I am stoked about all of the snow we're getting. The snow is up to my waist around the house. The lakes will be full this year, plenty of moisture everywhere and the sledding has been awesome!
The snow is really piling up
- Thread starter Granby guy
- Start date
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
We have a a lot rain down here in the 4 corners area and lots of it has melted in the sagebrush country. More snow forecast for next week We are at 120% of normal.
Bonecollector
Veteran member
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
D
Disabled Combat Vet
Guest
All the Deer and Elk are going to be killed in the Avalanche's lol and hunting season will be cancelled lol
JimP
Administrator
I wouldn't worry about the deer and the elk but think about all of the bear dens that are being burred in all that snow. It might be August before they get out and see the sunshine.
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 820
- 941
IMO folks should start to pay attention.. While much of the state is ok the areas/units that got hit hardest in 2017 are again taking a beating.
The extreme winter that forced the cpw to cut 50% or more tags in 2017 did have a real effect on the mule deer.. Everyone agrees on that. 2018 winter was nonexistent but unfortunately with no snow or rain we saw the drought of last summer where the winter range saw very little to no growth. Many ranchers in the area chose not to turn out their cows as the feed was that bad. Now a 140% snowpack that was wet and heavy with now with a solid crust. All the animals are packed on what little area is left and with no summer growth feed is just not there. OR fair to say this winter will not be "normal" or "easy" but has transitioned into "hard" and could well turn south from there.
Heavy wet snow for 3-4 days just ended this week and just enough time to dig out with another 3-4 days of snow starting late today tomorrow.. Yea this has been another big winter and the animals at this point need a break that they will not get this week at least.
Skiing and time in the backcountry has been great up until this week when we got so much snow that the avalanche danger was the worst I have seen in 20 years. It will settle but just shows how much snow we have gotten lately.
The extreme winter that forced the cpw to cut 50% or more tags in 2017 did have a real effect on the mule deer.. Everyone agrees on that. 2018 winter was nonexistent but unfortunately with no snow or rain we saw the drought of last summer where the winter range saw very little to no growth. Many ranchers in the area chose not to turn out their cows as the feed was that bad. Now a 140% snowpack that was wet and heavy with now with a solid crust. All the animals are packed on what little area is left and with no summer growth feed is just not there. OR fair to say this winter will not be "normal" or "easy" but has transitioned into "hard" and could well turn south from there.
Heavy wet snow for 3-4 days just ended this week and just enough time to dig out with another 3-4 days of snow starting late today tomorrow.. Yea this has been another big winter and the animals at this point need a break that they will not get this week at least.
Skiing and time in the backcountry has been great up until this week when we got so much snow that the avalanche danger was the worst I have seen in 20 years. It will settle but just shows how much snow we have gotten lately.
HighPlainsHunter
Active Member
I think we are going to see some issues with both due to the snow this year. Denver news had video of elk struggling to move in deep snow just this week. Up in NW Wyoming and SW Montana the weather has been brutal. That could easily result in winter kill, especially if we get more extreme cold/snow in the next couple months.
RICMIC
Veteran member
Are the big snows hitting the front range too now. I heard that they had very little snow around Rocky Mt. Park as of a month ago?
JimP
Administrator
I live in a elk and deer wintering area and the snow hasn't been that bad. You can always find areas where the elk winter and there is quite a bit of snow. One area is around 30 miles to the east of me just off of I-70 and HWY 24. The elk winter on a hillside and the snow is usually up to their belles but they do just fine.
Now areas like the Gunnison basin where everything filters down into a hole and the snow just keeps coming, well then that is going to be a problem. Also the areas that are getting the most snow and all the avalanches all the deer and elk migrated out of those areas last November or early December.
Just the other day I was watching some deer starting back up the hill as the snow has melted some, but a new storm put another 6 inches down on the ground but they still have plenty of feed around it.
Now areas like the Gunnison basin where everything filters down into a hole and the snow just keeps coming, well then that is going to be a problem. Also the areas that are getting the most snow and all the avalanches all the deer and elk migrated out of those areas last November or early December.
Just the other day I was watching some deer starting back up the hill as the snow has melted some, but a new storm put another 6 inches down on the ground but they still have plenty of feed around it.