Winter Yard Status

[bhanley]

Just wondering if you guys and gals are seeing the deer breaking from their winter yards yet.

Anything to report?

[JMatthews]

Deer everywhere in my area. I had a friend up for a Turkey hunt and he was just amazed with the fresh deer sign and the number of deer we saw. I guess they were hiding with the Turkeys all winter!

[GoldenLakePete]

The deer haven't been coming into my yard for a couple of days now. I guess they don't need the extra food now that spring is finally here.

[Gilroy]

They yard away from my property but they are back as I,am seeing the tracks on the roads.

[Fenelon]

Dispersal around Burnt River was around the 15th of April. A good 2-3 weeks later than normal. This was the last thing the deer needed. What I'm seeing is not good. This winter absolutely pounded them in my area. I highly doubt there will be any fawn crop this year, and I doubt many of the yearlings even made it. The SDI (snow depth index) was over 1100 at the Minden 2 snow course this year. Today is April 29 and there is still 2 feet of snow in the cedar swamps around my house. Lost most of our turkeys this winter too.

[bhanley]

Wow Fenelon, that's sad news indeed. I'm hearing down here in 80 the herds have done fairly well over the winter.

[3Wheelerdude]

7 Healthy deers at my salt block yesterday.

Do you think they had or are having fawns yet?

[rick_iles]

Not yet. !

[werner.reiche]

They shouldn't be fawning yet.
Gestation period for WT's is just under 200 days.
A doe bred Nov 1 should have her fawn about May 20th.

There's some debate about does being able to 'delay fawning' during harsh winters - which if true would make them later than that.

[myot]

They shouldn't be fawning yet.
Gestation period for WT's is just under 200 days.
A doe bred Nov 1 should have her fawn about May 20th.

There's some debate about does being able to 'delay fawning' during harsh winters - which if true would make them later than that.

I saw a little dotted one on Saturday while out Turkey hunting

As far as how well the deer have done in my area I would say fantastic. Coyotes took a kicking because most of the ones kicking around had bad mange or got plunked by a timely 243 bullet (I got 11 my buddy got 14). early deer sign has been insane lots of track and lots of sightings even a few old warriors made it trough and look quite healthy

Dan