Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: hntrspud on September 21, 2012, 07:49:05 AM

Title: Fires and harvest
Post by: hntrspud on September 21, 2012, 07:49:05 AM: I wanted to know what you know or think about whether or not the fires east of the mountains will lead to the animals being pushed to certain areas? Will there be a higher harvest rate this year, and will that affect deer herds?
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: huntnphool on September 21, 2012, 08:06:58 AM: The fires won't change the harvest rate unless there are fires way up that force the migrators down earlier. They will likely have to winter in different areas than they are used to if those areas have burned their winter forage.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: boneaddict on September 21, 2012, 08:11:42 AM: So many variables, mostly with elk and not deer. It might go the other way with areas shut down for hunting, or fires and smoke keeping hunters away or altering behavior. SUCH AS, the bulls shut down the last three days of archery here. Many thought it might be the heavy smoke. :dunno: Will an area be shut down for hunting when the season starts. How many bowhunters usually hunt the Naneum for deer but couldn't. As Phool said, most of these areas are for migratory critters coming in (in regards to deer)
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: boneaddict on September 21, 2012, 08:12:56 AM: I'm curious of how many are lost to fires. I know it gets them when it does its big runs.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: hntrspud on September 21, 2012, 08:20:31 AM: Yes I am curious as to how many die from fires as well. Thanks for the info. It sounds like it could go either way.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 21, 2012, 09:21:32 AM: They do occasionally get caught in fires but it is really rare. I have done a lot of post-fire vegetation assessments for big game forage, and have only ever found one big game animal that perished - a buck deer after the Deer Point fire on the north shore of Lake Chelan.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: Bigbuckoholic on September 21, 2012, 12:17:26 PM: At this point I'm just worried that we even get a hunting season.. the road to deer camp was closed as of this morning.. and no rain in the next week. Dry lightning storms through tonight.. more fires on the way. :bash:
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: firefighter4607 on September 21, 2012, 12:31:15 PM: I have posted this before but I will do it again. They have been reporting that this is the worst fire year they have seen in 25 years. So it could be worst than the Fire Storm of 1991, they could be fighting fires until late October thru early Nov. :yike:
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: buglebuster on September 21, 2012, 12:35:23 PM: Im glad i dont hunt deer in timber...
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: Huntbear on September 21, 2012, 12:37:07 PM: Anyone planning on still hunting the Naneum State Forest, the Wenatchee National Forest North of the Naneum, and any points East into the Colockum, should be changing their plans NOW... Unless you have a Colockum tag, then you should be looking West of 97.. :chuckle:

You can pretty much guarantee it will still be on fire during Modern Deer, and into Modern Elk, and most likely still CLOSED as it is now.

And if by some stroke of pure luck they do get it out, the animals will be so misplaced that your normal spots will not be any good anyway...
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: Earshot on September 21, 2012, 01:41:41 PM: Talked to the game guy in Wenatchee. the game dept won't close down any seasons but the forest service will most likely close all the roads until a good rain or snow. General season on the east slope looks bleak. :'(
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: boneaddict on September 21, 2012, 02:20:25 PM: I pissed out in the LT this morning and I swear I heard the sagebrush screaming for joy.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: Bigbuckoholic on September 21, 2012, 03:07:02 PM: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/News/Pages/2012_09_20_industrial_levels_ew_nr.aspx (http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/News/Pages/2012_09_20_industrial_levels_ew_nr.aspx)

Bring your handsaws!
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: washelkhunter on September 21, 2012, 03:09:41 PM: No fires of any sort including woodstove in the entire Wenatchee NF. effective 9-21. alert order no: 789.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: 400out on September 21, 2012, 03:11:51 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on September 21, 2012, 02:20:25 PM
I pissed out in the LT this morning and I swear I heard the sagebrush screaming for joy.
:chuckle: :chuckle: You are a big guy I hoped you pissed on more than one bush :chuckle: :chuckle:
as for the fire kills, I'm glad it came this late in the year (sucks for hunting) but for the animal good (except for winter feed)
I saw what happened in the asotin area a few years back, the fawns were still young (late spring) and lots of them bedded down and held :bash: never had a chance you could walk thru a field and find remains all over :'( Bad deal
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: 400out on September 21, 2012, 03:13:44 PM: Quote from: washelkhunter on September 21, 2012, 03:09:41 PM
No fires of any sort including woodstove in the entire Wenatchee NF. effective 9-21. alert order no: 789.
Gov. Greg sent out a email on friday, all our jobs that include any form of fire or getting off the road have been haulted until further notice!
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: ICEMAN on September 21, 2012, 05:55:31 PM: Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on September 21, 2012, 09:21:32 AM
They do occasionally get caught in fires but it is really rare. I have done a lot of post-fire vegetation assessments for big game forage, and have only ever found one big game animal that perished - a buck deer after the Deer Point fire on the north shore of Lake Chelan.

Interesting. I have often wondered about this.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: 400out on September 21, 2012, 08:10:40 PM: Quote from: ICEMAN on September 21, 2012, 05:55:31 PM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on September 21, 2012, 09:21:32 AM
They do occasionally get caught in fires but it is really rare. I have done a lot of post-fire vegetation assessments for big game forage, and have only ever found one big game animal that perished - a buck deer after the Deer Point fire on the north shore of Lake Chelan.

Interesting. I have often wondered about this.
HUH I saw it first hand maybe it was the terrain :dunno:

Miles am I missing something or did a couple nuts come loose over the last couple weeks :dunno:
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: Nape.257 on September 21, 2012, 08:32:06 PM: So how is my rifle umtanum unit 342 cow tag looking?

Better? or Worse?
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: buglebuster on September 21, 2012, 10:13:51 PM: Quote from: Nape.257 on September 21, 2012, 08:32:06 PM
So how is my rifle umtanum unit 342 cow tag looking?

Better? or Worse?
Just fine :tup:
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: boneaddict on September 22, 2012, 08:05:37 AM: Its not black yet. Pretty damn dry.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: Rainier10 on September 22, 2012, 09:14:52 AM: I was at my cabin in the Naneum just below the fireline last night clearing out quads and snowmobiles. Smoke was heavy but they seem to be holding the line. I did check my cameras and the last few days was a parade of deer, elk and turkeys heading downhill. They are pretty smart. The turkeys is the one that shocked me, they normally don't get down to me until late October early November so I am sure the fire is what is pushing them. The deer and elk are normal but the increased number and consistent direction past the camera tell me they are moving because of the fire.
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: boneaddict on September 22, 2012, 09:23:51 AM: THanks for sharing your observation. HOPE your cabin stays safe. I am glad they let you in to get your stuff
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: hntrspud on September 22, 2012, 12:33:28 PM: :yeah:
Title: Re: Fires and harvest
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on November 23, 2012, 03:58:17 PM: Quote from: 400out on September 21, 2012, 08:10:40 PM
Quote from: ICEMAN on September 21, 2012, 05:55:31 PM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on September 21, 2012, 09:21:32 AM
They do occasionally get caught in fires but it is really rare. I have done a lot of post-fire vegetation assessments for big game forage, and have only ever found one big game animal that perished - a buck deer after the Deer Point fire on the north shore of Lake Chelan.

Interesting. I have often wondered about this.
HUH I saw it first hand maybe it was the terrain :dunno:

Miles am I missing something or did a couple nuts come loose over the last couple weeks :dunno:
Fast moving June wildfires are very rare, but when one occurs I can definitely see fawns or calves getting burned over