Will work for food..

[wooly]

Watched this yearling doe skate around on the frozen creek today for at least 1/2 hour.

You could tell the reward she worked so hard for didn't amount to much of a prize in the end. Every 4'th or 5'th jump she would land with a mouth full of hemlock needles before repeating the grueling process over and over again and again.

She came down so hard a few times I thought for sure she was going through the ice.

 

If I have this linked right, click on the pic for a short clip.

 

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/Diesle/sheds/th_DSCN1667_zpssnrxlto9.mp4

[stoneam2006]

Hope this ends soon....seem pretty desperate around me too....see them in road every night browsing the edges where plows get down to geass/weeds

[The_Field_Ager]

Might be time to go drop a few more trees in the woods.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Papist

[Dom]

I will work for food! lol!

[ncountry]

We have been dropping 1-2 cedar trees a day for more than a month now..trees are clean as a whistle the next day..

[adkbuck]

Thanks for sharing this Wooly.  Its a tough time for the them out there and your short video makes the point well.  I am also worried about the wild turkeys with the deep powdery snow, wondering if they can get enough nourishment from the buds to survive while roosted.  Good idea ncountry of yours  to drop some trees.

[G-Man]

Tough time for them till end of march and it's best to stay away from bedding areas,at this time as they can I'll afford to waste energy fleeing a human intrusion this time of year, dropping trees is good as long as not interrupting bedding areas while cutting

[ncountry]

Tough time for them till end of march and it's best to stay away from bedding areas,at this time as they can I'll afford to waste energy fleeing a human intrusion this time of year, dropping trees is good as long as not interrupting bedding areas while cutting

A good point.. We play around cutting firewood and cedar posts(2-6 a day ,lol) all winter.The deer seem to appreciate the trails and ,esp. this winter, don't bother running much. Couple hops and they pretend you don't see them ,ha.. They know the difference between a gun and a chainsaw...lol

[growalot]

I payed attention to trails as I was on my drive yesterday...a few old ones but all snowed in...still a lot of sumac beeries around but even old apple growths do not seem to have any new trails...I was pleased to see a guy not too far away was able to go in and hinge cut a bunch of trees on his place along the edge of the road. There have been some very big tracks where I shoveled the drive across the street ...looks like some are held up in the neighbors slashings and golden rod near our line. the snow is up to the second wire from the top on the fencing around my garden...there is just no getting in there to cut anything. I'm sure I have lost a bunch of trees though...not from the deer but rabbits and other rodents...happens every time we have a prolonged deep snow here...maples...too many to count lower 18 in completely girded. A lot of beech as well, those usually near woodchuck dens..

[grampy]

From my snowshoe walks,I have packed down a pretty good trail,that the local deer have been using quite a bit. Have been taking a bow saw and cutting hemlock branches along the way when I go,a couple times a week. They are always picked clean when I go back out. I figure every little bit helps. We have had the deep snow and brutal temps for a couple months now,their reserves have got to be running low at this point. Come on spring!!!

[Curmudgeon]

I hate cutting trees with a chainsaw on snowshoes. I'll take a bow saw up and cut branches.