Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Westsidebowhunter on August 15, 2012, 09:11:02 PM

Title: Observatory
Post by: Westsidebowhunter on August 15, 2012, 09:11:02 PM: With the fire going on right now what do you guys think the odds are of closing the unit and the whole area around here? I saw someone post if it got closed theyd try and get there points back and give the money to the fire victims i thought that was a great idea and may do the same
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: sled on August 15, 2012, 09:18:23 PM: I was talking about that earlier with a friend. I wouldnt be suprised one bit if they close it. Bet they dont give points or money back either. I tried that last year when the roads were closed. No way.
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: bobcat on August 15, 2012, 09:19:04 PM: I don't see any reason why it would be closed, unless the fire jumps I-90.
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: Gamblin Guy on August 15, 2012, 09:26:22 PM: No reason to close it unless the fire jumps I-90 and goes south. I was over in the unit on Monday, it's dry but not really drier than it is normally this time of year.
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: ribka on August 16, 2012, 12:32:55 AM: last weekend encountered three campfire in Observatory unit. took pics and told them to immediately put out fire.

I live in the area and make it a point this time of year to stop people from building fires. amazing the number of careless idiots in WA.

I called DNR about possibility of closing unit roads until season starts. They are thinking about it.
Shame to draw this tag and have unit closed because some careless d bag started a fire.

If you are scouting and see someonevwith a campfire please go up to them and make sure it is extinguished .

good luck to those who drew bull tags in Observatory this year!
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: Recurve-Elk on August 16, 2012, 08:12:15 AM: I am not too concerned. The fire would have to jump the Yakima, I-90, and all the farmland before it would get into the hills if I am not mistaken. I was up there and there sure is a lot of dead and dieing trees. The other thing that is kind of good is that the area it already has burned won't burn again, so it is kept from moving west too easily. Lets hope for the best!

Last season during hunting, there was a fire in the unit about half way up the hill. They managed to put it out pretty quick.

But ya, I am not toooo concerned, but obviously can't help but be a little nervous.
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: PlateauNDN on August 16, 2012, 08:18:00 AM: I wouldn't worry about it to much lots of land, freeway, roads etc. between the observatory and the current location of the fire. Great tag and good luck. :tup:
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: Gamblin Guy on August 16, 2012, 08:37:25 AM: ribka,

You're a lot nicer about it than I am, I call every single one of them in. Talking with a game warden years ago over there, after he stopped by camp to thank me for calling one in, he said the judges in Kittitas County want to see those folks in their court room, they dont take kindly to fires when there is a burn ban and we can see why. A mandatory court appearance and a good @$$ chewing hopefully causes most to reconsider a camp fire when there is a burn ban...

We were lucky the wind wasn't blowing too bad last year when that one started, why someone thinks they need a fire when it had been 85 degrees all week over there is beyond me...
Title: Re: Observatory
Post by: Recurve-Elk on August 16, 2012, 09:15:02 AM: Quote from: Gamblin Guy on August 16, 2012, 08:37:25 AM
why someone thinks they need a fire when it had been 85 degrees all week over there is beyond me...

It is really ridiculous. All someone needs to do is take a few steps on that forest floor and know it is a horrible idea. Crunch, crunch.