Fires in my area!! Any advice?

[Sako7STW]

I finally after 15-16 years of putting in drawed a great tag in Wyoming. I drew the Pine Mtn area that is South of Rock Springs.

I was reading in the paper the other day that they plan on doing some perscribed burns in my area on the 3rd of Oct. Thats 3 days into the hunt. I was so mad that I was shaking!|oo :BLEEP: :MAD

Just curious if any of you have any experience with Elk behaviors when there are fires in your hunting area?

FUNTER, if you read this, give me a call. My cell went blank on me so i dont have your numbers anymore.

 

[1_pointer]

I'm not sure I would be too worried. Fall prescribed burns are usually very low in intensity due to the temps and moisture. Also, call the USFS/BLM office and get a map of exactly where the burn will be. That way you can stay away from there as I'm sure the animals will as well. Heck, I could see fires burning on the next mtn over when I shot my mule deer last year. IMO, these prescribed burns are nothing but a good thing.

 

[mtmiller]

BLM Plans October Prescribed Burn in Salt Wells Grazing Allotment
The Rock Springs Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces plans to conduct a prescribed burn south of Rock Springs in October. The burn is planned for the Salt Wells grazing allotment east of U.S. Highway 191.

The BLM is planning to begin firing operations on the Salt Wells Basin Prescribed Burn no earlier than Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006. The Salt Wells Basin project is located approximately 30-35 miles south of Rock Springs. The project area is encompassed by Highway 191 on the west; the top of Mellor Mountain on the North; Salt Wells Creek on the east; the Salt Wells/Pine Mountain allotment boundary fence on the southeast; and Red Creek rim on the south. The prescribed burn will be completely within the Salt Wells grazing allotment. Grazing permittees in the allotment have agreed to rest the project area from livestock grazing for two years after treatment.

BLM plans to treat approximately 9,000 acres of sagebrush/mountain shrub and aspen vegetation types within a 35,000 acre burn block. “The project objectives are to improve watershed condition and fisheries habitat conditions in upper sage creek, reduce hazardous fuels and to improve terrestrial wildlife habitat,” said Thor Stephenson, BLM fuels specialist with the Rock Springs BLM office.

Some interruption and inconvenience may be experienced by elk hunters in hunt units 30 (Aspen Mountain) and 32 (Pine Mountain) during firing operations. Some temporary closure of Sweetwater County Roads 34 and 27 can be expected. Such closures will occur only as needed and will be at major intersections.

This project is anticipated to take 5-10 days. The boundary of the project has been signed. “Travel on U.S. Highway 191 should be uninterrupted, however, BLM asks that all travelers on this road slow down and use caution from milepost 25 to milepost 40. Mowing and black lining in preparation for the project may occur in Sept. Given prevailing and forecasted wind direction the BLM does not expect smoke to be a problem for those using Highway 191, but be prepared to slow down or stop should smoke conditions limit visibility,” cautioned Stephenson.

Stephenson added, “The BLM would like to thank public land users in advance for their cooperation with this important public land management activity.”

For more details, contact Thor Stephenson at the BLM office in Rock Springs or at 307-352-0369.

-BLM-

 

[Jezz]

I was elk hunting last weekend near a fire and plenty of elk around and did not seem to care, my expierence is that will not leave an area if there is a fire. It also can play into your favor as the sense of smeel is diminished somewhat. my .02

 

[Sako7STW]

Lets get one thing streight, I am NOT against prescribed burns. I know they do wonders for the land, What I AM against is that they are doing it right in the middle of of the best part of the hunting season. We went out scouting the area over labor day weekend and one of the areas they are burning is right where the Elk are.

The funny part is, my bro called and complained to the BLM office. He has a tag there as well. He was simply voicing his opinion they they should wait till a little further into the season to give the hunters a little more time to hunt before they start the fires. The guy at the BLM said there had been several hunters call and complain and most were beyond a little upset. HE couldnt help that the Game & fish scheduled the hunt when they they were to burn. --LMFAO Ummm I think the G&F posted thier seasons well before this burn was planned.-- Then he said he didnt know why they were so mad because the Elk are not where they are burning. My brother then informed him of the 75 head of Elk we seen in the exact area and told them they better go look again if they think there is not Elk there. He also told them of several camps that people had already started setting up and some were already using as they were hunting with thier bows.

The BLM is ablivious as to the effects they are going to have on the hunters. I want to be there when they go in and tell these guys that are going to be camped there unaware of the burn that they have to pack up and move. WHOOO WEE there is going to be some fireworks then.

The one positive that I did think of is the fact the fires may cause the Elk to start moving and if they are moving they are easier to find.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Look at it this way: The elk won't be where it's burning. That narrows down the area where they will be. If conditions are right they might not be able to smell you. I had one of my best hunts ever in an area where the FS was burning slash piles and it was snowing. The smoke hung low and the snow made it quiet walking, so it was just my eyesight against the elk's eyesite. They couldn't hear me or scent me. Had those conditions on a whitetail hunt one time, too. Great hunt. Now if I know the FS is burning slash piles I head right that way fast.

 

[Coues Sniper]

I have hunted in 8 and 10 in AZ before when there were prescribed burns going on, and it didn't seem to affect the elk that much. The burn areas themselves were large, but the actual fires are usually small. Although the elk weren't standing right next to the fire, they stayed in the same general areas. Just what i have found anyways...

 

[BuzzH]

sacko7stw,

First off, the reason the BLM does fall burns is because in many cases they have to. Theres pretty narrow windows when the conditions are perfect for achieving good results with burns.

Their concern is the health of the land...not your elk tag.

How many total acres are in the area you intend to hunt?

I suggest you go do some more scouting and quit whining about the fires, like most have stated, they wont have any impact on your hunt.

The people that are already camped in the burned area will be asked to leave. If they want fireworks, I'm sure the local BLM LEO will escort them to the nice cozy camping site complete with bars on the windows.

You're wasting your time calling the BLM and complaining. I suggest getting out and finding where those 75 elk are going to move to when the drip torch fuel hits the sage on October 3rd.

 

[1_pointer]

Ummm I think the G&F posted thier seasons well before this burn was planned.--

I seriously doubt it. Prescribed burns are, IME, always planned a minimum of 6mos in advance, but usually a year or so in advance. This is due to the NEPA required. This requirement also gives all those who care a chance to comment on the project; things like timing would make a good comment. Good luck on your hunt!