Fire Proximity

[Dalbec0331]

How close as a crow flies is everyone willing to hunt near an active wildfire?


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[DB29]

I have hunted in the middle of them. Less than 2 miles from the fire line. Helicopters dipping into the river within 100yds of camp and we were 5 miles deep.

This was in the 90s. Today they would have shut down any access.

 

[Wrench]

We just had a fire move 200 feet every 10 seconds.

If you're gonna flirt with ma' nature.....you better be quick, lucky and well informed.

 

[RuggedYogi]

Depends on prevailing winds and current weather conditions for me. While I’m definitely not going to hunt if a wildfire is nearby and moving in my direction, I’m typically more concerned with air quality. Hunting in thick, nasty smoke for days on end sucks.

 

[Crowmangler]

I'm not gonna risk my boys growing up without a dad for a hunt.

 

[DenimChicken]

No wildfires close, but last weekend was so smoky in the mountains it limited glassing to 500yds and under. Depends what tag and what area, but for a local hunt I'm not going anywhere close.

 

[fngTony]

Recent years have changed my mind on this. Working outside during two summers of smoke and I don’t like the effects of breathing it. Local wildfires of the last five years were crazy, not worth the risk.

 

[Bubblehide]

I've had helicopters dropping water 100 yards from me: but the wind direction favored me. I've also had to wait as helo's picking up water from a river. Again. The wind was right. Aditionally, I been hunting when smoke from distant fires moved in and smothered the entire area. As has been mentioned, you do not want to be breathing in the smoke. If the smoke moves in thick, it's time to move. Sometimes, you can get above it, below it, or to the side. Other times, your better off packing up and finding a smoke free spot, if you can. Unfortunately, in recent years, some entire gorests have been closed due to fires.

 

[insanelupus]

There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity.

 

[EastHumboldt]

Couple years ago saw a local fire move seven miles in four hours in very rough country. I’m pretty sure I could not cover the same ground in that time On foot. At six pm I told a friend on the phone that she had nothin to worry about. At 9:30 pm i was screaming up the road to her house to help her evacuate her animals. At that point I figured we had 1/2 hour before it hit the road and we would be cut off. I have to say I was concerned enough that I felt sick to my stomach. ( Also known as scared shitless ). Luckily the wind just up and quit.

I don’t want to be within 20 miles of a fire.