Wildfire and Deer

[CABilly]

Well crap. The spot we had planned for opener is currently on fire and expected to burn through October.

All these wildfires have me asking, what is the tolerance for wildlife? How far from a fire will they be? We had another spot a few miles away picked out, but I don't know their tolerance for proximity to fire.

Anyone have any insight?

[lewdogg21]

As soon as the fire passes they will be back in those areas to roll in the ash, etc. No bugs is a big plus for animals. I would stick in that area but watch out for underground hot spots if you end up in the fire area. Tree stumps can burn for weeks or months after (underground) and create sink holes or worse.

[CABilly]

As soon as the fire passes they will be back in those areas to roll in the ash, etc. No bugs is a big plus for animals. I would stick in that area but watch out for underground hot spots if you end up in the fire area. Tree stumps can burn for weeks or months after (underground) and create sink holes or worse.

Thanks. I guess I need to determine MY tolerance for fire haha. It turns my 1.5 mile hike into a much much longer one. And if I get cut off from or lose my car the wife won't be happy.

So they won't necessarily completely split from the area?

[lewdogg21]

^^^no.

[CSACANNONEER]

Please, think like most people and avoid any area that is burning or has burned in the last week or last couple of years. Only very experienced and knowledgeable hunters should hunt these areas because, they can get overrun with deer very quickly and we wouldn't want you to have a panic attack trying to decide which buck to harvest.

[VaderSpade]

It's been my experience that they will have nearly all access blocked and use it as an excuse to block even more surrounding areas access for years to come.

One area I like to hunt burned 7 years ago and the roads are still closed.

"trees may fall and hurt someone".

[arrowshooter]

You should check with CDFW to make sure they have not closed the area off to hunting.

[NickTheGreek]

Immediately after the Butte Fire a buddy shot a buck off his ranch right in the burned area. He got the kill on film. When the bullet hit it there was a cloud of ash that came off of the buck. I get the feeling he just hunkered down in a creek bottom and let the fire blow past.

[MurdaJ]

It's been my experience that they will have nearly all access blocked and use it as an excuse to block even more surrounding areas access for years to come.

One area I like to hunt burned 7 years ago and the roads are still closed.

"trees may fall and hurt someone".

This is my experience. "Recent burn areas are susceptible to invasive species, come back in a decade"

[MJB]

Ash & new growth with some rain will bring them back.

[pieeater]

I was hoping the lake county fires put a dent in the snake population. But damn more snakes this year than ever and this is right in the middle of a burn.

[furyous68]

Please, think like most people and avoid any area that is burning or has burned in the last week or last couple of years. Only very experienced and knowledgeable hunters should hunt these areas because, they can get overrun with deer very quickly and we wouldn't want you to have a panic attack trying to decide which buck to harvest.

Bwahahahahaha... I started reading this expecting some sage advice on wilderness safety

I'm planning on working an area that got hit by a fire about a year or so ago with my brother. Hoping to get lucky!