Impact of Flooding on West Central Illinois deer herd
#21
We're in a drought here in FL and all over the southeast. Its funny how the weather works like that.Massive flooding and sevre drought within 500 mi of each other (+/-)
#23
How is the water level on the illinios river in pike county? Sounds likethis means the 3 stands I have ready for this fall on the bank of the illinios river are under water.I have 2,000 acres to hunt on between the levee and the river.
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#24
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
From: StL, MO
To original question...about the deer...how long areas are under water will dictate the long term affect on the deer. For the most part, IMO, deer are going to get out of the way just fine, and what food is available in these areas will determine how many come back to stay. Many of these areas will not get planted this year, if ever again, and so surviving mast trees become a good indicator of what the future resident deer pop's will be like.
#25
I went thru the flood of 93 on the Mississippi riverin Illinois. The area I was in had little impact because the river valley was narrow andthe vast majority offarming was on the bluff tops.Its gonna vary somewhat even in the same counties.
#27
ORIGINAL: DropTine249
I guess you'll all be hunting from rafts and kayakes ?
Hm, recovery may be an issue. You will probably need to asceratin some scuba gear !!
I guess you'll all be hunting from rafts and kayakes ?
Hm, recovery may be an issue. You will probably need to asceratin some scuba gear !!
#28
Might be interesting to go back and look at the deer harvest figures for the counties along the Mississippi that were hit hardest by the flood of 93 as well as the one in 2000 (or was it 2001?) and compare them to previous and subsequent years.
#29
I'm Glad I don't have a lease paying $50 to $75 an acre in the area.
I'm sure the deer will be Ok though. They are pretty resilient. Like was said before, how many come back will depend to a large degreeon food sourcesavailable.
Dan
I'm sure the deer will be Ok though. They are pretty resilient. Like was said before, how many come back will depend to a large degreeon food sourcesavailable.
Dan
#30
I dont think food is gonna be an issue unless the flood water stays there for three or four months and nothing grows. Post flood grass and other natural food plants do pretty good in flood water deposited soil. But then again, if you have an unusually high deer population that does in fact depend on crops, then I guessyou might have a problem. I would have to take a look at past post-flood deer harvests and see some pretty bad declines before i would lose any sleep over it.



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