2013-2014 Winter Severity Index

[lakevet]

Here is the latest map.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/hunting/deer/wsi_dpa_map14.pdf

[smsmith]

Don't quite know what to make of that. They have my WSI in the 50-79 range. We've had over 15" of snow on the ground since early to mid December...let's call it 7.5 weeks = 53 days. We've had 23 days with temps of -20 or below... = 76. We've had at least another 20 days (more I think) with temps of 0 or below = 96. I don't for a minute believe the numbers they're reporting.

[Musky Buck]

intheschool that's about it starting like a feeding program will help get some small groups of deer through winter if you keep at it until Greenville. The thing I sorta disagree with the DNR about congregating or eating so close for disease etc. worries is then why in the $%^& are salt blocks ok, watch my tcam and at times in a 10 minute window you can see 7-8 deer at it taking a lick or 3 ? Is it in the saliva the main culprit when deer get a disease, their noses touch the blocks and fawns sometimes will lick at each others mouths etc. ? Not a biggie just seems strange to me some, lets hope spring gets here at about the most optimal time for all our critters.

[minky]

Makes a person wonder doesn't?

I am just hoping for an early spring.

[lakevet]

Another 5 to 9 inches of snow coming yet tonight on top of what we already got today.

[harvey lee]

The deer will have a tough go of it the remainder of the winter no matter what thier numbers say.

Buddy of mine has now cleaned all the snow off his yard and started his feeding and drove through he wood's on the trails and blew the trails open for the deer. he said the deer's stomach is starting to drag on the snow as it is getting so deep in the woods.

We will have some loss this spring and I am sure some doe's will get stressed and abort thier fawns.

[certified jumbo]

We got 12 inches in east central mn. Now the return of the polar vortex with no temps higher than 15 degrees for ten days, wow!!

Lots of bucks only zones for northern half of mn next year,imo.....

[MahtowaDave]

These are the storms that knock out deer. Try walking through that stuff. I hate to say it, but Its over johnny! DNR should not give out one doe permit in the state of Mn. this year, period.

[mntatonka]

These are the storms that knock out deer. Try walking through that stuff. I hate to say it, but Its over johnny! DNR should not give out one doe permit in the state of Mn. this year, period.

You apparently haven't been to 346 or 349. We will still be managed, and should have been intensive last year.

[smsmith]

These are the storms that knock out deer. Try walking through that stuff. I hate to say it, but Its over johnny! DNR should not give out one doe permit in the state of Mn. this year, period.

Outside of a few zone 3 units and perhaps 2 or 3 zone 2 units...I'd agree completely.

[minky]

I would be OK with bucks only.

I wonder how many people would take the first buck they see if there are no doe permits?

[MahtowaDave]

When I say that Mn. should not give out one doe permit in the state of Mn., I WAS considering 346 and 349 into that equation. I am hopeful that the excess deer there are fruitful and multiply and hopefully a few filter north from that area! I realize that there are some areas with does and plenty of them, I would like to see that trend expanded.

[Odonata]

The next few seasons are going to be tough, even with feeding efforts throughout the state. Between the cold, predators, and snow depths than can bury you, the deer are going to have a rough winter. We still have months of cold and more snow. I'd go for bucks only; in some zones the DNR should take a serious look at a buck lottery if numbers drop too low. I'm sure that will raise some 'brows!

[minky]

I would hate to go a whole year and not be able to go deer hunting.

Maybe a shorter season could be the answer if the deer pop drops to low.

[lakevet]

DNR has a proven model of doe permits/bucks only (any buck) that will result in rebound in population relatively soon while still retaining hunters/license sales.

Implementing APR's in the face of a low hunter opportunity situation has too much potential to drop license sales. This is also why a buck lottery is unlikely.

Also, just like pheasants, deer do not pair up for life. Any buck can bred multiple does. Thus the buck population can get harvested at a higher than usual rate with minimal impact on deer population recovery.

Don't panic boys, this is just another winter and there will be deer to hunt this fall.

For those who like big racks, articles by Ranta in Ontario support that a rebounding deer population tends to have more large racked bucks due to the lower stress of less competition/lower stress rut that comes with a lower density deer population.

Lastly, this weather must be pressuring the wolf population some.

lakevet

[slimngrizzly]

All the deer I been watching are looking fat and happy! Im sure theyre as sick of winter as we are but I think theyre doing fine anyways. Im sure "up-nort" is a different story!

Remember what doesn't kill them makes them stronger!! Or doesn't it work that way on deer??

[MahtowaDave]

Slimngrizzly,

You make salient points here. I am also seeing a group of 6 deer in the neighborhood getting around together, looking healthy enough, and moving at times that make sense to conserve energy and still getting to food. That is very encouraging. My understanding is that there metabolism is quite low at this time of year anyway, so that is good also. In April, there metabolism goes crazy and it is at that time that they must have access to food and lots of it. We have time yet before that critical period of time hits. It is so tough to get consistently warm temps with a snowpack like this, so therein lies the anxiety for me. We are all so passionate about hunting as well as simultaneously invested the health of the deer herd that it is hard not to get bummed by what we see in the extended forecast (for the weather and the deer herd). My fingers are crossed and thanks for settling me down on the subject. I'll put the panic button aside for now for the local herd. I also agree that the up north deer situation is a different story altogether. My husky was forced to follow behind me in the snow on our walks this week. That never happens! Usually she pulls me through it! Hopefully the wolves up north are having similar troubles getting around.

[zepman]

March will be the key...let's all hope for an early Spring. We don't need a copy of last year for certain.

[SmellEsox]

No warm-up in sight until mid-March. Hate to bring that cheery news to you all. It may be fishing opener for ice-out again this year.

[Musky Buck]

I remember Halloween, it's been pretty chilly since then, March, the make or break month in a way, have said this many times not but nearly thankful for our low deer numbers, leaves the maximum amount of browse for what's out there, just hope the does can have fawns and not drop them due to their stress. East Central MN is simply buried and if we can't thaw it down some what will a major dumping do to things in March. Bucks only here it comes.

[MahtowaDave]

Yeah, Its bucks only guys and gals. I am similarly thankful that for the most part, the remaining deer herd won't have to compete much for the browse that is available to them. I had that one on my mind as a positive too but Muskybuck got it in print before me. We will find out how hardy the turkeys are this year too. Last years B season was an adventure with the snow. I thought it was a novelty at the time, but the way things look around here, maybe that will be par for the course going forward. This year I will pull down on a D tag and enjoy the novelty of GRASS! Another spin is that this winters conditions couldn't be better for wintering grouse.....I know, low cycle time, but I'm grabbing at anything right now. Less meat on a grouse than a turkey though! O.K., I digress, this is about deer and bear here.....One more positive...Bears are sleeping well and my son has a tag in the bag this fall.

[nonteepical]

Instead of bucks ony just make the decision not to shoot any deer this year in some areas.

[minky]

For some bucks only works while others will chose not to shoot a deer or hunt at all.

For me I enjoy deer hunting so much I will hunt as long as there is a season.

Let's hope for an early spring!

[tfran123]

I will say deer are a lot tougher than you think and I don't think the cold has a major impact (aside from needing more food). Regardless, I'm in East Central Mn, been running cams and deer appear very healthy, for what it's worth we noticed huge fat content on those deer harvested this fall. Does nature know what's in store? I.e. increased fat content knowing winter would be tough, not sure.

Anyway, next 4 weeks are critical, no snow with some regular seasonal temps would really help . . . not to mention a big warm up!!

[mntatonka]

And in some parts of the state, we will (or should) still be intensive, or at the very least managed. Not a lot of the state, but there's still areas with plenty of deer, so don't oversimplify the populations in the state.