Deep snow conditions

[Shag]

I guess this is a question for those out there who are from areas that get lots of snow. We've had a good amount of snow build up through the first few weeks of January up here. things got pretty ugly over the last week, when we received over 72" of new snow for the week. We're at just about 135" for the month and 200" for the season. Obviously, shed hunting is impossible in these conditions as the deer cannot move from the cover they're in and even on snow shoes today I was sinking in 15"--too tough to go and I don't want to push any of the deer to run in these conditions. The question I'm throwing out there is this. Should it be easier to locate sheds after a winter such as this or more difficult? On the one hand, it's impossible for them to dig to or utilize left over crops or even move very far to browse or other feed. My experience has been that when conditions get like this, the thick, overhead winter cover, usually hemlock stands or thick areas of gray dogwood (anything that holds snow off the ground making travel easier and providing some shelter from the wind) becomes more important than food. It would almost seem, if you can find the small patches of cover where the deer took shelter as the snow levels built up, that there might be the situation where a number of bucks shed in a relatively confined area. The flip side is that there are going to be lots of areas that produce in normal years or that "look" good after the snow is off, that will have virtually no chance of holding any sheds because the deer were not able to stay in the normal areas because of the heavy and persistent snows. Oh, also, we've had quite a bit of cold temps down as cold as minus 20 on one occassion and a bunch of nights 10 to 15 below (F) and even several days when the daytime high didn't get out of negative territory (not wind-chills--pure temperatures). What do any of you noprthern shed hunters think about this and where will I find the dheds come spring?

 

[TJF]

We have quite a bit of snow here but not like you guys. My area is probably quite a bit different from yours. Not much for trees, mostly ag areas and a few CRP fields. We also get hammered by the wind since it is so open.

This probably won't help you so take it for what it is worth. The deer are still feeding in the fields. The wind will blow and pack the snow in the low ground but also helps to keep the tops of the hills cleaned off with 6 inches of snow or less. Right now the deer are feeding on the hill tops and sides till they hit the deeper snow. We will keep this in mind when we start hitting it hard.

The CRP is filling in with snow also but is not packed near as hard as open low ground. The deer are still bedding and feeding in it. Again the tops and sides of the hills will be the best bet.

Wind plays a big role for us when we get a lot of snow. We never over look the few small tree patches we have because the deer will take shelter in them to get out of the wind. It has been pretty cold here with a couple nights hitting 40 below. South and East sides are generally the better areas to find sheds when searching tree patches with our NW wind.

More snow usually means more sheds as the deer don't wander as much and herd up more in the better feeding areas compared to mild winters.

Tim

 

[deershed]

Shag-that's exactly what happened with me last year.We got that all that snow (not like you) and it stuck around for weeks.I knew the buck were in that one area still carrying before the snow then after it melted couldn't locate the sheds.That was the day I found 13 sheds.Your post, March 17th 2003"Time off from work".
Last year with the snow we had I didn't bother looking in alot of my regular spots cause I knew the deer would avoid those areas.Instead I stuck to the thicker cover and areas that gave the deer some protection from the elements along with the south facing slopes.When I found one shed I usually would find at least another.Besides the 13 shed day I had another day were I found 7.That day I looked 6hrs. and only found an old shed.Then I went to another area and found 6 all with in 100 yds. of each other in 2 hrs.Both days I found 2 matching sets and the other half to a mate I had found earlier.Tells me, once those deer found a good thing they stayed there.

BTW-went out yesterday and from the tracks in the snow where I looked.Seemed like the deer weren't traveling too far.When they did they stayed on the same trails already made though the snow.The weather man is calling for another storm,could get rain where I shed hunt.

 

[Shag]

Hey guys, thanks for the tips. I'll keep all of that in my mind when I can finally get out to look. It's getting to that time around here (February) when the drop will get going. In fact, maybe deep snow and deep cold will have induced some of them to shed a bit early and hopefully in restricted areas where I can find them easier. Deerhsed, if it rains, I'd get out there as anything that was just buried in the snow will stick out like a turd-in-a-punch bowl when the wet snow cover shrinks. Good luck.