Post by: Bigshooter on February 24, 2010, 09:27:51 AM
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100222/NEWS01/2220302/Tough-winter-killing-off-mule-deer (http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100222/NEWS01/2220302/Tough-winter-killing-off-mule-deer)
Post by: DeerHarvester on February 24, 2010, 02:56:34 PM
Post by: huntnphool on February 24, 2010, 02:58:17 PM
Great..... That gives a guy a lot of hope after lying done 650+
Its a large state and that is just one small area.
Post by: 270Shooter on February 24, 2010, 03:59:47 PM
Post by: Craig on February 24, 2010, 04:34:49 PM
Post by: elkaholic123 on February 24, 2010, 04:40:34 PM
Post by: muleyguy on February 25, 2010, 12:52:03 AM
It is a big state, and some areas seem to have gotten through it better then others, but, I think it is safe to say that there is going to be many areas that are down pretty severely if they have another bad winter. The big die offs typically happen in march/april, so we haven't even gotten through that period yet.
here's an additional article on it:
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100128/LIFESTYLE05/1280313/Where-have-all-the-mulies-gone (http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100128/LIFESTYLE05/1280313/Where-have-all-the-mulies-gone)
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 25, 2010, 08:06:29 AM
Like Muleyguy said, they had a tough spring in that part of MT last year. The worst part is that if the SE doesn't get hit as hard, then a lot of hunters will be headed to that region this fall, where it is ALREADY overcrowded...
Post by: muleyguy on February 25, 2010, 02:03:56 PM
Quote
The worst part is that if the SE doesn't get hit as hard, then a lot of hunters will be headed to that region this fall, where it is ALREADY overcrowded...
that is exactly what happens in MT now; technology (internet, better trucks, better gear) has made hunter's much more mobile now then in the past;
Post by: KimberRich on February 25, 2010, 02:55:16 PM
Post by: muleyguy on February 25, 2010, 03:13:18 PM
sounds like you are primarily talking about agricultural areas of private ground; yes, those were less affected for obvious reasons; numbers were higher in those areas to begin with, hunting is restricted, and generally feed is better in ag areas and helps deer get through tough winters easier.
doesn't sound like you get out into the public ground much.....some areas in the Breaks got abolutely hammered; other areas fared better; Ag lands always are buffered. In the Breaks, the further you got away from the ag lands, the worse it got;
Post by: Bigshooter on February 25, 2010, 04:30:28 PM
There's always winter kill.. That's life. Must not be anything better to write about in Great Falls. There are tons of deer in/around the populated areas of Great Falls and Lewistown. Saw a 150+ class buck in a small field 50 yards from a gas station in Great Falls last November. I hunt my family's ranch just out of Lewistown and there is no shortage of deer in town.. They are a problem there for sure. I saw no shortage of deer anywhere in the area last year. Actually I would say I see more and more deer every year over there. As long as the farmers continue to plant crops the deer numbers will sustain. :twocents:
You are right there is always winter kill. In colorado they expect winter kill of 25% every winter. It's only when its over 25% that you here about it in colorado. Like in 2007 when the gunison basin was hit with between 75 - 80% winter kill. If the game department in any state is talking about winter kill it's bad. And if Montana is already cutting B tags it's probably worse than any of us are thinking.
Post by: bowhunterforever on February 25, 2010, 08:05:13 PM