Post by: Ridgerunner on January 06, 2022, 01:20:36 PM
I'm hoping its not as bad as 96/97 but I'm starting to get a little nervous.
Post by: Stein on January 06, 2022, 02:11:15 PM
It probably depends a bunch on how long it stays super deep. At least we haven't had bitter cold yet.
Post by: Bullkllr on January 06, 2022, 02:14:52 PM
Post by: HighCountryHunter88 on January 06, 2022, 02:28:51 PM
Post by: hunter399 on January 06, 2022, 02:37:51 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on January 06, 2022, 02:55:56 PM
Post by: jstone on January 06, 2022, 04:02:53 PM
Post by: eliandsky on January 06, 2022, 04:28:47 PM
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Post by: buckcanyonlodge on January 06, 2022, 05:41:28 PM
Should be great time to look for predators
A friend in Yakima recently went out calling coyotes. In four set-ups they called in 17 coyote and shot 7 of them.
Post by: Seabass on January 06, 2022, 06:22:37 PM
Post by: BKMFR on January 06, 2022, 06:27:07 PM
Shoot straight! :-)
Post by: bigmacc on January 06, 2022, 07:29:42 PM
Weve been involved with feedings during a few of the bad winters, one the 70,s and the late 90,s to name a couple, had hundreds of deer block me from getting out of my truck after a game fella friend sent us to a particular orchard in the south valley, there was so much snow in the north valley it had pushed 80-90% of the herd to the south, from about Twisp to the Columbia River. We drove into the orchard, the game department had cut the gate and plowed a drive into the orchard, that particular winter it was snow depth that was wreaking havoc on the herd, the orchard we went into was off the Burma road and had about 2-3 foot of snow in it. Snow depth in parts of the north valley had places with 6-8 feet! The game department had subsidized some orchard owners and cut the fences to let the deer in to feed on the trees, the deer actually had trenches cut into the snow all through the orchard, you could only see their heads walking through the snow. I pulled in, they knew why we were there, a couple hundred starving deer surrounded my truck and were actually trying to get in the back to get to the pellets! I couldn't even open my door, had to crawl out through the window to get in the back of the truck! That was a bad one also but like I said, because of snow, which is what worries me about this winter in the Methow, this herd can't take much more.
Post by: elksnout on January 06, 2022, 09:45:42 PM
elksnout
Post by: Dan-o on January 06, 2022, 10:41:39 PM
Should be great time to look for predators
A friend in Yakima recently went out calling coyotes. In four set-ups they called in 17 coyote and shot 7 of them.
:yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike: :yike:
Post by: meatwhack on January 06, 2022, 10:46:29 PM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on January 06, 2022, 11:11:31 PM
Hopefully things will warm up and the majority of our herds will make it.
Post by: huntnphool on January 06, 2022, 11:53:48 PM
Post by: hunter399 on January 07, 2022, 05:55:58 AM
I may have to plan on snowshoe in to one area and dropping a few deer blocks.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 07, 2022, 06:26:22 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on January 07, 2022, 07:53:30 AM
Post by: Mfowl on January 07, 2022, 08:23:15 AM
Post by: Ironhead on January 07, 2022, 08:32:00 AM
Post by: bigmacc on January 07, 2022, 09:28:23 AM
Post by: eliandsky on January 07, 2022, 09:31:27 AM
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Post by: vandeman17 on January 07, 2022, 09:37:59 AM
Post by: buckfvr on January 07, 2022, 09:50:12 AM
Post by: bearhunter99 on January 07, 2022, 09:50:55 AM
Post by: bigmacc on January 07, 2022, 09:57:24 AM
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.
Post by: vandeman17 on January 07, 2022, 10:02:14 AM
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
Post by: Ghost Hunter on January 07, 2022, 10:34:31 AM
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.
Post by: lemondog on January 08, 2022, 03:54:53 PM
Post by: bigdub257 on January 08, 2022, 05:00:19 PM
Post by: tmike on January 08, 2022, 06:09:23 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on January 08, 2022, 06:26:25 PM
Post by: tmike on January 08, 2022, 07:03:58 PM
Post by: 85yota on January 08, 2022, 07:43:19 PM
Post by: hunter399 on January 08, 2022, 08:21:31 PM
North 40 just raised sweet cob to almost 20.00 a bag,is 18 something then tax ,it's 20.00 a bag.
I've seen it go from.
10.99
12.99
15.99
Now 18.99.
Post by: Limhangerslayer on January 08, 2022, 08:29:08 PM
I’ve heard mixed things about what to feed mule deer in the winter. Does anyone know what is recommended?we feed good quality alfalfa and rolled corn.
Post by: Mfowl on January 08, 2022, 08:49:44 PM
I’ve heard mixed things about what to feed mule deer in the winter. Does anyone know what is recommended?we feed good quality alfalfa and rolled corn.
This article says it takes about 2 weeks for a deer to adjust to a new food and draw nutrients from it. If you are not already feeding you probably should not start now. :dunno:
Post by: LDennis24 on January 08, 2022, 09:06:42 PM
Post by: Limhangerslayer on January 08, 2022, 09:25:32 PM
Post by: tmike on January 08, 2022, 09:56:13 PM
Post by: LDennis24 on January 08, 2022, 10:03:08 PM
Post by: Duckslayer89 on January 08, 2022, 11:35:54 PM
:yeah:. This is true with any ruminant animal. They pass gas through their mouths. A drastic change in feed can cause bloating kill them quickly. It literally swells them up so much their diaphraghm crushes their lungs. If you have to change feed suddenly and it has any type of legume like alfalfa or is too rich it can cause bloating. Sometimes frothy bloat which is quickly deadly. Frothy bloat is when they cannot belch out the foamy mucus that comes up their throat and they suffocate from it. If you put out feed in your yard for them add a water source also, then make sure you put a tablespoon of Blue Dawn dish soap in every 50 gallons of water. This is totally safe and it will allow them to belch easily by lubing their throat and stomach lining. I have saved sheep bloated so bad their legs stuck straight out by firing a syringe of dish soap water down their throats before. It's also a lifesaver for having around your livestock. The blue kind doesn't have scent additives and other garbage in it. That's why it's good for oil spills! Hope that helps anyone wanting to do the animals a favor.
That’s a good tip I’ll remember that for the future
Post by: nwwanderer on January 09, 2022, 05:08:30 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on January 09, 2022, 08:50:45 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on January 09, 2022, 10:29:48 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on January 09, 2022, 11:24:00 AM
Post by: meatwhack on January 09, 2022, 11:28:02 AM
Post by: nwwanderer on January 09, 2022, 11:56:51 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on January 09, 2022, 12:47:39 PM
Good golly miss Molly. There’s some snow on that roof.
2 feet in 24 hours will do that :chuckle:
Post by: Timberstalker on January 09, 2022, 12:53:58 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on January 09, 2022, 12:55:57 PM
Post by: vandeman17 on January 09, 2022, 01:41:43 PM
Lake Wenatchee report is about 6 feet since Jan 1.
Talked to friends who live between Leavenworth and lake wenatchee. They got over 40” in those same 24 hours
Post by: jstone on January 09, 2022, 05:25:37 PM
Post by: bigmacc on January 09, 2022, 09:13:51 PM
Do you think that some deer got stuck in the back countryI told a story a few years ago that would answer this question, it happens, my old packer friend and his wife ran smack dab into dozens of skeletons scattered in a box canyon at about 9,000 ft. All in different stages of decomposition, some still had hair, some still had their antlers, I seen the pictures. He and his wife figured they got trapped in a freak/early storm, most were under trees and in thickets, they were trying to stay out of the weather. He said that under some trees the bones were piled on top of each other like they were trying to stay warm or alive. This was in the early 70,s, close to Spanish Camp. Mother Nature can be a bit$h at times.
I told the whole story before. It made the hair on my neck stand at attention when it was told to me.
Post by: teanawayslayer on January 10, 2022, 01:41:17 AM
Do you think that some deer got stuck in the back countryI’m willing to be they were out of there long ago.
Post by: highcountry_hunter on January 10, 2022, 04:09:06 AM
Maybe it’s a cost issue. I always wondered why they feed elk and not mule deer. I heard they switch to a more wood diet in winter might be all that’s available. I need to do more research because I have fed apples etc and don’t want to do more harm than good. Plus apples and other organics aren’t always available. I think whitetail are a different story.
We don’t have elk feeding sights in the NE corner but they used to feed the muleys and whitetail at Sherman creek game range and near Sullivan lake. At the Sherman creek game range there’s a couple hundred acres of fields where the game department would hire a guy to farm alfalfa just for feeding deer in the winter. To the best of my knowledge the reason they stopped doing it (roughly 10-15years ago?) is because it was turning into a lion feeding frenzy area. Also this was long before concerns of CWD in Washington.
Post by: hunter399 on January 10, 2022, 05:52:37 AM
I thought it was "let nature take its course" with WDFW concerning feeding deer vs elk.Maybe it’s a cost issue. I always wondered why they feed elk and not mule deer. I heard they switch to a more wood diet in winter might be all that’s available. I need to do more research because I have fed apples etc and don’t want to do more harm than good. Plus apples and other organics aren’t always available. I think whitetail are a different story.
We don’t have elk feeding sights in the NE corner but they used to feed the muleys and whitetail at Sherman creek game range and near Sullivan lake. At the Sherman creek game range there’s a couple hundred acres of fields where the game department would hire a guy to farm alfalfa just for feeding deer in the winter. To the best of my knowledge the reason they stopped doing it (roughly 10-15years ago?) is because it was turning into a lion feeding frenzy area. Also this was long before concerns of CWD in Washington.
Post by: nwwanderer on January 10, 2022, 07:46:49 AM
Post by: BIGDOG253 on January 10, 2022, 09:17:52 AM
Post by: BIGDOG253 on January 10, 2022, 09:19:32 AM
Post by: hunter399 on January 10, 2022, 09:43:08 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on January 10, 2022, 09:54:08 AM
As some may know ,we are in the teens to negative temps here in NE at nite . The snow is still pretty soft. But any well worn or packed down trails are hard as a rock.
Amazing to look at the hillsides all around my house. It looks like an ant farm of trails zig zagging all over. I can watched a half dozen different groups of 8-12 deer from my house walking single file down them all day long.
Post by: bigmacc on January 10, 2022, 11:09:32 AM
Near ChelanNot good.
Post by: Bullkllr on January 10, 2022, 11:12:52 AM
Those fawns are about under.Near ChelanNot good.
Post by: Cougeyes on January 11, 2022, 02:15:55 PM
Post by: Lady Grouse hunter on January 11, 2022, 06:30:16 PM
We just saw pics of Deer up to they're necks in snow! They can't feed or hardly move through these conditions They will surely starve, succome to this bad situiation... I really hope some local farmer's will step up and put out Alfalfa for them... clean the pastures
:yeah: :hello:
Post by: fishnfur on January 11, 2022, 11:22:30 PM
https://nwsportsmanmag.com/biologists-monitor-conditions-after-huge-snowfall-on-deer-range/
I'm sticking with the biologist's view in this link:
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Emily Jeffreys, WDFW’s current Chelan-Douglas County district wildlife biologist, yesterday said she understood and appreciated that the heavy snowfall had folks worried about the region’s deer and how it was impacting the animals’ movements across the landscape.
“However, I don’t believe we have reason to fear for Chelan County’s mule deer population yet. Winter actually started pretty late and deer experienced relatively mild conditions on winter range until temperatures dropped in late December. Further, last week’s extreme snow event occurred early enough in the season that deer should still have considerable fat stores. Although Chelan County experienced wildfires this past summer and fall, these fires were not extensive enough to have compromised deer’s ability to find adequate forage and put on weight while on summer range as well as during fall greenup,” Jeffreys stated.
One of the fires, Red Apple, burned across range just northwest of Wenatchee, while the Twenty-five Mile blaze was further into the backcountry.
“Mule deer are well-adapted to survive harsh winter conditions, and one heavy snowfall, although unusually extreme, still isn’t enough to warrant concern about the possibility of poor fawn recruitment or winter kill at this juncture,” Jeffreys stated. “Fawn recruitment may well be down this year compared to that following the relatively mild 2020/2021 winter, but I think it’s too soon to come to the conclusion that deer in Chelan County are in ‘dire straits.'”
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Deer are tough animals. Their genetic instincts, developed over thousands of years, has them pretty well equipped to deal with heavy snow. Occasional significant winter losses due to out-of-the-norm conditions are just a part of Mother Nature's brutal management of the herds. As they say - Mother Nature is a cruel mistress.
On the other side of the Cascades, at least one buck lost his battle against the weather. Found last weekend - DOA during the last winter storm.
Post by: Lady Grouse hunter on January 12, 2022, 12:39:06 AM
Post by: Lady Grouse hunter on January 12, 2022, 12:51:04 AM
They will just sit and DIE!!
Post by: LDennis24 on January 12, 2022, 07:38:53 AM
Post by: Duckslayer89 on January 12, 2022, 01:11:25 PM
Post by: highcountry_hunter on January 12, 2022, 04:23:23 PM
I see after the Winter of 96/97 this could be just as BAD for the deer herds. That's when the state put a 3 pt. minimum on Muley & Some whites..
We just saw pics of Deer up to they're necks in snow! They can't feed or hardly move through these conditions They will surely starve, succome to this bad situiation... I really hope some local farmer's will step up and put out Alfalfa for them... clean the pastures
:yeah: :hello:
If you find a farmer anywhere in the Pacific Northwest who’s giving away alfalfa then let me know. With last summers drought there was hay shortages everywhere and prices were higher than I’ve ever seen them.
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on January 12, 2022, 05:34:56 PM
Post by: Ghost Hunter on January 12, 2022, 05:43:05 PM
I see after the Winter of 96/97 this could be just as BAD for the deer herds. That's when the state put a 3 pt. minimum on Muley & Some whites..
We just saw pics of Deer up to they're necks in snow! They can't feed or hardly move through these conditions They will surely starve, succome to this bad situiation... I really hope some local farmer's will step up and put out Alfalfa for them... clean the pastures
:yeah: :hello:
If you find a farmer anywhere in the Pacific Northwest who’s giving away alfalfa then let me know. With last summers drought there was hay shortages everywhere and prices were higher than I’ve ever seen them.
:yeah: Did my part. I bought 30 bales at that inflated price. About 2500 pounds. Started feeding in October.
Most was left in the shed with the gate open. Last year hay was still there when the deer left around the 1st of February.
Post by: KFhunter on January 12, 2022, 05:54:17 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on January 12, 2022, 05:59:27 PM
Post by: kanderson3 on January 12, 2022, 08:45:36 PM
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Post by: meatwhack on January 13, 2022, 10:02:56 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on January 13, 2022, 10:04:26 AM
Post by: meatwhack on January 13, 2022, 11:58:11 AM
Post by: jstone on January 13, 2022, 11:59:39 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on January 13, 2022, 11:59:49 AM
Post by: scoyoc5 on January 13, 2022, 03:35:01 PM
Post by: Lady Grouse hunter on January 13, 2022, 10:03:16 PM
This report IS SOO OLDE!!!
These Bioligists need to get-off-the-couch and re-access the current conditions out here especially in Upper Grant co.
Post by: bearhunter99 on January 14, 2022, 08:27:59 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on January 14, 2022, 02:56:26 PM
Post by: HntnFsh on January 14, 2022, 05:23:41 PM
Post by: jstone on January 16, 2022, 03:35:54 PM
Post by: LDennis24 on January 18, 2022, 12:01:36 PM
Post by: KP-Skagit on January 18, 2022, 01:18:28 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on January 18, 2022, 01:24:08 PM
My place the snow was up to their chests day one of the snowstorm, to their knees day two after the storm and to their ankles by day three.
Post by: LDennis24 on January 18, 2022, 01:55:13 PM
They have done these captures for the last two years on my place. It is done on winter feeding grounds where I am sure the snow has melted off and is not an issue.
My place the snow was up to their chests day one of the snowstorm, to their knees day two after the storm and to their ankles by day three.
That's good cuz my concern would be the energy expelled running from the chopper in snow up to their bellies!
Post by: teanawayslayer on January 18, 2022, 03:06:33 PM
They have done these captures for the last two years on my place. It is done on winter feeding grounds where I am sure the snow has melted off and is not an issue.wow the snow is melting fast up there. We still have a foot in the valley
My place the snow was up to their chests day one of the snowstorm, to their knees day two after the storm and to their ankles by day three.
Post by: Stein on January 18, 2022, 03:28:43 PM
Post by: Platensek-po on January 18, 2022, 04:07:38 PM
Maybe someone smarter than me can explain why they stress them like that in the end of January after heavy snow instead of another time of year when they are in better shape?
Probably easier to find.
Post by: bigmacc on January 18, 2022, 05:08:39 PM
Maybe someone smarter than me can explain why they stress them like that in the end of January after heavy snow instead of another time of year when they are in better shape?
Not sayin I'm smarter than anybody here :chuckle: :tup:
We learned a lot after killing that big collared buck back in the 80,s, after turning the collar in we received a 2 page letter telling the story of this buck over the 3 or so years they tracked him. They explained the day he was singled out and collared and how and why he was picked. By the explanation it was basically done in January because of a better "pool" of bucks to choose from, especially after a series of storms and weather that basically push pretty much the whole population to lower and more accessible ground, winter range. He was singled out after many days of multiple volunteers and employees scouring hundreds of square miles, they picked this fella as a good example of genetics, bodywise and antlers. So, my cousin who worked for the game department of another state pretty much verified this reasoning. I remember as a boy watching the Game department actually doing deer drives in the Methow, my dad told many stories of how he and my great grandpa actually volunteered to help with some back in the 60,s and before. They would build pens out of 12 foot posts and netting in areas where deer would congregate in certain areas of winter range. The corrals would be shaped like big funnel, they would have guys on horseback start pushing them towards the pen, sometimes from a mile or so away. As the deer got closer there would be other volunteers hunkered down in specific spots in the sage brush holding pots and pans and ready with whistles. At just the right time someone would give the signal and everyone would standup and start whistling and banging the pots and pans, strategically pushing the deer into the big end of the funnel. Sometimes they would get a dozen or so in there, a lot all tangled up etc. Not a very efficient or safe way to do it but it was done. I remember sitting on a hill and watching guys get run over by 3 or 4 deer, stepped on etc :chuckle: I guess the deer got their shots in too :chuckle:. Don't remember when they started using choppers, my dad remembers the old stampede method being done much earlier, a lot of times no snow at all in fact that was best because it was easier on the deer and the horses, but back then there were a hell of a lot more deer in the Methow, a hell of a lot more :tup:
Post by: LDennis24 on January 18, 2022, 05:51:13 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on January 18, 2022, 05:56:50 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on January 18, 2022, 05:58:05 PM
Post by: Ironhead on January 18, 2022, 06:03:27 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 18, 2022, 06:53:01 PM
Post by: idaho guy on January 18, 2022, 08:44:31 PM
Can anyone tell me if Bigmacc is a big guy? Cuz someone needs to literally twist his arm and make him put all his memories of the Methow and mule deer hunting down in writing for a book! :chuckle: :dunno:
:yeah:
Post by: eliandsky on January 18, 2022, 08:53:39 PM
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Post by: Birdgetter on January 18, 2022, 09:00:25 PM
Maybe someone smarter than me can explain why they stress them like that in the end of January after heavy snow instead of another time of year when they are in better shape?I assume they are net gunning the deer out of the helicopters. It is much easier on the deer to be netted on snow covered ground than on dry ground. Also the snow keeps the animals from overheating, which can be a problem other times of the year. There is very little harm done to the animals this time of year. A lot of previous work from researchers and biologists shows this is the best time of the year for capture projects.
Post by: Rainier10 on January 19, 2022, 02:10:58 PM
What are you feeding them Rainier10?Antlermax 16 from October 1st until March 1st. March 2nd until October I feed them Antlermax 20. 20 has more protein for growing better antlers. I am not sure it works. I started the feeding the year after we had a big fire. Antler growth was definitely better but so was the fresh new natural plant growth. Tough to tell if the antlermax is what did it or if all the fresh new vegetation did it. The other thing that I noticed is I have a ton of twin fawns. Again not sure if it is the antlermax or all the new vegetation.
No question they love the antlermax so I will keep it going as long as the state allows.
All of the other critters in the area love it as well. Including the range cows that break through my fences. Nothing more frustrating than 2,000 pictures in a two days of cows eating 300 pounds of feed.
The deer and elk don't just camp out and eat it all. They come in and get a little and move onto to other browse in the area.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 19, 2022, 02:16:26 PM
What are you feeding them Rainier10?Antlermax 16 from October 1st until March 1st. March 2nd until October I feed them Antlermax 20. 20 has more protein for growing better antlers. I am not sure it works. I started the feeding the year after we had a big fire. Antler growth was definitely better but so was the fresh new natural plant growth. Tough to tell if the antlermax is what did it or if all the fresh new vegetation did it. The other thing that I noticed is I have a ton of twin fawns. Again not sure if it is the antlermax or all the new vegetation.
No question they love the antlermax so I will keep it going as long as the state allows.
All of the other critters in the area love it as well. Including the range cows that break through my fences. Nothing more frustrating than 2,000 pictures in a two days of cows eating 300 pounds of feed.
The deer and elk don't just camp out and eat it all. They come in and get a little and move onto to other browse in the area.
Yeah it’s pretty hard to keep cattle off feed like that.🤯
You should start a thread showing your results on feeding them.👍
Post by: Stein on January 19, 2022, 02:26:54 PM
Maybe someone smarter than me can explain why they stress them like that in the end of January after heavy snow instead of another time of year when they are in better shape?I assume they are net gunning the deer out of the helicopters. It is much easier on the deer to be netted on snow covered ground than on dry ground. Also the snow keeps the animals from overheating, which can be a problem other times of the year. There is very little harm done to the animals this time of year. A lot of previous work from researchers and biologists shows this is the best time of the year for capture projects.
:tup: Thanks, interesting info.
Post by: LDennis24 on January 19, 2022, 05:19:02 PM
Post by: b23 on January 20, 2022, 09:06:36 AM
No nets, just hands...
Geez that seems extremely dangerous in such a rocky area like that. Looks like a good way to whack your head on a rock and go night night for good.