mild winter good for deer

[terrym]

With the mild winter they are predicting it might just give our battered and bruised deer herds a break. No offense to the ice fishermen but I hope it stays mild all winter.

[johny]

With the mild winter they are predicting it might just give our battered and bruised deer herds a break. No offense to the ice fishermen but I hope it stays mild all winter.

The important part is minimal snow.
The lakes freeze with no slush.
Then we get to ice fish safe and comfortable and the deer do well.
Winning scenario all around-- unless you are a ruffed grouse. Or if the low snow fall continues to a dry spring and then ducks are unhappy.
Eventually we need to accept and deal with the cycles of weather and adapt to whatever does well each year.

[werner.reiche]

Like Johny said. Snow depth, not cold is what gets the deer - but in eastern Ontario above the lake effect, warmer means less snow. Strangely in the snow belt, cold temps can result in less snow, especially if its cold enough to freeze over the lakes, resulting in no lake effect.

While I read about the deer in the rest of Ontario being hit hard by recent winters, the Pembroke area through east of Ottawa haven't had a real bad winter since 08.

[MikePal]

Like Johny said. Snow depth, not cold is what gets the deer -

I'll add that in the Eastern region we've had consecutive yrs now where our snow pack has been covered in ice...thick ice. It's become the norm to have mid winter freezing rain storms that coat everything with thick ice that must make life difficult for the deer.

I see coyote tracks (thick wide paws) stay on top of the ice and support their weight, but I see where the deer's thinner hoofs punch thur, I'm sure leading to injuries and causes them to move much slower when their are being hunted by coyotes. I know from my own experience walking across fields that have ice on them is a bag drive.

[Final Flight]

Last year in Southwestern Ontario, only February had snow, and no crust or freezing rain. The deer did extremely well. Our population is on the rise. Car collisions are through the roof......and no extra tags.........

[rick_iles]

Last year in Southwestern Ontario, only February had snow, and no crust or freezing rain. The deer did extremely well. Our population is on the rise. Car collisions are through the roof......and no extra tags.........

I'm trying to figure out where in SW Ont. snow was limited to February ! Lol. You must have been in Florida all winter ! Lol

[MUNCH]

I'm trying to figure out where in SW Ont. snow was limited to February ! Lol. You must have been in Florida all winter ! Lol

cant figure this one out ive hunted close to 200 hours this fall and lucky if ive seen 20 deer .the herd around my place is hurting bad .

[rick_iles]

There's no question a mild winter or two will help the critters. This one is shaping up to be a mild one. We hunted the second week of November up in NW Ont., most days in shirts. I can't ever remember it being as warm that time of the year.

[JMatthews]

It is much warmer than usual and hopefully this trend will continue. Last February we did have record cold temperatures and there were times last winter when the depth of snow was deeper than usual. No deer in our woodlot due to this and the Wild Turkeys were flying to move from place to place due to the deep snow.
How soon we forget!

[Final Flight]

I'm trying to figure out where in SW Ont. snow was limited to February ! Lol. You must have been in Florida all winter ! Lol

Hey Rick, I guess i should have said that the harsh winter did not arrive till Feb. I remember saying to a friend around the middle of Jan. when there was no snow that it's going to make for a short winter. January was quite calm. Then all hell broke loose. Lots of fawns and baby turkeys in this neck of the woods though. I don't know if there is any connection but the deer harvested this year are just loaded with fat, even the yearlings.