What happens now? (Wildlife Flood Question)

[redspeckable]

I didn't want to fill up the other thread with questions about the wildlife but in your opinion how much damage do you think occurs? From inside the levees, to the YBW areas? How soon before wildlife returns to the area? What have your experiences been with floods (although not this severe) in the past? What is your following hunting season like?

[mshunter77]

Deer tend to follow the water lines so usually they get out and come right back as the water drops. Now the difference is that this flood will be so widespread that I think alot of wildlife will get caught up in it with no where to go because the high spots they usually go to will be flooded then they will be stuck with water around them for miles. I think island areas will be hurt the worst because generally they will go to the middle and be safe but not this time. As far as food that is going to depend on how long the water is up. Areas that are not under that long vegetation will not be affected but some areas that are under for long periods the vegetation may be killed off.

[Kealhofer]

We killed around 70 deer this year and only 2 were 3 1/2 yrs old. That is bc of the 2008 flood. We killed 2 1/2, 4 1/2, 5 1/2, 6 1/2

[camlock]

the wildlife (deer and hogs at least) will be back on dry land within hours of it getting out of the water...question is just how many will leave and/or find a way to leave if they stayed too long and not drown, also how many does are at what point in gestation to not have drowned babies, AND how many make it in the flood areas until the water receeds....I will say this with pure conviction, and I hunt on 1000 acres that is totally submerged already, it's better to have 60 foot in May than 48 foot in December b/c they all get killed by outlawin' when it rises during hunting season...at least in the spring people aren't mowing them down with rifles where they congregate under the "legal protection" of hunting season...in the spring it doesn't help but nature has it's chance to protect itself...you can't defend Billy Joe and his coona$$ cousin killing a basket rack 8 point everyday for a month while they are piled up on his aunt's 50 acres in the hills during high water...

[ntzhunter]

the wildlife (deer and hogs at least) will be back on dry land within hours of it getting out of the water...question is just how many will leave and/or find a way to leave if they stayed too long and not drown, also how many does are at what point in gestation to not have drowned babies, AND how many make it in the flood areas until the water receeds....I will say this with pure conviction, and I hunt on 1000 acres that is totally submerged already, it's better to have 60 foot in May than 48 foot in December b/c they all get killed by outlawin' when it rises during hunting season...at least in the spring people aren't mowing them down with rifles where they congregate under the "legal protection" of hunting season...in the spring it doesn't help but nature has it's chance to protect itself...you can't defend Billy Joe and his coona$$ cousin killing a basket rack 8 point everyday for a month while they are piled up on his aunt's 50 acres in the hills during high water...

well said

[camlock]

the wildlife (deer and hogs at least) will be back on dry land within hours of it getting out of the water...question is just how many will leave and/or find a way to leave if they stayed too long and not drown, also how many does are at what point in gestation to not have drowned babies, AND how many make it in the flood areas until the water receeds....I will say this with pure conviction, and I hunt on 1000 acres that is totally submerged already, it's better to have 60 foot in May than 48 foot in December b/c they all get killed by outlawin' when it rises during hunting season...at least in the spring people aren't mowing them down with rifles where they congregate under the "legal protection" of hunting season...in the spring it doesn't help but nature has it's chance to protect itself...you can't defend Billy Joe and his coona$$ cousin killing a basket rack 8 point everyday for a month while they are piled up on his aunt's 50 acres in the hills during high water...

well said

You need to get to work

[steely]

Deer tend to follow the water lines so usually they get out and come right back as the water drops. Now the difference is that this flood will be so widespread that I think alot of wildlife will get caught up in it with no where to go because the high spots they usually go to will be flooded then they will be stuck with water around them for miles. I think island areas will be hurt the worst because generally they will go to the middle and be safe but not this time. As far as food that is going to depend on how long the water is up. Areas that are not under that long vegetation will not be affected but some areas that are under for long periods the vegetation may be killed off.

This is my biggest fear. Our camp is on the east side of the Yazoo and the deer will easily make it to the hills, but I think a lot of animals will get trapped in the Delta National area. It sounds like everything west of the Yazoo will be under water, and it would be an awfully long swim to get to dry ground.

I think a lot of animals around the Delta Wildlife/Delta National/Lake George WMA area are going to have trouble finding high ground anywhere. I expect the flood to have a detrimental impact on next hunting season and on the number of does and fawns that survive. At least the poachers won't be able to wipe a lot of them out.

[Kealhofer]

I think some close to the hills are already there. The ones that find high ground around that usually is good enough. If it takes the high ground where they are then it will be too far to land in most cases. I think this is going to wipe out herds and will take years to build the numbers back up if it gets over 105' land side.
The best thing to think of is that if that happens there will no longer be a Hog problem in the Delta for a long time

[MSDawg870]

Bossman flew over the Tunica area yesterday. He said at Riverbend (links golf course inside the levee behind Resorts casino), on every fairway mound above water there were deer standing.

[steely]

I wish it would wipe out the hogs, but I can't see that happening. I've accepted the fact that pigs are impossible to eradicate.
However, some people in the hills will finally get hogs. Maybe they will like it and decide to stay up there.

[quack_a_tack]

I do wish I had the lease on the nagger woods just over the levee from merigold, or the church woods at 448@ 1.

[Cotten]

Biologist for inside levee/island clubs says it’s going to be very bad and a lot of animals will not survive this.

[TODO]

Its gonna be bad for the big clubs with high ground on the back. Some are gonna congregate on ridges, etc. When that goes wet they will have a long swim out. I know at Huntington Point in 08, the woods had been under for 10 days and i still saw deer swimming in the middle of the place out of the boat. That means they were on a ridge until it went wet. Our racks were off the next year too. I wouldnt expect great things for 2011-2012. Clubs that are islands like mentioned earlier will have slim pickens i bet. My place now is so low the deer have been gone for several weeks. Im hoping that works to our advantage. We shall see.

[duckhead'71]

State biologist told that this flood will be so epic that the delta region will hunt as it did back in the 50's as far as numbers of deer. A mere sighting of a deer will be news worthy for the next few years. Sad seasons delta huntin' in the future. He said deer swim good, not far.

[eldorado]

However, some people in the hills will finally get hogs.

Hogs have been in the hills for as long as I can remember (35 years or so)..the past 20 years they have been a problem....no more are needed.....they tend run in big groups when the water is up...I hope to kill a quite a few of the filthy vermin when they pass from in front of my house ( which is the delta) to the hills...which is a few feet from my back door.