Are we in for another big winter kill?

[HighCountry10]

We are getting hammered with snow here in Central Washington right now.  I haven't been out much, are the deer struggling already?  Will a solid freeze take it's toll?  Beginning to become concerned!!

[robodad]

Could be !! We are getting crazy wet out here on the OP and I am sure it is headed your way, Hope them animals can find enough good food or we will be picking up sheds with the skull attached !!

[dbllunger]

No doubt about it.  The last melt and re-freeze is a death sentence for sure.  This latest snow will just insulate the crust, and won't let it soften as much.  Next year is looking worse then this year for quality bucks and even deer and elk in general.

[Skyvalhunter]

There are a ton of snow in the Cascades and even the lower foothills. I just hope we don't get a cold snap and there is a hard crust layer on the snow making it hard for the deer to bust thru to their food.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I think we'll see some kill.  Luckily they're well fed around my place...eating off my haystack and cleaning up after the horses.   
I bet the game bird kill is more significant.

[Ridgerunner]

We are long overdue, its bound to happen soon, hopefully not this year.

[GoldTip]

We've gotten far more snow here in Spokalu than we have in quite a while, may be a tough year for the deer.  Hate to see it happen but it was bound to sooner or later.  We've had quite a string of easy snow years on the animals.  At least it's coming a little later and in waves as opposed to one big dump which leaves them trapped up high where they can't get out.

[WDFW-SUX]

We are going to have a spike only deer heard over the next few years where the biggins are considered two points 

I am only applying for points on the deer draw for a few years no point in wasting all of my points on a late hunt when there are only 8 deer in the state that are better than 160.

[Lowedog]

Yep, all the big bucks are dead already!  Nobody put in for the late buck tags this year.  You'll just waste your points. 

-Lowedog

[HighCountry10]

Lowedog-Got any pictures of good bucks from up in your neck of the woods yet?  You used to post some really good photos of bucks on the winter range.

[Lowedog]

I seem to not be able to find the time to get out that I used to.   I'm going to try and get some pics this weekend.  I've seen a few nice bucks but not with camera in hand. 

-Lowedog

[bornforhorns]

Come on Lowedog, I'll be up soon to look for myself...you might as well send them my way. 

My thoughts on the winterkill is it's all a part of the process.  There's a lot of deer in the state with hair-loss disease right now...get rid of the weak and leave the strong. 

Guys who complain about not seeing nice deer quit hunting early, leaving the hardcore guys out there for a quality hunt.  Some of the best bucks I've ever seen were apparently when nobody could find a deer.  I heard Idaho and Wyoming have lot's of big bucks, you better all buy out state tags the next few years.

[Track-er]

Working on the west side of the Cascades for the BNSF.Lots of wet snow and alot of deer moving in one to three feet of snow.Also some cats and coyotes too.

[WAcoueshunter]

Guys who complain about not seeing nice deer quit hunting early, leaving the hardcore guys out there for a quality hunt.

...or we just read the daily report of 300 who hunted his arse off (along with others) for 21 days in December trying to fill his raffle tag with a good buck.  I haven't spent the time like others scouting the traditional winter ranges...but what they're seeing does not sound good. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Looking pretty tough in the Wenatchee and Entiat Valleys.  I imagine fawns are tipping over right now, as the bald eagles are pulling off the River and hunting the foothills - pretty reliable sign there's carrion to be had.