Even though the thermometer is reading 5 degrees it is good to wake up this morning knowing we don't have to get out and snow-blow right away. Finally the snow has stopped. A week ago we barely had any and today we've got plenty. Not sure how much but it has to be over three feet. Thursday night alone we got a bunch - Newberry received zero, Wolf Inn area had about 1", Pine Stump got maybe 6" and, good ole Deer Park got 16+" of beautiful powdery snow.
Between cleaning out around the yard and helping a couple of neighbors get cleaned up, we spent the better part of the day moving snow around. We look like we normally do in the middle of winter already. We were hoping the lake effect machine would slow down a bit but the seven day forecast isn't necessarily indicating that.
The lake froze over on December 5, I am hoping the winds keep the ice clear of snow so we have the makings for good thick ice. This much snow could put a damper on us getting out and fishing prior to Christmas.
Our deer season sure didn't improve through muzzle loading season. In fact, we don't know anyone up here that shot a buck during this extended season. We can only hope that the UP's harsh winter will be kind to our deer herd, and the winter kill will be very minimal.
We sure hear a lot of negative comments about the effects of the wolves having on our deer herd. We can honestly say that we just don't see the signs of a large Gray Wolf population up north here. I think around Engadine, Newberry, Hulbert and Seney things may be different, and maybe these animals are having an effect. We have a lot of coyotes up here and we are not sure what if any effect they will have on the herd. Obviously something, or a combination of things, has happened in the last few years to drastically reduce the amount of deer we have had compared to the past. Here's the DNR perspective on human, wolf, and winter impact on deer mortality on the Upper Peninsula.
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Happy Holidays,
M & M

