How did the Herd fare

[BKhunter]

I have been seeing a lot of articles about how tags are going to be reduced this year across the country as they believe the past two winters have really put a strain on the white tail herd. The below article was another that came out today:

 

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/05/07/state-regulators-considering-big-limits-on-hunting-after-winter-proves-tough-on/?intcmp=features

 

 

How does everyone think NYS fared, and how do you think this upcoming season is going to be?

[Nomad]

Where I hunt, 8h lots of deer around . I'll put two in the freezer and perhaps take more for friends . I can't speak of other areas.

[stoneam2006]

9x looks ok from my view....deer look strong and healthy was out today walking around with kids saw 10 down in the spring gully

[Grizz1219]

From what I've seen in 4Y and 4Z I don't think they got hit to hard.... But we never get DMP's as non residents so it won't effect me anyways... Hoping the farmer gets some tags...

[NFA-ADK]

I know many yearlings did not make it but from what I understand the LI deer are in good shape for the winter we had. 

[thphm]

They do not look too healthy by me , yearlings are very thin compaired to  last October and November. There Moms are looking a little better , but not as good in years past.

[wooly]

How does everyone think NYS fared, and how do you think this upcoming season is going to be?

 

BAD, very bad...

[ants]

As brutal as the winter was, I was constantly seeing deer in the fields, scratching for food, but there was always a lot of them. Since just before turkey season and as of the last time I turkey hunted (Tuesday) I have seen several deer and good deer sign every time out. I think in my little neck of the woods they did Okay.

[grampy]

We lost 30 to 40 percent of last years fawns in my immediate area. It could have been worse as we had a very heavy wet snow in November,that broke a lot of trees and branches down for them to eat when it got real bad out there. We still have a fair number of adults that are getting better each week now. But not a normal amount of little ones from last year with them this spring. Mother nature took her toll here last winter. But the strongest survived and so will our deer herd.

[ATbuckhunter]

saw 9 deer in half a day of turkey hunting on Sunday and all looked healthy. I think the herd around my hunting area fared well. 

[dbHunterNY]

had reports deer are low in my immediate area and heard others that there's still the same amount.  won't know until I get out there in august and start my routine.

[Doc]

Yeah, it is hard to get a credible read on the damage done by this past winter just from looking at the herds in the fields. It will take a much closer look at on-the-ground sign to make any reasonable general assessments of the herd size. Even trail cams don't always give the real overall story of an entire area. Some good intensive scouting is what is required. Right now I am too busy with spring activities to get too involved in that yet.

[greensider]

i have been watching a buck over 3 years old i cant understand how he is still alive he is in bad shape and have seen other deer that do not look good se ny area  others look ok so i would say its 50  50

[wolc123]

It would have taken about 2 more weeks of winter to do serious damage to the herd where I live and do most of my hunting in zone 9F. I don't see any signs of winter kill even on last years fawns. In fact, there are two large, pregnant looking does, each with two of last years fawns with them, almost every time I take the mountain bike around our "back 40".

They are keeping the wheat, which I put in with some clover on a little 1/2 food-plot last fall, eaten right down to the clover. Usually I have to mow the wheat down with a bush-hog around this time so the clover can take off. With the record numbers of acorns we had last fall, the deer went into that tough winter in exceptionally good shape.

I wasn't able to take any does or fawns last fall, but our freezer is still pretty much stuffed from the 2 bucks I used my tags on, a road-kill button-buck, and we finally finished a big, 2-1/2 yr, 8-point that a friend gave us during bow season. As far as I can see, it will be easier than ever to fill that freezer back up this fall.

I have not been up to zone 6C yet this spring, where I took my largest buck last fall, but the in-laws have been seeing plenty of does up there. I hope to check it out on Memorial day weekend myself.

[ants]

Still seeing plenty of deer wile turkey hunting but so far I have found 3 dead. By the size of the bones they were all little ones.

[Trial153]

Some interesting water kill observations and pictures here.

forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/thread.cfm?threadid=221523&MESSAGES=89&state=NY

[turkeyfeathers]

Brother has found 2 dead ones on his property where I hunt. Heck, was just out there last week and still had snow in some shaded areas on a hillside. Deer found were curled up like they died in their sleep from starvation. Definitely not hit by car. Been seeing quite a few every day while turkey hunting though. We'll see come November.

[thphm]

Was out working in the woods most of the afternoon , nice gentile wind from the south  even though it  80 it did not feel that bad. No more then50 yards away on the side of the hill Mom , her 2 young does and son  from last year , were bedded down . I decided to hop on the ATV and head in the direction where the were , the got up and walked over to a watering hole , small , around 6' x 8' X 1  -1/2 ' deep , walked into it and stayed there around 5 minutes and headed back to where the were bedded , brousing along the way . they are eating everything they can get at , but still thin for this time of the year. If you would see these young ones you would never think that they are almost a year old.