Alberta Ungulate Winter Survival

Suka said:
Have you looked here? http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntersHarvest.aspx The success rates in some wmu's may surprise you.

Around here Jan and especially Feb. snow/crust pack determine's the tale of ungulate survival.
Click to expand...

Yea, I check that site quite often. Thanx.

Have spoken to several "Oldtimers" that have lived around here forever and all have said this is the most snow we had so early in many years. And the past few days we recorded temps of +1s/+6s...so soon the crust will start...
 
AbLonewolf said:
Yea, I check that site quite often. Thanx.

Have spoken to several "Oldtimers" that have lived around here forever and all have said this is the most snow we had so early in many years. And the past few days we recorded temps of +1s/+6s...so soon the crust will start...
Click to expand...

Historically, we get most of our snow in March and April, so the worst might be yet to come.

Grizz
 
AbLonewolf said:
Was reading the Sad Management thread and thought to start this one.

I live in West Central Alberta and so far this year, had extreme snowfalls and cold snaps. Around here, some areas have 3+ feet of snow.

Couple of days ago, I was driving home and observed a doe and fawn walking on the secondary highway. I slowed down to a crawl and they would not get off the road. As I slowly pulled up beside them, they decided to head into the bush. The fawn almost got stuck as the snow was too deep. The poor doe was struggling big time also. Tongues were hanging out by the time they hit the tree line. Haven't seen too many along the roads as I believe they are timbered up pretty good.

A moose walked through my land about a week ago and there were belly skids on top of the snow.

I believe that this year will be a bad one for deer, elk, and moose... around here anyways.

From listening to the news, appears as though many areas in Canada are being hit hard this year.

It will be interesting next fall when hunting season starts again...numbers may be low I reckon.

How things look where you guys are from?

And Happy Holidays to all CGN members and families!
Click to expand...
I've noticed a steady decline in deer populations over the past 12 years, mainly because of the harsh winters. For years in the areas that I hunt I always apply for doe mule deer and two supplemental tags but never harvest any does, which is my way of deer management and conservation contribution. It's unfortunate that hunters don't regulate themselves a little better instead of using "well if it's legal then I can do it" attitude. I shake my head all the time when hunters complain about the government that they "should do this" or "shouldn't do that", and at the same time they are filling the back of their pick-ups with big game animals. Most years I either take one or no animals but when I witness a pick-up full of animals, well, I guess that the laws don't discriminate against greed/gluttening. Hopefully hunters will pay heed to what Old Man Winter has done over the years and regulate themselves for the better of wildlife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom