Idaho Winter Kill Less Than Expected

[paleraider]

It looks like the winter wasn't quite as bad as we all feared it would be. The elk seemed to come out of it fine. The young mulie fawns on the other hand took a beating so probably be a few down years for mule deer hunting in 3-4 years.

Winter kill was less than expected for mule deer, and elk fared better | Idaho Fish and Game

 

[Ross]

Throughout my ventures this spring in nidaho we found 12 dead elk and 20 deer. Elk fared ok as they are tough and mortality I would say was 5-10% in given drainages. Will see what my cameras show next month. This winter was good but nothing like 96-97 where some drainages lost 50%. In these areas there are no feed stations they either make it or they don't and have to avoid wolves in deep snow

 

[ElkNut1]

Was out last night in an area I enjoy poking around this time of year! Saw 22 cows, 15 calves, 6 yearlings, 3 spikes & two rags all in the same group. I watched them for an hour about 250-300 yards away through binos & the spotter. They looked to be in great shape but were being harassed to no end by skeeters!

ElkNut1

 

[sneaky]

Certain zones got hit way harder than others. Just listened to the Hunt Backcountry podcast and they talked to ID F&G. He had some grim numbers for certain areas, but elk always do better than deer.

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