joelweb
Well-known member
Pretty cold and snowy in Montana. How much more can the deer handle?
This Winter Weather...
- Thread starter joelweb
- Start date
It's bad news. Supposed to back down in the negative teens next week. If things don't change quick, I won't be planning on hunting deer in region 2 for the next couple years.
Looking at the highway cameras across the State, it seems like a mixed bag. SE Montana is getting hammered.
Lots hope for a warm February and March.
Looking at the highway cameras across the State, it seems like a mixed bag. SE Montana is getting hammered.
Lots hope for a warm February and March.
mdunc8
Well-known member
Yeah we've had some cold days, but in general the snowpack isn't exceptional or even average in most places. The Yellowstone is the only basin with above average snowpack. The snow that was around here got picked up and deposited in the Dakotas over the last few days.
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/data/water/wcs/gis/maps/mt_swepctnormal_update.pdf
http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/updatesur/update-mt.html
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/data/water/wcs/gis/maps/mt_swepctnormal_update.pdf
http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/updatesur/update-mt.html
muledeerjunkie
Member
We have more than enough snow in central North Dakota for this time of year, there's about 40 inches on the ground at our place. We usually get our fair share of snow each year, but it usually shows in late January or early February and is tolerable until it start warms up the following month. It looks like the past couple years of higher deer numbers (due to mild winters) can easily be erased if the -20F kicks in again!
406LIFE
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Minus a week or so of subzero, I feel like the winter has been fairly normal-mild in R2. I'm still bowhunting and not seeing anything that is giving me a concern. But we still have 3 more months before it'll start to lift so who really knows...
Tradewind
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Randy 11
Can you send a link to the hwy cameras?
Can you send a link to the hwy cameras?
muledeerjunkie
Member
I don't know if this is what Randy11 uses, but I look at these occasionally: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/weather/rwis.shtml
You need to click on the interactive map on the right or scroll through the name in alphabetical order on the left and select the location.
You need to click on the interactive map on the right or scroll through the name in alphabetical order on the left and select the location.
Tradewind
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Thank you
Nameless Range
Well-known member
joelweb
Well-known member
The one thing they have going for them is that the fall was wet and warm in many places. There was a big green-up and the deer entered this winter weather in good shape. I just hope it lets up sometime in the next few weeks, as they can't deal with the deep snow and constant cold forever.
Poke 'Em
Well-known member
Take it with a cupful of salt, but the current long term forecast for NE Montana doesn't have it getting above freezing for the next 4 weeks. It's looking a lot like 2010-11 again, except it started a month later.
johnp
Well-known member
Hopefully the antelope vs train situation doesn't repeat itself.
Hunting Wife
Well-known member
Driving back through Montana today, on the way home from Christmas on the coast. What a difference a few days make. Snow was mostly pretty light and powdery when we left. Must have warmed up quite a bit while we were gone. Everywhere we've stopped today the snow has melted just enough to be heavy and wet. That's going to make some really nasty ice conditions for critters when it freezes back up this week. It doesn't have to be deep....just has to be too hard to dig through for things to get ugly.
Brittany Chukarman
Well-known member
So far the mule deer here in E. Oregon are able to dig through the snow but they're struggling. Much colder temps this coming week. The chukar are really taking a hit. I had to stop for a covey on the state highway yesterday. They did not want to leave the asphalt.
Over here in southeast Montana the deer seem to be struggling to get through the snow crust. Lots more hanging in the hay yards and with the cows than normal. I have a feeling the antelope recovery in this area is going to take a bit of a dip after this winter. Saying another 6"-12" of new snow starting tomorrow night
yeah! In N ID in mid November the woods looked like I was spring bear hunting it was so green
1976
Active member
Happy New Year everyone, the winter of 2016 and 2017 is shaping up to be the worst in many yrs. Right now in NW ND were sitting at 56 inches of snow. The biggest problem we have had has been the wind, since the first blizzard dumped 15 inches the cattail sloughs and our yards have never been so full of snow, the pheasants are really having a tough go of it, after the first snow they were every where, now theirs fewer every week, Looks like we will be starting all over with them, been having a few deer die in the yard already right after the last 20 inches fell, all were yearling bucks and a couple fawns, which is somewhat normal in March not December, better hope for a nice Jan and Feb but that probably won't happen. Sorry for the negativity but on the bright side give them time and good weather they'll be back.
antlerradar
Well-known member
Winter 50 miles north of WY and close to the Custer sucks. Joleweb is right. The easy fall and lots of rain gave the deer a good start on this winter. About the first week of Dec the weather went down hill in a big way. Started snowing and it has gotten deep. We now have the most snow on the ground that I have seen since 96/97. (not a good year for deer). I haven't taken the pickup out of 4 wheel drive in two weeks. you don't even think about driving anywhere that is not plowed. Last week we did have a lot of wind and that put a lot of the snow in piles. If it warms up a lot of spots will bare off. Doesn't look like it is going to warm up soon. It is -8 out right now and that looks to be the nice day this week. If this winter continues on into Feb and March is will be the end of the deer recovery.
