Burned areas - how soon do they return?

[MuleyFever]

So, I lost my go to archery area to fire this week. I hope to get out and assess the damage soon and I am hoping the fire spared some of the area. I am writing the area off this year seeing how its only about 6 weeks to season. I figure I will scout some new areas close to the burn where maybe the deer will have moved to.

For those that have experience with fresh burns, how soon were the animals back in there?

 

[robby denning]

I’m pretty sure in David Long‘s new book, the Edge, he has a picture in there of a buck back in the burn in the same year. Even if it’s not the same year it was very soon after. And he killed a really good book in a burn.

I don’t know if there’s any formulas for your question, but I would definitely check that burn this year. A couple years ago we gave away a spotting scope on Rokslide, and that guy ended up killing a 30 inch buck in a fresh burn from that same year if I remember right.


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[idahohikker]

For sure by the next year if the fire didn't burn real hot.

 

[durangobrad]

They return for the new vegetation, so if there is no new vegetation yet, its too early.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Unless it burned super hot there will be plenty of feed (good high quality) this year. Especially if you get the monsoon season before the end of your hunt.
Even better would be an area that has lost motorized access that you can hike into.

 

[Macegl]

We hunted an area last October that had burned in July, it wasn't in the center of the fire and wasn't solid black, and there were more deer than in previous years. I think near the edges of the burn you could potentially see more deer than usual, especially if there are new aspen shoots.

When I worked on a fire crew it wasn't uncommon to see deer and elk return to a burned area the day after it burned and bed in the ash. I was told it was to get rid of ticks, not sure if it was true or not, but every morning when we would hike in on the fire line animals would be coming out of the burn.

 

[flatlander51]

I'm about halfway through this Book. Great read!

 

[BuckSnort]

We hunted an area last October that had burned in July, it wasn't in the center of the fire and wasn't solid black, and there were more deer than in previous years. I think near the edges of the burn you could potentially see more deer than usual, especially if there are new aspen shoots.

When I worked on a fire crew it wasn't uncommon to see deer and elk return to a burned area the day after it burned and bed in the ash. I was told it was to get rid of ticks, not sure if it was true or not, but every morning when we would hike in on the fire line animals would be coming out of the burn.

The deer do the same thing here, Iv'e seen them rolling in warm ash several times

 

[Huntindog45]

i have seen deer and elk rolling in the ashe when there is still smoke emerging from burning stumps. there is something they really like about the fresh burned areas. dont dismiss the idea that there will be critters in there this fall.

 

[Idahomnts]

And the guys that worry bout smelling like a camp fire lmao, was sitting by a lil fire cookin burritos one time laughing about a recent story and had two forkies cross the little draw we were in 30 yards down wind and stood for a sec , the kid had a doe tag but it was cool to see their nostrils processing the scent and contour on their way unalarmed

 

[bohntr]

i have seen deer and elk rolling in the ashe when there is still smoke emerging from burning stumps. there is something they really like about the fresh burned areas. dont dismiss the idea that there will be critters in there this fall.

+1.......I've seen them in the burnt area while hot spots are still smoking. If there's nearby fringe areas, don't dismiss them.

 

[Jsn_leonard]

Hours later!

 

[2blade]

MuleyFever, I see you live in S Utah. I live on the Panguitch unit and I am sure you are familiar with that 77,000 acre inferno. I had a deer tag and like you, if your referring to the West valley fire, was sweating it. The deer, and the elk, moved off the fire a couple miles, verified by dwr with radio collars on elk, and when the fire went out they moved right back in. And it rained and new growth started popping up. Now normally where I ended up hunting we don't see any deer during archery, to low, but it was green in there with lots of feed. So I suspect the deer came off the top during the fire, it all burnt, and when they went back in they settled on a couple lower green lush valleys back in a mile or two from the edge and hung out there. If you can find the same sort of spots a mile or two from the edge of the burn, you will probably see some toads. I missed a nice one.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

Ive hunted burns for a couple years now, as they are ideal for long range and always have animals in them as soon as vegetation returns. But I have also encountered burns, such as the burns along the magruder corridor in central Idaho that burned so hot there is no vegetation over 6 years later. Only way of knowing really is getting a look at it in person. The year of a burn, can force animals into different areas, so you could possibly have concentrations of animals in certain areas, so that’s a plus at least.

 

[dtrkyman]

Get some moisture on it and it will be good quick!


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[loggerchas]

Also look for the islands of unburnt vegetation within the burn unit. As the unit heals from a fire, hiding cover can make those little islands of unburnt trees very attractive. Also, keep track of how the unit heals. Often a landscape healing from a fire will start showing signs of previously unknown seeps and springs that were being sucked dry by the mature trees.