Hunting in burn areas?

Sierra280 · November 24, 2013, 05:53 PM

I didn't apply for tags this season (2013), Business was too busy, promoting new book and too much traveling (I know that's no excuse) but I think I'm lucky I didn't. The area I like (Pinenut mtns, my backyard) had a lightning strike fire hit it this summer, largest wildfire in recorded Nevada history, and burned through a large majority of the hunting area.

If we get good precipitation this winter, which it looks like we will, all that burned area should be tons of feed (grass/weeds) in the recently burned fields. There are still many trees standing and with all the added feed it seems to me that next year will be a great time to get a nice mulie. Does anyone have experience hunting in recently wildfire damaged areas? Would it be a good idea to apply for this area or should I go somewhere else?

ChasingWhitetail91 · November 24, 2013, 06:22 PM

If the feed returns I don't see why the deer wouldn't. They are a very curious animal and might even be attracted to the bizzare burnt landscape.

YARDDOG(1) · November 24, 2013, 06:37 PM

I've hunted fresh burned (control) areas,, deer move through em as always.
As long as there is fresh vegitation you should be good to go ; )
Y/D

AllenJ · November 24, 2013, 08:26 PM

Deer love burned areas, the new growth is tender and they'll come from miles around to feed on it. Here in Northern CA we get our share of fires and when there is a big one it is a safe bet many bucks are going to be harvested around the burn, usually caught moving from bedding areas to feed in the burn.

FrankenMauser · November 24, 2013, 08:59 PM

Burns are good, but...
Deer and elk tend to stick to the edges of the burn, and work their way back in as the new (or recovering) vegetation grows tall enough to offer cover.

Generally, 3-5 years after a burn is the peak time for wildlife and hunting opportunities.

BigD_in_FL · November 24, 2013, 09:14 PM

I hunted south of your home where it was burned about 20??? years ago (maybe 30??) - on the way to Topaz, as well as East of Carson and Minden - those mulies don't like to move if they don't have to and there are enough fields providing alfalfa as well as the bitterbrush and pine nuts so they should hold fairly close

kilimanjaro · November 24, 2013, 09:36 PM

The deer like the new browse, and also unburned timber nearby the new browse, that's their thermal cover. Match that to a water source, you should find the trails and then you are good to go, they'll walk right in front of you if you sit still and wait for them.

They like to contour along as much as they can, just like we do.

shortwave · November 24, 2013, 10:08 PM

Not only will the deer love the new browse that will come up rather quickly in the burn area but turkey's as well as most other wildlife will be attracted also.

Sierra280 · November 25, 2013, 01:47 AM

Thanks for all the info. I know of a few natural springs and creeks up in some nice draws where I've seen plenty of sign in years past, it burned, but I'll start checking it out in the spring.

Big_D, I'm east if minden/carson but more south. There's some good camping/fishing spots along the east carson river I like. They're a few miles south but looks like it burned 20-30 yrs ago. Lots of new growth now, but not such a good hunting area as it's become (like much of the Pinenuts) heavily traveled by ATVs, dirt bikes, and 4WD rigs; plus the fact they all like to shoot when they go out that way now.

SteelChickenShooter · November 25, 2013, 07:46 AM

My location is different and my deer are whitetails not mulies. Some years ago we did have a fire burning many acres. It was really strange to see the landscape lacking all the bushes, scrub oak & pines. Didn't take long and new vegetation sprouted up. After that there was never a shortage of deer. Every single trip from camp to town and back- deer were always seen browsing the new green plants & grasses coming up.

TimSr · November 25, 2013, 08:41 AM

When I lived in SoCal, recent burn areas were highly reocmmended as the new vegetation deer eat is thicker grows in quicker, faster, and is more appealing to them. I also found that "recent" usually required a year or two of recovery time before that happens, and as Frankenmauser said, 3-4 years starts looking REALLY good to them.

I alwasy hunted national forest, so i would contact area ranger stations about those areas and they were happy to tell me all they knew.

Colt46 · November 25, 2013, 10:09 AM

A good burn opens up the range and the grasses/shrubs that come back fastest contribute more to a deer's diet than old growth forest.

old roper · November 25, 2013, 10:17 AM

This past June had the Black Forest fire and I live corner were fire went east then North so we didn't get burned out. We always had good feed here deer/elk and about 3mos after fire we finally got some rain deer were in the burn area feeding.

doofus47 · November 25, 2013, 11:54 AM

If memory serves, here in Colorado about 2 or 3 years ago some hunter brought home a near-record or record mulie from an area that had burned a few years previous. They will follow the greenery.

November 24, 2013, 05:53 PM	#1
Sierra280 Junior member Join Date: July 29, 2013 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 569	Hunting in burn areas? I didn't apply for tags this season (2013), Business was too busy, promoting new book and too much traveling (I know that's no excuse) but I think I'm lucky I didn't. The area I like (Pinenut mtns, my backyard) had a lightning strike fire hit it this summer, largest wildfire in recorded Nevada history, and burned through a large majority of the hunting area. If we get good precipitation this winter, which it looks like we will, all that burned area should be tons of feed (grass/weeds) in the recently burned fields. There are still many trees standing and with all the added feed it seems to me that next year will be a great time to get a nice mulie. Does anyone have experience hunting in recently wildfire damaged areas? Would it be a good idea to apply for this area or should I go somewhere else?

November 24, 2013, 06:22 PM	#2
ChasingWhitetail91 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 336	If the feed returns I don't see why the deer wouldn't. They are a very curious animal and might even be attracted to the bizzare burnt landscape. __________________ Abraham Lincoln made all men free, Samuel Colt made them equal.

November 24, 2013, 06:37 PM	#3
YARDDOG(1) Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: GATOR COUNTRY HA HA HA! Posts: 721	I've hunted fresh burned (control) areas,, deer move through em as always. As long as there is fresh vegitation you should be good to go ; ) Y/D __________________ There's a GATOR in the bushes & She's Callin my name >Molly Hatchett<

November 24, 2013, 08:59 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Burns are good, but... Deer and elk tend to stick to the edges of the burn, and work their way back in as the new (or recovering) vegetation grows tall enough to offer cover. Generally, 3-5 years after a burn is the peak time for wildlife and hunting opportunities. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 25, 2013, 10:09 AM	#12
Colt46 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: Campbell Ca Posts: 1,090	Burns are critical to habitat maintenance A good burn opens up the range and the grasses/shrubs that come back fastest contribute more to a deer's diet than old growth forest.

November 24, 2013, 08:26 PM	#4
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Deer love burned areas, the new growth is tender and they'll come from miles around to feed on it. Here in Northern CA we get our share of fires and when there is a big one it is a safe bet many bucks are going to be harvested around the burn, usually caught moving from bedding areas to feed in the burn.

November 24, 2013, 09:14 PM	#6
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	I hunted south of your home where it was burned about 20??? years ago (maybe 30??) - on the way to Topaz, as well as East of Carson and Minden - those mulies don't like to move if they don't have to and there are enough fields providing alfalfa as well as the bitterbrush and pine nuts so they should hold fairly close

November 24, 2013, 09:36 PM	#7
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	The deer like the new browse, and also unburned timber nearby the new browse, that's their thermal cover. Match that to a water source, you should find the trails and then you are good to go, they'll walk right in front of you if you sit still and wait for them. They like to contour along as much as they can, just like we do.

November 24, 2013, 10:08 PM	#8
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Not only will the deer love the new browse that will come up rather quickly in the burn area but turkey's as well as most other wildlife will be attracted also.

November 25, 2013, 01:47 AM	#9
Sierra280 Junior member Join Date: July 29, 2013 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 569	Thanks for all the info. I know of a few natural springs and creeks up in some nice draws where I've seen plenty of sign in years past, it burned, but I'll start checking it out in the spring. Big_D, I'm east if minden/carson but more south. There's some good camping/fishing spots along the east carson river I like. They're a few miles south but looks like it burned 20-30 yrs ago. Lots of new growth now, but not such a good hunting area as it's become (like much of the Pinenuts) heavily traveled by ATVs, dirt bikes, and 4WD rigs; plus the fact they all like to shoot when they go out that way now.

November 25, 2013, 07:46 AM	#10
SteelChickenShooter Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Posts: 863	My location is different and my deer are whitetails not mulies. Some years ago we did have a fire burning many acres. It was really strange to see the landscape lacking all the bushes, scrub oak & pines. Didn't take long and new vegetation sprouted up. After that there was never a shortage of deer. Every single trip from camp to town and back- deer were always seen browsing the new green plants & grasses coming up.

November 25, 2013, 08:41 AM	#11
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	When I lived in SoCal, recent burn areas were highly reocmmended as the new vegetation deer eat is thicker grows in quicker, faster, and is more appealing to them. I also found that "recent" usually required a year or two of recovery time before that happens, and as Frankenmauser said, 3-4 years starts looking REALLY good to them. I alwasy hunted national forest, so i would contact area ranger stations about those areas and they were happy to tell me all they knew.

November 25, 2013, 10:17 AM	#13
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	This past June had the Black Forest fire and I live corner were fire went east then North so we didn't get burned out. We always had good feed here deer/elk and about 3mos after fire we finally got some rain deer were in the burn area feeding. __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

November 25, 2013, 11:54 AM	#14
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	If memory serves, here in Colorado about 2 or 3 years ago some hunter brought home a near-record or record mulie from an area that had burned a few years previous. They will follow the greenery. __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.