Winter or lack of..

[BPKHunter]

So I know we are less than half way, but I am encouraged that the deer and elk have had it so easy so far this year. First, the wintering grounds had the benefit of the wet season last year and were in as good a shape as they have been in in years providing for lot's of feed. The deer have had easy access to the feed and in some areas had been feeding on grass shoots from some fall rains, meaning there is going to be plenty of easily accessed feed if it gets bad. I am trying to be optimistic for a well above normal fawn and doe recruitment into next season. I saw a lot of twins this past season so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I know that some or many are going to blast about the unit 45 doe hunt and how F&G should have seen this mild winter coming. I too in hindsight wish they would have done that differently but hindsight is 20/20 and know what comments would be being made if we had a record winter of another kind so far.

One other thing is that without the snow the predators will are having a much harder time. I know last year in 32 the animals were much more concentrated than this year. I have not been over to my usual winter viewing spots by Danskin, but I am guessing they are more spread out there as I heard wolves were spotted right off hwy 84 between the truck stop and the fireworks place, probably wondering where the deer and elk were.

 

[idhunters]

I just hope this open winter doesn't end with a bad spring that keeps the green up from happening. Like the spring of 2011. Plus it hammered the upland game. But like you I very much hope that the deer herds have a "good year" and we get some recruitment.

On the 45 doe hunt, all the IDFG needed to do was to have a depredation draw and call the hunters when or if the weather started to turn. By all accounts the deer entered this fall in great shape.

I also believe that if we would have had a record winter there would be dead deer regardless of any doe hunts. I don't think you can do anything to stop high winter kill when the snow is 4 foot deep in April unless you feed them. And then you still might not save many.

Don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for doe hunts, and I really don't have a dog in the unit 45 fight. But IDFG continues to kill does on draw hunts, OTC youth tags and the OTC archery hunt here in SE Idaho regardless of the deer population or condition of the winter range.

 

[ID_hunter27]

over here by danskin i havent even bothered attempting to go view the herds its almost not worth it from what i heard and then supposedly wolves were spotted over by tipanuk i have a hard time believing that but then again it wouldnt surprise me. and winter is just holding up itll show sometime at after the 20th and people forget were in idaho it can snow in july so everyone just needs to wait it'll show at the wrong time but it will

 

[customweld]

I was down in Hells Canyon today and there is a terrific sprout of green coming up. The snow is way up probably in the 7,000 foot range on the east and south slopes. The lower hills almost already have a green tint to them. Saw lots of elk,deer and 16 goats.Everything seems to be in really good shape so far.

 

[High_Country]

Looks like the lack of winter will change over the next few days...

 

[huntfish714]

Will be interesting with these storms. But not sure if I'll be around to see, movin the tribe to AZ, love Idaho but have kind of had it with the way everything been goin. Agree that its hard to believe that the devil dogs are down that low but also wouldn't be surprised, they may have found the big goat herds, which could be devastating to the Lopers. If one elk might feed a pack, how many goats does it take? + The just for fun killings.......

 

[Abiggerfish2fry]

Sweet! it is starting snow now, that means that spring is next and I am headed back up to Idaho for some hunting and do my part by spending my money there instead of New Mexico!