IDFG biologists are monitoring wintering areas and reports have come in recently for the Southwest ID DAU’s (Data Analysis Units). For Central Mountains, Weiser-McCall, Owyhee and Smoky-Boise… Many of these areas were devastated and or heavily impacted by the ravaging winter we had in 2022/2023. We saw fawn mortality as high as 70-80% in some areas and mature does and bucks had high mortality as well. Keep in mind these are early winter statistics and much can change going into what is most often the harshest part of winter. However, right now, the fawn counts are meeting long term averages. This is a good start for the much-needed rebound in populations for these regions. Of course, we are still in it for the long haul. This is not going to be an overnight success story and as we all know the West’s mule deer are struggling in many regions. 

Southern Idaho’s deer have been hit as hard if not harder than most of the West because of harsh winter conditions on more than one occasion. While fawn counts look good, buck-to-doe ratios are down. However, the high fawn counts suggest the bucks are there and it was the open winter which allowed the bucks to remain at higher elevations and therefore get missed in the count. Thus, biologists feel the buck numbers are solid.

What is a good statistic for fawns? Glad you asked, the region we are talking about averages around 60 fawns per 100 does going into winter. Those numbers will drop, as to be expected, by the time spring rolls around. At which point we will be looking for about half to two thirds of that number if it’s a good winter. Keeping tabs on this might sound a bit like overkill, but this is part of the picture in how we as sportsmen understand the areas and decide to hunt and or not hunt them in the up-and-coming seasons. 

Perhaps you are like many of us and will choose not to hunt Idaho and Wyoming’s southern deer herds for a while. Either way, by keeping tabs on both pre-winter and post-winter herd status you will have a head start with good intel that helps you choose where to apply and hunt this year and possibly turn back a tag because the new intel supports it.