How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
#42
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 522
RE: How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
Stress myophothy..
Don't know about you, but I can't trust anyone that usesbig, mysteriouswords like that...especially when jabberin' about deer and deer hunting.
[8D]
Don't know about you, but I can't trust anyone that usesbig, mysteriouswords like that...especially when jabberin' about deer and deer hunting.
[8D]
#43
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 584
RE: How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
ORIGINAL: archer58
R.S.B.,
MAybe I should start another thread w/ this question, but I'd like to know what your thoughts are as far as survival for this year?
The mast crop was consumed pretty early in most areas close to here.
It seems the deer are starting to eat my rhodadendren.(spell?)
If the conditions remain somewhat the same,what will be the condition of the herd locally?
R.S.B.,
MAybe I should start another thread w/ this question, but I'd like to know what your thoughts are as far as survival for this year?
The mast crop was consumed pretty early in most areas close to here.
It seems the deer are starting to eat my rhodadendren.(spell?)
If the conditions remain somewhat the same,what will be the condition of the herd locally?
Just today I started finding a few places where the deer were starting to pull down off the ridges and plateaus and heading into the wintering grounds. Out along the Loleta Grade we saw about 20 deer in just a few miles of wintering grounds and there were tracks everywhere. I am sure there were a lot more deer in the hemlocks that we didn’t see.
The deer still aren’t down along the river bottom yet though so they obviously aren’t feeling any serious stress yet. If the snow doesn’t get any deeper then it is now most of the deer in my district will be fine. In the areas with a foot or more of snow on the ground though it might be a different story if the snows linger for a few more weeks. In those areas if the deep snow conditions hang on for more then a few weeks it will start to affect the weight of the does and then eventually it will adversely affect the survival rates of the fawns those does are carrying once they are born.
I know some of the readers are from New York and some of the areas in New York State are measuring their snow fall in feet. They are probably going to have serious issues with the condition of their deer herds unless they get a major thaw and snow melt real soon.
R.S. Bodenhorn
#44
RE: How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
I imagine there will be a major impact on the deer herd in Central New York. A friend that went up there snow mobiling said they saw many deer herded up under pines and snow levels outside the pines so high that they couldn't imagine how the deer could even move thru the stuff. If they don't starve, I'm sure the coyotes will get to them.
#45
RE: How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
From what I had seen on the news the snowfall will most deffinately affect the deer herd. I can not even image that much snow in only 6 or 7 days. It is a sad thing when so many deer is in trouble and it sure sounds that way to me. I hope the snow will melt down a few feet soon.
#47
RE: How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
Although the first couple of months were great for wildlife it looks like winter is going out this year with a bang.
#49
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,262
RE: How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
The snow around here really isn't deep enough to effect their mobility.If they sufficient,high quality browse,they'll be fine if things start to let up.I noticed a spotty mast crop that was cleaned up early in most areas whereI hunted this year.In areas with poor habitat,I suspectfawn recruitment will be lower this year.
#50
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location:
Posts: 428
RE: How long can Whitetails survive the deep freeze?
Yesterday morning I had a woodchuck eating corn in my backyard.We have around 18 inches of snow on the ground here in Crawford county and I have no Idea what a groundhog was doing out of his den.
For those of you that own land its a good time to get out and cut some soft maple down so the deer can feed on the buds.Nows the time to open up the canopy that shades your apple trees also.
For those of you that own land its a good time to get out and cut some soft maple down so the deer can feed on the buds.Nows the time to open up the canopy that shades your apple trees also.