Fewer deer this year?
 

I haven't seen any deer on my property in a couple of months. Last winter they devastated every shrub and tree on my property. The worst is the damage to evergreens (balsam) because those lower branches don't grow back. I was going to put protection around those, but I won't do that if there are no deer around. Are you seeing deer on your Lakes Region property?

Still seeing plenty on Welch Island....

Dan

I took care of one opening day of Muzzleloader season, but I was hunting in game unit L which is south of the lakes region :)

There is no shortage of them on Bear Is either.

Probably not seeing as many in yards because there's not deep snow falls yet to push them around for what food they can find.

There were also alot of acorns around this year and with little snow those are still easy pickins.

Deer move in strange ways...here today, gone tomorrow!:D

Deer
 

Last year, the deer and the bears had no food. There was a very small acorn and beech nut crop last year. The deer were skinny and the youngs bears couldn't build up enough fat to hibernate. This year, you can almost roller skate on all of the acorns in the woods. They don't need to move for food and they don't need to eat your shrubs. As an avid hunter that spent over 100 hours in the woods this year, the deer are out there. Both the deer and the bear are fat this year. Very healthy and ready to go into winter.

So . . . does that mean I do or do not not have to protect my trees this winter?

Winter 2018/19 was the first time in 25 years that I had such extensive damage to trees and shrubs. I've never had to cover them before.

I'm a bit confused about the years you refer to. In summer 2018 my property was overrun by squirrels and I attempted (unsuccessfully) to relocate them. That was also the year that the media were reporting thousands of squirrels killed on the roads. In summer 2019 there were almost no squirrels. Wouldn't that mean there were fewer acorns in 2019?

Go to a sport store and buy some coyote urine and use it liberally around your shrubbery.

Deer are somewhat lazy. They will often take the easiest route as long as they feel secure. same applies to feed. Once the snow comes (if it ever does!) they will head for shrubs. I fence my shrubs and Balsam’s in each fall.

I heard that washes off with rain and snow.

Rinse. repeat. ;)

special containers
 

gain, easy to make your own.

https://www.amazon.com/Leg-Up-Coyote...694912&sr=8-10

How do they get the coyote to pee in the bottle?

Harvest
 

From NH Fish & Game:
"The estimated 2019 statewide harvest of 12,144 is a decrease of 14% from the 2018 final kill of 14,113 but is 4% above the 10-year average of 11,655. Based on this estimate the 2019 total represents the fourth highest kill in the last 9 years and the seventh highest kill in the state’s history, going back to 1922."
They also post figures by county.