Deer numbers

[Copidosoma]

So, I drive through EINP twice a day and usually do a bit of an ungulate count as I go. Lots of bison, elk and moose.

This winter I've counted about 5 WT deer. Usually they are practically in herds. I am a little surprised given the quality of the feed from last summer's bounty and the fact that except for a few major storms, the snow and temp haven't been all that extreme.

Anyone else noticing signs of deer having been hammered in other areas?

Given the conditions around the province this winter I wonder if the situation is widespread?

[pdfish]

It seems that in some areas I'm seeing few deer but others I'm seeing big herds. Can't comment on the overall outcome, but maybe thinning out the herd (the weak and sick at least) in some areas wouldn't be such a bad thing.

[Copidosoma]

Can't comment on the overall outcome, but maybe thinning out the herd (the weak and sick at least) in some areas wouldn't be such a bad thing.

True enough. I think that alot of the populations have managed to hang on to alot of naive animals given the mild winters we've had lately.

[duffy4]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/duffy4/103_1961.jpg


2 deer had got into the bush and out of the frame when I took this pic. So there had been 10 all together. I back tracked them off the lake and up into the south facing hills above the lake. From all the sign they had been spending a good deal of time in a fairly small area. Using deep well packed trails.

Snow depth has a big impact on deer travel and when they are not traveling much or are sticking to the same trails, you will eather see them a lot (right times near well used trails) or you will not see many (not being near well used trails)

[300WSM]

With the hot cold we've been having the ice is a problem more than the snow as it's hard for them to paw through.

300

[Bushmaster]

Deer migrate to certain areas for winter feeding....

[FishBrain]

up north at the farm I counted 13 in the hay corral. I was told it was a slow day. saw a ton on the side of the road on the way there.

[tbosch]

From the weapons range to red deer last trip I lost count at 40 for deer and saw well over a dozen coyotes as well. The majority of them were in the northern country(which seems to get about twice as much snow and cold as we do in red deer) and looked quite healthy. It really makes the trip easier to handle when you see some good quality wildlife along the way.

[Copidosoma]

Good to hear that it isn't widespread.

I know that deer winter in different areas. I'm basing my observations on what I saw last year.;)

[Whiskey Wish]

Still poop loads of whitetail deer west near Edson, not as many Mulies as in the past. The neighbour to the south has pulled 2 cow elk out of their haystacks after they had crawled on top of round bales stacked 3 high then fell down between them. Both elk were alive and walked ( stumbled ? ) away. Just had a phone call this morning from my neighbour to the west that they had a cougar on top of a w.t. deer in their field next to our place so perhaps the numbers will drop now. If Senior Kitty sticks to eating cougar candy I'll leave him be but if he/she gets into the livestock I will have to take the words of our former Alberta Premier to heart. A friend counted 63 w.t. deer lined up eating our hay beside our cattle so there is no shortage of venison so no excuse to start on the livestock.

Keep your powder dry
Dave.

[bushwackerdon]

Saw 26 deer tonight in a field west of Lacombe. Six more in a field down near Gull Lake. So it looks like the deer are wintering here okay. Just my view of the situation.

[alpineman]

Was up north west of Edmonton this morning hunting hogs, must have seen 75 to 100 WT they were in packs everywhere, one pile ran past me in the bush and just about ran into my buddy while he was busy texing on his phone, one place we counted over 30 all together no shortage where we were.
We did get a shot at a hog but missed as he was running by in the bush, maby next time.

[7mm makes it happen]

I was out last night coming back from Sundre Seen 4 packs of WT nothing less then 30 in each group a small pack of elk only 7 tho. we only got to see one mule out and about with there was more of them running around to see.:):)

[270WIN]

Came home from the US last week via Cranbrook and over the Crows Nest Pass after being away for a couple of months. Between the pass summit (ie. the Alberta/BC border) and Pincher Creek we saw a lot of deer. Several hundred in less than an hour I'm sure. Mostly mulies but some white tails too.
I've been too busy since I got home (Central Alberta) to do much travelling around here so I can't comment on deer numbers in this area. May be I'll go out and have a look around later this afternoon.

[IR_mike]

Not seeing a whole lot of deer in this area, the snow levels have not been this high in 15 years. The ones I have seen are looking healthy and we have not had any thaw/freezes here so the snow is not crusted or underlain with ice, they can still paw to the ground surface.