Ouch, Sad to see...
- Thread starter ColoradoV
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jjh
Member
Quite a bit of snow has melted around Gunnison in the last week and a half. If the temps will stay above 5 or 10 below for the lows and no more snow falls I think the deer will do ok. Definitely higher than average winter kill though. Still seeing a lot of fawns alive. The next few weeks will determine the outcome.
- Oct 4, 2011
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Some of the snow melted and the warmer temps helped quite a bit and opened up some ground or well the tip top of the sage was showing but the sun also caused a lot of the winter grounds snow freeze up into a hard crust/ice too hard for the deer to pound through for food. Just the tips of the sage came through in many places. That was before we got about a foot of snow on top of this crust yesterday burring the sage again. Temp is -2 right now where I sit... I have seen more than a couple dead deer. The rest are very concentrated and easy pray for the predators and jackasses who are starting to hunt sheds... I have not seen a skinny coyote all winter.
At this point the dead heads will tell the tale as there will be more than a few to look over. Look carefully at areas you want to hunt as this year will be one of very hard winters in a some parts of the state and relatively mild in others. NW, Eagle, and Gunny areas again took the biggest hit. The Sangres, most of central Colorado, the front range, northern front range, south east, eastern plains all are having more of a normal winter so I would pick units carefully as IMO this winter is fair to say at this point the hardest winter since the 07/08 year in some places. This year is not near as bad 07/08 but there will be a significant winter kill in some area's.
At this point the winter has changed my deer hunting plans for 2016 as I do not plan to burn my points where I had hoped to this yr.
At this point the dead heads will tell the tale as there will be more than a few to look over. Look carefully at areas you want to hunt as this year will be one of very hard winters in a some parts of the state and relatively mild in others. NW, Eagle, and Gunny areas again took the biggest hit. The Sangres, most of central Colorado, the front range, northern front range, south east, eastern plains all are having more of a normal winter so I would pick units carefully as IMO this winter is fair to say at this point the hardest winter since the 07/08 year in some places. This year is not near as bad 07/08 but there will be a significant winter kill in some area's.
At this point the winter has changed my deer hunting plans for 2016 as I do not plan to burn my points where I had hoped to this yr.
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- Oct 4, 2011
- 819
- 935
I know I will be making some more calls to stop the buzzards that already are starting to push the already exhausted deer. If you see anyone out hunting for sheds early please call the numbers at the bottom of the page w licence plate #'s to report as the CPW seems to be receptive this year.
GUNNISON, Colo. -- For wildlife, winter is a stressful season when they can lose 30 percent or more of their body weight. Consequently, people should avoid disturbing Colorado's wild critters during cold weather months.
To minimize disturbance of animals in the Gunnison Basin, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding people who collect big-game shed antlers of special regulations that restrict when antlers can be collected from public lands.
"Animals are under a lot of stress during the winter; the less energy they use unnecessarily the better their chances of surviving," said J Wenum, area wildlife manager in Gunnison for the agency. "Please, don't disturb big game on the winter range."
Those who violate the regulations can be fined $70, be assessed five penalty points against their hunting and fishing privileges and any antlers collected will be confiscated. Harassing wildlife is also illegal under state statute and can result in additional fines.
In the Gunnison Basin, where antler shed collecting is popular, there are two regulations in place to prevent disturbance of animals on public lands in big game management units 54, 55, 551, 66 and 67. Collection of shed antlers is prohibited on public lands within those units from Jan. 1 through March 14. From March 15 through May 15, shed antler collection is prohibited from legal sunset until 10 a.m.
Collecting of shed antlers for commercial use has grown during the last decade. At this time of year human activity in winter range can cause significant disturbance to deer, elk and to the Gunnison sage-grouse during the birds' mating period in early spring.
"These regulations have been in place for several years now, so collectors should know about them; no one can plead ignorance," Wenum said.
Collectors are advised to consult official sunset tables and to obtain accurate maps of the areas. Anyone who has questions about the regulations can contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office in Gunnison.
Collectors and other recreationists also should be aware that in order to protect Gunnison sage-grouse leks, the Bureau of Land Management and Gunnison County close numerous roads throughout the basin to motorized travel during the winter and early spring. Gates are locked and a notice is posted at those locations. Additionally, new travel management plans are being implemented by the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. To learn about road closures or to report road closure violations, call the BLM at 970-642-4940, the US Forest Service at 970-641-0471; or Gunnison County at 970-641-8201.
GUNNISON, Colo. -- For wildlife, winter is a stressful season when they can lose 30 percent or more of their body weight. Consequently, people should avoid disturbing Colorado's wild critters during cold weather months.
To minimize disturbance of animals in the Gunnison Basin, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding people who collect big-game shed antlers of special regulations that restrict when antlers can be collected from public lands.
"Animals are under a lot of stress during the winter; the less energy they use unnecessarily the better their chances of surviving," said J Wenum, area wildlife manager in Gunnison for the agency. "Please, don't disturb big game on the winter range."
Those who violate the regulations can be fined $70, be assessed five penalty points against their hunting and fishing privileges and any antlers collected will be confiscated. Harassing wildlife is also illegal under state statute and can result in additional fines.
In the Gunnison Basin, where antler shed collecting is popular, there are two regulations in place to prevent disturbance of animals on public lands in big game management units 54, 55, 551, 66 and 67. Collection of shed antlers is prohibited on public lands within those units from Jan. 1 through March 14. From March 15 through May 15, shed antler collection is prohibited from legal sunset until 10 a.m.
Collecting of shed antlers for commercial use has grown during the last decade. At this time of year human activity in winter range can cause significant disturbance to deer, elk and to the Gunnison sage-grouse during the birds' mating period in early spring.
"These regulations have been in place for several years now, so collectors should know about them; no one can plead ignorance," Wenum said.
Collectors are advised to consult official sunset tables and to obtain accurate maps of the areas. Anyone who has questions about the regulations can contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office in Gunnison.
Collectors and other recreationists also should be aware that in order to protect Gunnison sage-grouse leks, the Bureau of Land Management and Gunnison County close numerous roads throughout the basin to motorized travel during the winter and early spring. Gates are locked and a notice is posted at those locations. Additionally, new travel management plans are being implemented by the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. To learn about road closures or to report road closure violations, call the BLM at 970-642-4940, the US Forest Service at 970-641-0471; or Gunnison County at 970-641-8201.
jjh
Member
Dodged a bullet in my opinion. One more bad storm and a couple more weeks of that brutal cold and it would have been ugly. I still think winter kill will be higher than typical due to not only the snow but the highway. Not catastrophic though.
hferrin701
Member
- Mar 2, 2014
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