Post-Fire Hunting Strategy

[2rocky]

I've had a few hunting spots burn over the years, here in Coastal Northern CA, and in the Rocky mountain states.

What are your general strategies in hunting a burned area the year of the burn, the year after, 2 years after and 5+ years?

Do you have a different strategy if it is forest versus plains or sagebrush high desert?

How soon post burn are fire killed trees a falling hazard?

 

[Deleted member 18333]

I elk hunt an area that burns about 8 years ago. I have hunted it every year since it burned. I hunt at the intersection of the burn and a small, steep canyon that did not burn. The canyon is full of dark timber and wallows. The elk will bed in the timber during the day and feed into the burn in the evening. I have caught bulls in both the morning, moving to the timber and in the evening moving into the burn. I still hunt the burn area directly after a snow storm. They seem to feel more at ease in the burn than out in th open. After a snow storm they are so easy to spot.

I have not deveiated from this plan in any year. I have taken mature bulls 4 out of the 8 years and past on smaller bulls every other year. I take a few friends to this area and they have been just as successful. I love hunting burned areas. Next year the fontenelle fire in Wyoming is going to be awesome hunting.

Trees started falling as soon as the first fall.