Disastrous winter in Gunnison

[ColoradoV]

The worst I ever saw for antelope was the winter of 07/08 down by timpas colorado or between la junta and trinadad. While helping some friends on their ranch during that blizzard the only place for the antelope to go was on the railroad tracks and when the train came it mowed them down by the bushel loads. Crazy sound a train hitting that many at once... We were using snowmobiles to make trails to water for the cows and saved most of them on that ranch that winter. Some neighbors did not fare so well in that blizzard. Still have not hunted the ranch since but the antelope are back as far as they say so might have to give it a go this fall.

Good to see all the press helped get some attention by the CPW and this "baiting" is actually "feeding" as far as anyone can tell - hopefully it will help get them away from the hwy. That article was in the local paper on tuesday and the meeting is tonight where folks can go to talk it out if you are in the area.

Wait and see mode now as we know that this will not be a easy winter for the deer and kill will be much higher that most years just how high is the question. Just like in 08 CPW and some will say deer are just fine but many of us know otherwise and the fact that this is the first time CPW has crossed this bridge since 08 shows how serious it is.

Fingers crossed this 3-4 day storm scheduled to arrive tomorrow is more of a miss than a hit.

 

[FitToHunt]

I'm assuming this would apply to the area's elk herd as well? That is actually one of my top areas to consider for 2017 elk.... Nutz!

 

[trkytrack2]

When has PETA ever given a rats ass about any animal?

 

[kidoggy]

When has PETA ever given a rats ass about any animal?

they love the wolves. not cause they really care if they live or die but because they are a fantastic money making tool to achieve an ends.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

It sure as hell snow a bunch down here in the 4 corners area. Started yesterday and has only let up a little yesterday afternoon. Just went out and looked on my concrete pad in front of the garage and there is about a foot on it. I was going to drive up to an area north of me (about 80 miles or so) that is a big wintering area for deer& elk, but sure not going to go until the weather clears up some and all the highways get plowed! There were about 30 elk in front of my place last evening when my wife & I went to town for dinner. Don't see them very much down here in the winter. Yesterdays paper said we have around 200% of normal snow for this time of year.

 

[sheephunter]

Just saw a post from Grand Mesa Lodge; 262.2" so far this year. Except for shady spots there is 0" on the ground here in Grand Junction right now.

 

[JimP]

Just saw a post from Grand Mesa Lodge; 262.2" so far this year. Except for shady spots there is 0" on the ground here in Grand Junction right now.

While that shows how much snow they have received this year it doesn't mean how much is on the ground.

Also there are very few deer and elk wintering up at Grand Mesa Lodge

 

[sheephunter]

Yeah, I know this---I would say there are zero deer/elk up there now. The same post says approximately 8.5 foot base and 29" of fresh powder.

 

[RICMIC]

I just spoke to a friend of mine who lives near Cokeville, WY (No. of Rock Springs), and they have two feet of snow in the elk/deer wintering grounds and hit -40 once and many days at -20 or colder. The elk are now mostly hanging out next to the highway. They graze sheep further south near Rock Springs, and he said everything is still good down there. His dad is pushing 70, and says this is the toughest winter in his lifetime.

 

[sdebrot]

We are two weeks since the last post on this subject, has things gotten better, stayed the same, or gone bad since?

 

[sheephunter]

I saw a patient in my office a couple days ago who lives in Gunnison; it was in the afternoon and he wanted to hurry up and get out of town so he could get home before dark. He said it was too dangerous to be out on the roads after dark because of all the deer & elk hanging around on the roads.

 

[xtreme]

We were as deep as 125 inches on the ground at Cumbres Tressle. That is South San Juan. Deer and elk have migrated to lower country so maybe not too much damage to the herd animals.

 

[ColoradoV]

The weather "warm up" has helped but as it has barley gotten above freezing the past week. 2 deg right(at least not below 0!) now with highs in the upper 20's. Hard to melt much when weeks go by and the temps dont get north of freezing. Only warm up was the rain a week ago that settled the snow a bit and made a very thick crust deer break through but coyotes stay on top. Next storm is said to roll in Sunday then Thurs and again Saturday. CPW is still feeding or wait baiting.

I am pry done with updates as my belief is that this winter is bad enough that only time will tell and we will know in the summer/fall how many died but fair to say it will be way more than every year since 07/08. The CPW is saying they already expect fawn mortality of 45% or more so the effect will be felt years into the future. IMO the forkie type bucks are getting hit as hard than the fawns for some reason seeing a lot of dead ones. I dont think anyone will know for sure before the deer return to the summer range. This winter will have a effect on the deer/hunting and it will just be a matter of how much.

 

[kidoggy]

I hate those dying years but that is nature. she is brutal.
mights well make the best of it and try and find some winterkilled bucks an bulls, if legal to do so. just try to be conciderate to survivors when doing so.

here in idaho they have started a few feeding sites around the state. I am sure we will have above average winterkill this year but doubt it will decimate the herds much. at least not in sw idaho. we got above average snow but did not get an early winter and the snow is already coming off the foothills now and already starting to green up a bit. deer and elk I've seen actually look pretty good

 

[jjh]

Here is a link to Big Game Forever Colorado, some pics and video to tell the story. m.facebook.com/biggameforevercolorado/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1

Take a look at the 2017 regs that just came out, CPW decided to offer doe hunts in the Gunnison basin. I know they set quotas later in the year but even having a doe season is unacceptable in my opinion.

 

[packmule]

It looks good on paper to skew ratios with disregard to population and benefits the bank account.

 

[JimP]

You can't look at anything this early in the year as far as what is on paper. That guide book had to be at the printers back in 2016. It is basically for the season dates and regulations that it comes out. Tag numbers and hunts will be decided come May after they have done their range rides and surveys.

I have seen where a states DOW has canceled hunts even after the draws and refunded the applicants money for the tag that they drew when things come up even after the tags have been sent out.

 

[packmule]

You can get a good idea though from looking at '10-16.

 

[sdebrot]

Looking for an update on conditions in Gunnison basin area. Getting close to choice time in Colorado. Thanks for the input!

 

[DH56]

Any way you look at it, what has occurred already will have an impact. It's unfortunate, but I think the Wildlife Divisions will get some more information before tags will be sold and make adjustments- downward.