2011 western conditions

[Guy Miner]

Many folks may not know that the Northern Rockies, the Sierras and the Cascades have literally been slammed with snow this past season, starting in November, and it's still snowing in the high country.

This, coupled with long periods of sub-freezing weather, has had a very severe impact on the big game herds. Winter kill for both young and older animals is significant, approaching 90% fawn kill for mule deer in some areas.

A winter like this doesn't just affect hunting this year, but for several years to come. I've been doing my homework on this. Might be a good year to pass on that hunt to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming or some of the other north western states. Just a thought. My pard and I decided early on to hold off on our Wyoming hunt and just stay here in Washington instead. The winter here was bad enough, but I believe I'll be able to hunt my home territory just fine. As of two weeks ago about the 4,000' level I was still running into packed snow on the north facing slopes.

If you're one of the lucky guys who drew tags for that great Western Hunt, go forth and enjoy - some places were spared the worst of the winter, in other areas guys will have to hunt hard.

Worth considering while planning for the next couple of years...

Guy

 

[257 Ackley]

Great advice Guy...I was in the NE corner of California at the end of April-first of May and there was still alot of snow at 5000 feet and we were snowed on almost every night camping.

 

[DrMike]

Interesting observation, Guy. I wasn't aware that you had that much snow. I do know that where I was hunting grizzly last fall is inaccessible due to snow pack. There is well over three feet of snow at the entrance to the higher valleys.

 

[Guy Miner]

These photos (not mine, taken off the internet) were supposedly taken about two weeks ago in the North Cascades, clearing Highway 20, which runs West - East across the state. It was a late opening this year - the latest in years. Just checked today, and the state web site claims it's open.

Yes, we got a lot of snow up high. Down low, not nearly as much.

 

[SJB358]

Awesome pictures Guy! Man, that is really neat. Scotty

 

[257 Ackley]

Guy - you can still get in some nordic skiing!!

 

[C.Smith]

Just came back from Wallowa Lake in Oregon. Lots of snow around 4500 to 5100 feet. It should be an interesting year for sure.

Corey

 

[Elkman]

When I was in southern Arizona last week, it snowed 6 inches at the Flagstaf Airport. Beautiful pictures guy!

The corps of eigineers announced in the Dalles paper this week that our runoff down the Columbia was the greatest since 1976. the dam had all spillways but 4 open the other day when I went past. And its not even warm, a very cool May, I finished most of my garden last night, and its raining hard again today

 

[Powerstroke]

Guy -

It's hit as far south as CO. Our central mountains have been hammered this year. Not sure yet what the outcome of the fawn and calf crop will be due to they usually head for lower ground during the worst of the winter months.

They are expecting some rather large flooding within the next few weeks. CA, NV, AZ will be happy :grin:

 

[jmad_81]

I had some friends that went out riding snowmobiles last weekend. They ran into two feet of fresh pwoder at about 7000 ft. I'm sure with the storms that have been rolling through the last few days I could get off my baler and go ride my sled for the next two weeks now that bear season is over!

 

[Elkman]

Saw on the tube the other day that Montana has 800% or normal snow pack. Precip for the spring was already 12 inches, which is the normal for the year. The governor said to expect heavy runoff on all Montana Rivers and tributaries until late summer.

 

[6mm Remington]

A couple days ago north of town not very far, they got dumped on again in the mountains and it dropped another 25 inches of snow on the already 12-14 feet still on the ground! It's going to be a touch year on the animals here also. Over near Lewistown Montana where my dad grew up, we hunt deer, antelope, and elk when we can draw. Usually this district I apply for has sometimes had 1600-1800 either sex antelope tags and another 1000-1200 doe fawn permits. This year there are only 200 either sex tags for this same district and just a very few doe/fawn tags!