How winter impacts deer survival - Minnesota DNR

How winter impacts deer survival. White-tailed deer are well adapted to survive Minnesota’s cold, snowy winters. Their winter coats of hollow hair that conserve body heat, along with decreased movement and a slower winter metabolism that requires fewer food resources, help most deer …

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FAQs about How winter impacts deer survival - Minnesota DNR Coupon?

How well do deer survive winters in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, the winter conditions in the northern forested zone have a greater impact on deer populations than elsewhere in the state. Wildlife managers use Winter Severity Index (WSI) and other factors to assess how well deer survive winters. Each state calculates WSI independently. ...

How do white-tailed deer survive winter?

White-tailed deer are well adapted to survive Minnesota’s cold and snowy winters. Their winter coats of hollow hair that conserve body heat and decreased movement and a slower winter metabolism that requires fewer food resources help most deer navigate winter in relatively good condition. ...

How does a severe winter affect deer mortality?

A severe winter with very deep snow and prolonged cold temperatures can increase deer mortality. Other factors such as habitat, food availability, and timing of spring green-up can compound or buffer the impacts of a severe winter. ...

Will Minnesota deer harvest in winter?

Keller also said she is “slightly optimistic” about the firearms deer harvest in northeast Minnesota where — because of extreme winter weather, predation by wolves and loss of habitat — whitetail numbers have been depressed. “We likely need several mild winters to really turn the dial on northern deer populations,” Keller said. ...

How does weather affect Minnesota's whitetail deer harvest?

Cloudy skies, highs touching 50 degrees statewide will greet some 450,000 whitetail seekers Saturday. Weather on opening weekend plays a major role in determining the state’s seasonal whitetail deer harvest, because a significant number of hunters are afield only on those days. (Bob Timmons/The Minnesota Star Tribune) ...

Does predator abundance affect deer survival?

In the absence of empirical survival information, managers can use our model to predict annual winter effects on deer survival, which can provide improved inference compared to traditional winter severity indices. Our results suggest changes in predator abundance may have minor influence on overwinter survival compared to winter weather. ...