2013-2014 Winter Severity Index

[Bear55]

We have hunted the same area over 100 years, not changing now.

Ya I know the feeling, still have to hunt our traditional ground. Just likely more time off with the bow vs rifle season vacation.

[Deet]

The whole Arrowhead is over 180 WSI (severe) as of March 26th, and I'm sure we've earned 7 more points since then as the snow base is still well over 15" in the woods.

And we just got another half-foot of snow!

[Bear55]

Probably time to shut down the doe permits in the NE.

[lakevet]

Deer are back on grass/non woody plants in the fields and woods now. They had eaten tops of trees I thinned back in march, but not as much as expected. With warmer weather they are moving much more. Pleasantly surprised at amount of deer and deer sign. Definitely some weak ones, but still no evidence of wolf or dog impact in our area. I think most of the weak ones will make it now. Get some fawns on the ground and there should be a decent amount of deer this fall, way better than back in the 70's and early 80's. Might have to hunt a little harder, but that is fine as it means more time in the woods

Just another winter in Minnesota. Nothing new.

lakevet

[BuckSutherland]

You are a little more optimistic than I am. I have to imagine the does aborted more fawns than normal. I have seen a few deer around the area down here and I thought they looked pretty terrible.

[smsmith]

Just another winter in Minnesota. Nothing new.

2nd coldest winter on record for the last 114 years here...I'd have to say that's not "just another winter"

[lakevet]

This winter was just another Minnesota winter to me. What was abnormal and a bit scary to me was some of the real warm winters we have had. Made me wonder if ice fishing was going to be a one month sport.

All I can say is that there are more deer now this spring in our little part of NE Minnesota than early in my hunting career and definitely still way more deer than after the long winters back to back of the mid 1990's. And yes our WSI is somewhere North of 180 for this past winter.

For those who are into " carrying capacity" and that our herd is below the carrying capacity of the habitat, explain to me why we are so whacked about deer not having enough food etc to make it through last winter, all why organizing to have more deer around because the habitat supposedly could support more deer ( even through winter). Winter carrying capacity is the important number. And severe winter carrying capacity is THE bottleneck the deer herd WILL go through sooner or later, especially in NE Minnesota.

Winter habitat is the key, guys. Talk to the DNR about how to improve winter habitat if you own property. Do it right and the deer will be fed without you going out there to bring them something.

Oh by the way, my ancestors hunted here after surviving the worst winter in 114 years. They came to NE Minnesota almost 125 years ago. To them it was hunting heaven, compared to Europe. I still think it is pretty good hunting around here. Way more crowded than 125 some years ago, but that is true just about everywhere. Now the taxes in this state are a whole different matter. .

lakevet

[Jameson]

At least this year we had a somewhat normal spring, so far. Lake Minnetonka's ice is out on a rather normal, slightly late, day 4/24, not the record late ice-out of last year of 5/1. We had snow fall in the first week of May last year, too. I really believe that last spring took a toll on the MN deer herd, something the WSI doesn't take into consideration.