Snowfall-to much too early for deer? Will see

[laker1]

will be interesting how much snow this storm will drop.

A rule of thumb- 18 inches or over by January 1,you will lose deer. So many variables involved,but potential does rise for losses.

[certified jumbo]

Its definetly not a great start for northern mn deer. Some areas are going to push 18 inches. It makes for a long winter. My dad is in north east mn trapping. They just set all there traps and now there getting hammered with snow. Unfortunate....

Not the start to winter we were hoping for our deer in the northland....

[laker1]

Its definetly not a great start for northern mn deer. Some areas are going to push 18 inches. It makes for a long winter. My dad is in north east mn trapping. They just set all there traps and now there getting hammered with snow. Unfortunate....

Not the start to winter we were hoping for our deer in the northland....

I bet he just set for Fisher-Pine marten?

Yes, Isabella maybe 18 new inches of snow by Wednesday night.

[certified jumbo]

They have two wolf license. But also have cat and fisher sets. He said its snowing an inch an hour right now. 8 inch on ground heavy wet snow. There pulling sets in morning as 15 plus is forcast. Trying to pull sets and get out before -25 below temps hit. What a disappointment to start of trapping season and our already suspect northern mn deer herd. Not a good start....

[maros91]

Agree. Not a good start. Hopefully after this storm it quiets down a little.

[Bear55]

Yep not a good start, hopefully we can get one of those nice January thaws to give them a break.

[NoWiser]

Seems like they just haven't gotten a break in the last couple of years. Last winter was looking decent until March and April when it wouldn't stop snowing. The deer looked like skeletons in our area this summer. Literally skin and bones. They looked a little better come hunting season, but if we get a long snowy winter coupled with the ridiculous amount of wolves in the area, it's going to be rough. Oh well, they won't ALL die, and all it takes is one to make my season.

[maros91]

Skin and bones is right. I got a pic of a buck that looked deathly skinny.

[Bear55]

Seems like they just haven't gotten a break in the last couple of years.

A great description of northern mn, the deer really never do get a break. You almost need a 2-4 year stretch of perfect conditions to see the population recover. Otherwise its never ending cold/snow/wolves/hunting with a slight break in the summer but the wolves are still out and about. I do a lot of bow hunting in central MN, its like night and day when looking at winter and deer number in the NE. Although I think last spring took its toll across the whole state.

[Musky Buck]

Just think many want this timeframe to be the start of rifle season up here, push it back push it back, we got wolves already pushing the deer hard in our area makes for a long winter for the survivors. This snow and cold makes for simple muzzleloader hunting, fresh tracks don't lie and the cold will make them have to eat even in shooting light here come Thursday. Now can the hunter handle it, if you have heat yes otherwise it's first hour last hour. Saw a lot of fresh tracks this AM on the gravel. Have seen a lot of deer since rifle ended surprisingly, plenty on state land also even before darkness. Good luck it isn't over yet that's for sure. Muzzleloading should be very good, things froze solid before this snow so every inch can be hunted now, find the cattails and you'll find bedded tight deer now that the grass is knocked down.

[Musky Buck]

The 1 thing I don't like about all this snow is coyotes. Meaning our crew of coyote hunters may not get after them like usual meaning this spring more fawns will pay the price if the doe carries them or it to term. But it will mellow out and I'm hoping for a huge coyote take in the area this winter/spring.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

As of 1pm today, the weather folks are reporting 39 inches of snow north of Two Harbors, with up to a foot or more expected through tonight.

So much for the few deer left around the north shore!

Uggggh! Definitely will be finding a new area to hunt, if there is even a season next year!

[certified jumbo]

Not looking good for most of northern mn. This storm and snow totals came out of nowhere.

[sticknstring]

I'm not too thrilled about the 4" here, let alone 4 friggin' feet. Wolves are howlin' to the tune of fresh venison right now.

[certified jumbo]

Per Duluth news tribune......42 inches just north of two harbors at 430 pm. Most areas from moose lake north are reporting 20 plus as of 430 as well.

[Wanderer]

*GASP!*

[laker1]

Per Duluth news tribune......42 inches just north of two harbors at 430 pm. Most areas from moose lake north are reporting 20 plus as of 430 as well.

What is the record for one storm? That is unreal. We get 12 inches where I am at and that is enough.

[Bear55]

Sounds like more bow hunting vacation next year and far less rifle hunting up north. Yikes.

[Wensel]

We got our butts kicked with snow!

I'm near Duluth and it was an inch an hour for like 10 hours.

My kid was so sore from working on snow I felt bad for him.

Today the roads are unreal, max speed is about 20.. like running the driveway to my hunting shack.

[rockman]

Although it appears to be a not so good start to the winter as far as the deer are concerned, we need to see what happens with snowfall/storms over the next few weeks. If this cold air mass moderates in a couple of weeks, the bitter cold won't be a much of a factor contributing to the WSI. But warmer air can bring more snow. Even in more moderate winters, northern MN gets at least one heavy snow storm. If the Siberian express keeps pumping bitter cold air over the region week after week for awhile, it will be not good in the long run. I do think it is a stay tuned scenario, to see how hard this winter will affect the deer herd.

[lakevet]

Has potential to reduce deer population. We will know come spring. Wolves right now don't have any big advantage but if any crusting happens it will be a different story. The fawns that got passed on are most susceptible, while the mature doe shot would have had a better chance to make it. Also advantage goes more to the wolves if conditions persist. Deer we shot so far this year had less fat than usual, possible carryover from shorter summer. Glad statewide APR regulations haven't happened. Between wolves and winter you can not predict what will survive to the next season. Both are hard on those mature bucks run down post rut. This is a year where cedar habitat particularly and evergreen habitat in general could make a huge difference. Managing the wolf population hopefully will help some over time. Weather will always be a major uncontrollable factor in this part of the state.

One positive is this snow is great for ruffed grouse survival by providing excellent snow roosting conditions.

lakevet

[MahtowaDave]

Lots of good insights on here. All is not lost, yet, but to me, the potential for real trouble is a distinct possibility, depending on some things others have already mentioned, especially in areas northeast. I will personally pursue whitetails in an area other than Mahtowa this coming fall, and perhaps the next, if the early indicators persist. I have some options, so my thinking and my conscience are clear on this one. After numbers are crunched by the DNR, both those relating to this past years deer take, as well as this coming years stress on deer, should it continue as it has appears to have started, I am confident that a correction should and will take place. Specifically, a significant reduction, or elimination of doe permits in the affected areas, may be necessary. Time will tell, but at first blush, this is my take. Although it may be discouraging, we have been here before guys and gals, and we will be again. Weather is a fickle thing, and it could go either direction at this point. If I cannot personally agree with steps taken, I will sit it out. Having said that, I will refrain from judging those whose experiences and observations might have them seeing things differently or don't sit it out because of what they see/believe. Deer are resilient. With timely decisions, and some luck, they will rebound, in time. I expect that should disaster strike, there will be some sort of feeding program instituted up north this year to give a shot in the arm to the deer that are present there.

[lungdeflator]

The buck I shot in ND last night had ZERO fat on him. There is going to be a huge winterkill this year in northern MN. No time at all for the deer to gain some fat back after the rut and now they will be trying to burn fat they don't have. Reading the outdoor news, theres alot of unhappy people this year, I can't imagine what will be said next year. Its really going to be tough, watch the WSI this year, they have a chart of bad winter ratings/winter kill rates. I hope the DNR makes alot of areas buck only next year.

[laker1]

I complain as much as the next guy,but the last few decades deer hunting over all has been excellent with only a few bumps here and there. Yes with a semi harsh winter and deer numbers down for a multi reasons next year could be tough.

Heard comments from many people that the deer didn't have layers of fat on them this year compared to past years.

Last winter never ended and we still had deep snow in the middle of April when Turkey season was already going for a week.

We lost more deer than people realized,especially fawns(north half of the state). Also in many areas were maxed out with deer hunters per area and to maintain a decent population,actually 2/3rd of the hunters have to go home without a deer.

[BuckSutherland]

and add ontop of everything you said laker that there was a real dry period towards the end of summer that probably didnt help spark the fresh growth the deer needed going into winter. And lets not forget that we havent really ever been through a series of hard winter when these stupid I-need-to-improve-my-english-language-skills wolves are thriving.

I hunt 172. Doe permits need to be revoked from what I have seen the last 8-10 months.