Hunting Forum

Good morning to all. I want to start by saying thank you to all of the men and women fighting wild fires, not only in my state of Colorado but all over the west. I also start this with the knowledge that the fires that were started BY MOTHER NATURE is nature’s way of self-cleaning. Getting rid of dead fall and beetle killed woodlands. I was out of town for a few days without local news available. I came home yesterday bucking high winds and seeing larger plumes of smoke than when I had left.

Unfortunately I found that four more fires had started and the largest fire changed from being 60% contained down to 45% in one day. There have been now weather systems that could have produced lightning in over two weeks. Enough said? I do feel for the people that have lost homes and livelihoods due to these fires and will not address the debate as to whether the mountains were meant to be as populated as they have become. With the 8 fires that are burning in Colorado all being out of control, it looks like a large part of public forest lands will be affected. It is being said by fire commanders that some of the current fires may be burning well into the fall.

I am entering this in hopes to gain some comment and maybe some insight into what this all will do to not only the Elk but all species of wildlife affected by these fires. My concern is that with all of the animals that have left the area of the fires are now sharing areas already populated with wildlife, hence now increasing the number of animals per unit. It is my concern that it will be a very serious overpopulation situation as food sources that are already sub-par due to lack of moisture throughout the state, will now have to try to support even more animals for, at this time, who knows how long.

I would like to know what biologists think about this event and how it will affect wildlife in not only the short term but long term as well. I know that once the fires are out and the new growth starts to come through, the animals will begin to return. This will be forced I think by lack of food in surrounding areas and of course the preference of new growth to the animals taste. I am asking if any of the members have experience in what has possibly happened in large burn areas and the effects that they have seen on wildlife populations.

Please sound off guys and gals. Colorado is not the only state to be affected this season by large fires. What do you think.

Tsnake, I have feelings every year when fires start "when fires should not start". As you know most hunters are stewards of the land. It bums me out when a little Summertime weather allows "anyone and everyone" to all of a sudden "Go into the wild". Fortunately, I live in Wyoming and with the low population, we don't get the huge influx of people "that shouldn't be in the wild" like the areas surrounding the Denver metroplois and Salt Lake City do. We do have some jokers up here, but not like what happens in CO or UT. I feel for you folks who live it and protect it.

Today, I scouted for Antelope, took a fairly rugged but open trail for three hours and did not see another soul other than me and the wife and the dogs. It was relaxing.

Last weekend, I went to the elk spots, and other than a rancher and a few fishing families on the main access road - no others. I did pull four seperate fallen trees that were over the roads I hunt on.

I also stopped numerous times and picked up the random can, or plastic bottle.

Sorry for rambling here is what I wanted to say:

When I was stationed on the Island of Adak, AK - we had to receive a training before we could venture out into the tundra. The training included personal survival skills and how to protect the land. Upon completing we received a blue card. When the fires start up in CO and UT, and sometimes in WY I always think of my Blue Card, and how more folks could use one.

tsnake - I wouldn't worry about it unless the fires get a LOT worse throughout the summer. The area where the High Park fire is burning is not a great elk area. I have scouted and hunted this area in the past and there are not a lot of elk there. Even with the deer there isnt that huge of a density that they will be fighting each other for food. I think the species that will be affected the most (or at least the one that will have the most public notice) will be the black bears. The dry conditions along with the fires will force the bears into the populated areas where they will be noticed and dealt with. There is a huge misperception from the public regarding bears and there is a lot of "fear factor" associated with them. So I would not be surprised if you hear very little about the deer, elk, and other animals that have been displaced because of the fires, but bears will make the headlines every time.

Skud. I could not agree more and chose not to address that part of the situation due the fact that I still cannot contain the fury within when thinking of those that have no business being in the forest with so little knowledge or training. I think somehow a mandatory subject in High School should be respect for the land and how to live on it.

And if tree huggers had not of opposed timber clearing for years, there would not be as much fuel and the fires would not be as intense....thank you, so-called environmentalist!

Well I spoke too soon. Some joker is burning down my woods now.

 

http://gacc.nifc.gov/egbc/dispatch/...fires.html

Fontenelle Fire

And now we even have more and I don't think they can come up with an estimate in damage on the one in Colorado Springs, Co.

Here is a link to all the active large fires.  At the top of the page it tells what the preparedness level is.  At 1, 2, & 3 there are generally enough resources to do whatever is humanly possible in attacking the fires.  Once it hits 4 things are getting pretty tight and many eastern states are shaking fire staff lose to help out the western states.  When it hits 5 ............it's pucker factor time for sure. 

http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Biggest problem is that because of drought forage quality was already low. The fires are burning what little there was. Without rain to reinvigorate the plant growth it will certainly impact the wildlife severely in those areas. The other side of the coin is if we get the rain and it comes down in torrents, erosion will be a huge issue. Tom, you couldn't have hit my sentiments more accurately.

Is anyone protecting and translocated the poor prairie dogs, wolves,.....???

I found this to be an interesting note. I talked with a biologist for northwestern CO. He agreed that the herd numbers of wildlife in the High Park fire area are small enough that they will not really be much of a factor at this point. As for the forage situation, while things were so dry through this last winter, the forage up high is pretty good and for instance, the elk are doing fine right now. I am guessing that all of the moisture from the winter before is a help. Now we have to wait and see what the monsoon moisture provides and what happens in the fall. I too am thinking that we are too early into summer to predict what is going to happen next, but the fires are not doing any good for the forage in some of the other hard hit areas. The dryer the forage that we do have and these damned thunderstorms that are mostly just wind and lightning, the more we have to lose. I heard that they figured , earlier in the week, that a very small amount of CO. has been affected by fire, so far. They gave a number like .018 statewide. Problem is that if you take out the plains from that equation, it is quite a larger number, and there are still fires burning out of control.

Fire can and does actually help wildlife over the long term. The first plants to appear after a fire are what are called succulents. These are highly edible to herbivores and omnivores alike.

Scientists/biologists have come to realize not allowing fires to burn is environmentally unsound and actually lead to larger more destructive fires long term. I feel badly for people who have lost everything but no more so than I would a person who builds on the side of an active volcano. If you were to dig a hole ten feet deep in most of the west you would many layers of ash dating back thousands of years. What does that tell you?

I whole heartily agree. It will be a very good thing in the years to come. For the most part my problem in all of this, is the fires that were started by idiots. The latest fire that scorched part of Colorado Springs is still under investigation and suspected to be suspicious in origin. The fires started by lightning is mother natures way of taking care of its self. I also feel for the over 600 families that lost homes or cabins but some were just in the way and being in Colorado, many understand that and assumed that possibility when they built or bought. The effects on wildlife will improve in the long run, and those that do have homes near by (and some no so near) are finding that the wildlife is already coming back. Mostly noticed by the bears wondering into the area and trying to find food. These things will happen and most understand what is happening.