Long Ridge 2019/20 Winter Deer Census

2019/20 Long Ridge deer census has wrapped up, and we are looking at about 18/20 deer per square mile in our neck of the woods. This was a particularly difficult winter to tag deer beds, because it is not only the third easy winter in a row, but we had so little snow it was difficult to find beds. When I was able to track trails back into the softwoods, the beds deteriorated quickly, so count could be off. In addition, about a mile to the East, there is a road that feeds deer heavily, and I did find that some groups were trudging all the way from there to my meager scatterings. During a normal winter (3-8 feet of snow), and bitter cold, this would not happen. 

The shots above and below are of the station itself. I maintain two cameras there, and pull the cards about every ten days. Approximately 2000 pictures will be on each card. 

Below you see one big coyote. There is a pair in the area, and while I do not have many on camera, they, as a pair, do move through. 

The deer have been in excellent condition, and have been able to freely move and scratch up tons of acorns and browse all winter long.

This four pointer is usually accompanied by a single spike horn. They have been buds since September!

Plenty of turkeys around too!

A fat and sassy doe 

I love it when a wild deer can mimic rude people in a restaurant.

Check out this doe below on the right. Tough winter? I think not.

Warm proof coats don't allow snow to melt.

One of the chillier nights.

I love the fly pictures!

I did not need to use this Polaris much this winter!

Here is the four pointers buddy!

You are in my space, you are not my spring babe, so beat it!

We are all in this together!

These maples, cut down to save an old field edge, will lie here for several weeks to allow the deer to feed on their buds. By the time I limb out, the ends of the branches will be ragged and naked.

One handsome boy.

Foraging in the dark of winter.

Antlers again.

Play arguing again, late, but still fun...

Bright, happy day are coming. 

Guess who runs THIS ship!

Close up puss look!

So, up above, of some 8000 pictures, we have a group of ten, a group of five, and several different groups of two or three. About every second week a group of seven would visit, but did not bed within 1/2 mile of camp. For years, a doe would visit our birdfeeder behind the house within twenty feet of our kitchen window. A winter regular, she would have her spring babe with her, each year bring a new one. This year she did not show, but her last babe did, for most of the winter. Then he/she disappeared, and either moved on or was devoured by nature. We never know, and always wonder.

I love this. Stay well, stay safe, and enjoy nature and her wonders. No matter what comes to be, Mother West Wind and the Merry Little Breezes will be here to stir things up. The rabbits appreciate it.

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net