelt.  Raining now, freezing mid teens tonight with highs in mid 20s through next week.

[bearhunter99]

Freezing rain last night near Wenatchee won't help.  There is a good crust getting started already.  all of the paths we dug around the property yesterday are sheets of ice.

[bigmacc]

Freezing rain last night near Wenatchee won't help.  There is a good crust getting started already.  all of the paths we dug around the property yesterday are sheets of ice.

This is whats gonna be the killer, layers of ice and snow. Melt, freeze, rain or snow then repeat.

[vandeman17]

Freezing rain last night near Wenatchee won't help.  There is a good crust getting started already.  all of the paths we dug around the property yesterday are sheets of ice.

This is whats gonna be the killer, layers of ice and snow. Melt, freeze, rain or snow then repeat.

This morning leaving my house, the sun hillsides were bright and I could see trails all over them. Poor critters

[Ghost Hunter]

8'' of rain today at Swift Reservoir's weather station. Thats just straight south of Mt.St.Helens which is winter range in the Lewis River valley. The Washougal River is running wild today with snow melt, so I'd say the snow is coming off pretty quickly at least in SW Washinton.


elksnout

No snow left in Yale area today.  Wheelbarrow load left where I had it piled 6' high.  Ditches full and water standing in the road in places.  Still dumping rain.