Late Entiat 2012

[400out]

I think it will go the other way! Be good hunting this year if there is good snow fall before the late tags  But the deer will suffer BAD   

[gasman]

Came back yesterday and it has yet to get down Mud Creek. Its on the hill tops above and moving down slowly but they started sending the heli and tanker to drop water and fire retardant on it to slow the movement while they punched in a road at Wilkeson Canyon.
They had a team up there fighting the blaze above Bisping Canyon to protect the homes down there.

If it hits the bottom of Mud Creek, it will get ugly fast 

[muleracks2]

Benny,  It is too bad for the High Hunters.  Many of them plan all year for 10 days in the Wilderness.  As for Icicle Outfitters, they have two camps already in and we hope they get to stay.  All of the others have moved into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Henry M Jackson and the Chiwawa River part of the Glacier Peak Wilderness (GMUs 249, 245 and 244).  Some will probably "fall in love" with those new spots and return next year while others will go back into the Entiat in 2013.

[Benny]

Well that's just great for those of us who don't hunt the Entiat

Hope you have a good season and are able to move everyone around safely.

[muleracks2]

Benny,  Hope none of our camps are "parked on top of you".  The two camps we do have in the Entiat are being brought back out this on Sunday (FS orders).  A one day opener with no other hunters around but they were expecting a 7 to 10 day hunt; bummer.

[Wahunter555]

Yea I was Up Entiant for opening came in on Friday and could not see anything it was so smoky you could not see ten feet in front of you . then Saturday it did clear up  but could not get up on mud creek  Sucks .  I was hoping to get a lot of hunting in this weekend.  now have to find new place for general Season . AHHHHHH

[quadrafire]

Just curious.... Do you guys think the smoke effects the deer at all in these regions? Assuming no immediate fire danger. ie. will they migrate away from the smoke?

[muleracks2]

I think the deer are so locked into their migration route and winter range spots that they just go there.  Once there, they probably move around a bit to find food and shelter but I bet they stay pretty close to "home".  I would hunt unburned spots within the normal winter range plus the edges of the burns.   I would expect many roads to remain closed this October and November so a little hike might be required.

[golfguy0912]

one nice thing that is becoming apparent is that most people think this fire burned hot and did some damage. It didnt. I have been through most of it, and hardly any trees have burned. The fire just moved through the brush, sometimes not even burning the sagebrush.

I dont doubt that till we get a good rain storm through here and corral the western edge of the First Creek Fire and the southern part of the Klone and Pyramid Fire, there will be some road closures. I dont see the lower part of the Entiat (south of Stormy Creek) being opened up till about the first of November.

[muleracks2]

The Entiat was closed on the 12th so we only had two camps in the Entiat by then.  We packed on camp out and relocated them in the Alpine unit.  The other drop camp refused to come out even though the Forest Service told them to and we went in with a pack string to get them.   Be interesting to see how that plays out.  Only camp in the Chiwawa that had to come out early is located near the Basalt Ridge fire.  Everyone else is able to stay put for now.  The Chiwawa was not closed until the 15th so most hunters were already in.  The Eightmile part of the Alpine unit is also closed because of the Cashmere Mtn fire.

[et1702]

Any more info on this topic.  I too have a late Archery tag and wonder how much of the low lands (i.e., winter range) burned up.  Now that the rains have hit, I'm sure the fires are mostly out.  Just wondering how the roads are faring with recent heavy rains.  Any slides closing roads?

Thanks,

ET

[gasman]

the only area closed is that area between Mud Creek and hwy 97A.
From Mud Creek to the NW is open.

[YoterHunter]

they haven't got the rain like the west side did. over the weekend. just enough to cut the dust.