Fat deer, hard winter?

[wtnhunt]

While skinning Allison's deer noticed unusual amount of fat.  Never seen a deer with so much.  The hams had between 1.5 and 2 inches.  Had heard some older people suggest heavy fat on animals means a hard winter.  Seems to go along with the farmers almanac calling for a hard winter this year.  Anyone here seen a correlation?

[NS whitetail]

They always say when those red berry trees have lots of berries it’s gonna be a hard winter, well around here they are hanging to the ground. 

[Dawg]

I've never heard that about deer fat.  My dad cut open a persimmon seed the other day and it had the spoon which the old timers say means a lot of snow to shovel......I highly doubt that here in southeast Texas LOL.

[Ravin R10 man]

On 10/29/2019 at 8:02 AM, Dawg said:

.I highly doubt that here in southeast Texas LOL

Dawg in FEB.

[Ravin R10 man]

well,  My little Bro just shot a Doe bow kill, man she had fat!!!

[too_pointer]

I seem to be putting on some extra fat, but here in Michigan, seems every winter is hard ??? LOL

too_

[elkoholic]

More like a more than adequate food supply over the past six months or so.  The deer here are carrying a lot of fat and I credit the wet summer with allowing the food sources to provide the calories.  Then, if the wet weather continues into winter, there could be snow up to our ears.

[Rhino]

Same with each of the 4 bucks and a doe taken by our Missouri group recently William...1.5" to 2" of fat.

[wtnhunt]

3 hours ago, Rhino said:

Same with each of the 4 bucks and a doe taken by our Missouri group recently William...1.5" to 2" of fat.

Is that normal for Missouri deer?

Catrina's deer was really lean but think he was most likely a year younger deer.

[Rhino]

There was more fat on those deer than I recall dealing with in the past William.

Edited November 13, 2019 by Rhino

[wtnhunt]

Well fwiw we broke records for coldest temp recorded on this day and have had our coldest day of 2019. Actual temp when I walked out this morning was supposedly 13.  Hope this is not an indication of how bad this winter will be.

Al Gore and his global warming........

[RangerClay]

I arrowed my buck on November 9th and i was amazed with the high fat content.  Although he had one fighting wound I think with the rut just starting here last weekend that he hasn't started running yet.  I saw six bucks that day and he was the only one not running does.

[wtnhunt]

Talked a little with taxidermist about this.  He said early on he was seeing several deer with way more than normal fat and he said it had him thinking we are in for a hard winter.  

Guess we will see in the coming months.

[Dawg]

On ‎11‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 5:30 PM, Mathews XT Man said:

Dawg in FEB.

If that's what I look like come February in Jasper, TX......you northerners will be solid blocks of ice!

[Ravin R10 man]

That can give you "other" problems...;