Winter and wildlife

Fish, Wildlife and Parks

While this winter so far has given Montana plenty of snow and cold, the weather in March and April will determine to a large extent the mortality of animals like deer and antelope in north-central Montana.

That’s because during the next two months deer and antelope will rely on their energy reserves to survive, waiting for the growing season to begin.

Snow and cold alone do not dictate how many deer and antelope will survive the winter. Survivability starts before the winter begins.

How animals go into the winter — in good or poor shape — largely determines their chanc...