Our deer will soon be in trouble with this winter!

Starting to look really bad for the deer in the north end of WMU 75 and 60, etc. This winter will be one of the worst in a long time. Coldest one we've had since 1919, according to Environment Canada. We just had another 10" dump of snow last night by Burnt River. Both the deer and the turkeys are running the roads now. I called the MNR in Minden to find out the snow course data so far. Not looking good. The SDI (snow depth index) is already 416 for the Hindon snow course on Hwy 118, and they've yet to enter this week's data! The OWSI (Ontario Winter Severity Index) will be around 70 after they enter this week's data, then even higher by week's end. The prediction table shows an 80% chance that we are in real trouble by the end of March. A late winter with late green-up will be disastrous. Will be good-bye fawn crop (at least 40% aborted/die at birth). I'll be surprised if emerg feeding isn't around the corner. Doe tags may be scarce next fall in these areas.

Dave

Been wondering how the deer are faring in various area's. Its been many years since I can recall a winter with both the snowfall and temps we've been getting. We are just at the end of Jan.

I hope the ice storm lowered some of the browse. Can't think of anything else very positive to say about this winter. Maybe it'll break early???:(
Dan O.

Lack of crust on snow….

The turkey and deer were feeding are looking good but I agree I think the herd as a whole will take a beating .

TD

The yotes are on the swing thru, I saw a yote out in one field last week when we were out walking. My dogs have being finding and bringing home deer pieces (legs etc) for the past few weeks while out on our walk. We have about 20 acres of cedars here so the deer stay close all winter.

But it is what it is, that's nature.

It is what it is, but we do get to help out the species we want.. And umm keep a rifle handy for the other non desirables. Dont forget this winter will be hard on yotes as well, especially any with a touch of mange.


The strongest will survive and good genetics will once again be prominent in the herds... I can think of another species that could use the a similar reduction in its weaker 1/2.

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Originally Posted by kickingfrog

Lack of crust on snow….

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In Dufferin county, as well as neighbouring counties, we had the ice, thaw feeze and there are good layers and crust compacted. My dog is 48lbs and she stays on top most. The coyote tracks I've seen so far also have been on top were the deer are sinking in. Looks good for coyotes bad for deer! Whatever thaw we get with the sun beating down during the day only hardens up with the night cold. Easier for the coyotes to run even healthy deer down.

If the deer need help I am sure there will be lots of hunters willing to go and help...

The deer coming into our yard look healthy. We had a melt last week or so and there's less snow than there was but there is a crust that will help the coyotes.
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/...e/100_0552.jpg

I have been keeping an eye on a pack of three timber wolves this winter in WMU 49. I noticed that since the crust came they moved 4 miles from where they have been hanging most of the winter. There are no deer yards in this area, but a very large population of moose. I believe this small pack is specializing in moose hunting. Calves are up to their belly in snow now, and the wolves are on top.

At my main deer spot I have a feeder going once a day at 3 pm to help. Plan to feed all year until March to help. Purchased some feed cheap at sail. Every little bit helps. Feeder is on a timer so only have to visit one every two weeks to refill.

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Originally Posted by pbonura

At my main deer spot I have a feeder going once a day at 3 pm to help. Plan to feed all year until March to help. Purchased some feed cheap at sail. Every little bit helps. Feeder is on a timer so only have to visit one every two weeks to refill.

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You need to feed until new growth is up and the snow is clear and gone. This absolute worst thing to do is stop feeding at the end fo the winter when the deer have used up all their fat supply and new growth hasnt yet started. If a late winter storm hits you'll have doomed the deer which have become dependent on your help.

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Originally Posted by blasted_saber

You need to feed until new growth is up and the snow is clear and gone. This absolute worst thing to do is stop feeding at the end fo the winter when the deer have used up all their fat supply and new growth hasnt yet started. If a late winter storm hits you'll have doomed the deer which have become dependent on your help.

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. Then that is what I will do. More than most who just write about. Early March we should be fine. Not much cost to feed they turkeys and deer.

Attachment 24297Attachment 24298 I feed here and since they are coming in regular they have made the decision to winter here . To stop now they would certainly die with these snows . I feed and keep feeding till new growth appears in April usually .

Been a tough winter for sure! Help your deer, shoot some yotes!

Be very careful on what you feed deer if you decide to start feeding them this time of year. You can do far more harm than good. If they've been living on browse for the past month or so and you introduce something like corn, you can kill the deer. Their stomachs might no longer have the proper enzymes/microorganisms to digest it, depending on your location. Do a little research on what is safe to feed with this time of year before you start.

The best option is to provide easier access to natural browse. Drop a few cedars trees or at least the lower limbs that deer can't reach. The tops from other ice-damaged trees (depending on the species) might be helpful as well.

I definitely agree with the OP's post, this will be a hard winter on the deer, just wanted to advise using caution if you decide to start feeding them in your area.

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Originally Posted by blasted_saber

You need to feed until new growth is up and the snow is clear and gone. This absolute worst thing to do is stop feeding at the end fo the winter when the deer have used up all their fat supply and new growth hasnt yet started. If a late winter storm hits you'll have doomed the deer which have become dependent on your help.

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I have to disagree with that. It contradicts what most deer research indicates.
The important part is to feed the deer early.
They will usually quit eating supplemental feed by the end of January on their own.
Deer usually leave the yards in mid to late march as snow melt permits loooong before their is any new growth.
Deer won't starve to death because of one late winter storm - that assertion is just plain silly.

Wont get into specific details, no real point/value from me.
Just can say I know someone in the heart of the Loring Deer yards. He starts the day after archery closes (Dec 15) and carries through around the end of Feb....depending on dozens of variables. But really is largely determined by them. No matter what he does doesnt do, they will start migrating out on their own.

Another 10-20cm of snow forecasted for my area. Just made a bad situation worse. GW above has good advice. You have to be very careful how and what you feed at this point. The gut flora in the rumen cannot process certain foods (eg. pure corn, alfalfa-rich hay, etc).
See http://www.wildliferesearch.ca/snow/...nservation.pdf for some good pointers. I remember the old days when MNR had money. I'd drive an Alpine with a dog sled, loaded with "Ministry Mix" (oat/corn ratio mix). We'd use expired hardhats from the JR camps as hoppers for the grain - just nail them to the trees. A lot of deer hunters aren't aware that you have to be awful careful when you're baiting in the fall too. Merely pouring a full 40kg bag of corn on the ground can be a death sentence for deer at this time too. They'll die of rumen bloat/colic, and an impacted rumen. I've shot deer that came from baited areas on adjacent properties that were totally impacted and bloated-up like a poisoned pup. I've to date found the coyote-scavenged remains of at least 6 fall deer now, that would have died from rumen impaction due to corn "dumping" by someone baiting. When I use whole corn in the fall for bait, I'm careful to only scatter about a coffee can of it every couple of days. That's all you need to keep them coming.
Man, this winter is going to be one for the books. This latest dump of snow will put the Hindon 1 snow course's average depth over 100cm.

We got another 8"of snow in the past two days. The snow is now about 95cm average depth in the closed hardwood stands around Burnt River. No supportive crust. Was out checking beaver traps on my Tundra and even managed to get it stuck.

Be careful how you try to help!ie supplemental feeding. Break trails, cut browse, kill 'yotes. Don't feed them what they can't digest.

Would Moose by virtue of their size fare better? How do predators like yotes do under these conditions?