Deer in trouble this winter?

[Marker]

I am no expert on this subject but from my understanding deep snow hurts wolves more than deer.

[newbiehunter]

I am no expert on this subject but from my understanding deep snow hurts wolves more than deer.

I read in some studies that while snow is fluffy, wolves are disadvantage
However once weather warms up a bit and ice crust is on top of snow, wolves don't fall through and angulates get stuck, this is the time when deer mortality goes through the roof.

[werner.reiche]

I am no expert on this subject but from my understanding deep snow hurts wolves more than deer.

I think it's the other way around. Deep snow favors the wolves - by a large margin.

[werner.reiche]

I'd think the deer will be okay if the wolves/coyotes don't find them. There was very little snow (55B) up until last week - less than a foot accumulated on the ground. Deer weren't yarding (sticking to trails yet, so they had access to a lot of food). We're about 40 days from the end of March - and hopefully the snow will be melted enough that the deer can move at will again. Deer in good shape can survive on minimal food for up to 90 days. So if the wolves and yotes don't get them, they'll be okay. In areas where they got the deep snow early - Bracebridge? - this last snow might be a killer.

[Marker]

I think it's the other way around. Deep snow favors the wolves - by a large margin.

This report supports what you said above:

Relationship between snow depth and gray wolf predation on white-tailed deer
July 1, 1986
Survival of 203 yearling and adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was monitored for 23,441 deer days from January through April 1975-85 in northeastern Minnesota. Gray wolf (Canis lupus) predation was the primary mortality cause, and from year to year during this period, the mean predation rate ranged from 0.00 to 0.29. The sum of weekly snow depths/month explained 51% of the variation in annual wolf predation rate, with the [COLOR="#FFFF00"]highest predation during the deepest snow.

https://www.usgs.gov/publications/re...te-tailed-deer

[Wullie]

They say that 50in of snow over 2-3 week period is pretty bad for any angulates
On the other hand, the rivers will hopefully fill up next season

Hard to have one without the other

I read in some studies that while snow is fluffy, wolves are disadvantage
However once weather warms up a bit and ice crust is on top of snow, wolves don't fall through and angulates get stuck, this is the time when deer mortality goes through the roof.

Ungulates

[newbiehunter]

Ungulates

Lol. Thanks for correction [emoji3526]

[DanE]

I've taken the sled back through several of the properties I hunt over the weekend and hinge cut several trees with lots of buds on them right beside the trails I've made for them
It's worked in the past but then again snow pack hasn't been like this in many years now

[Sam Menard]

Fifty days with 50cm of snow is considered severe. Much will depend on the physical condition of the deer herd going forward. Deer will burn through their fat reserves trying to reach food sources and are susceptible to exhaustion. If deer are in yards with good cover and browse then some will make it through.

Up in NW Ontario, our herds took a nose dive about 12-13 years ago and they haven’t recovered yet! Hopefully herds in the east , central, and sw don’t get wiped out too.