Hunting After A Burn

E

Edpre

Guest
Guys, I've been getting mixed opinions from the few people that I talked to concerning hunting elk after a burn. Here's the short of it. The area that my buddy and I planned to hunt end of September burned. About 3000 acres to the NW, W, and S of where we planned to camp. I've heard 2 generalities: 1st- Stay FAR away from there, find a new area. And 2nd- Be SURE to "test hunt" the area because elk re-inhabit an area after a moderate burn very fast, new growth draws in lots of game and hunting pressure is light because most hunters stay FAR away. Any thoughts on hunting elk in recently burned areas? Do you think the fringes might be productive?
Thanks,
edpre
 
Elk love burns.
It doesn't take long for the grass to start coming up in those areas. If you have had some rain in there you may be amazed at the green carpet that is starting to grow.
Definitely need to take a look.
In the next few years there will be more elk in that area than there were before.
All of our best elk areas are spots that have burned within the last 5 years.
 
Oh yeah, a word of warning.
If the wind starts to pick up in very recently burned area, get out of there fast. The bark will be flying and the trees will be falling!
 
Thanks for the input. The area stopped burning about a week- 10 days ago. They've gotten alot of rain since then (about 5" or so) and more rain is forcasted. I definitely think I need to check it out.
Any other input?
 
hunt the area!!!! me and my brother in law go down to manti la sal for the spike only. here in utah and they were doing a controled burn the damn elk would just move around the fire.. there were still hot spots and the elk would cross right over them to the other side when the controled burn would move them. deffinatly hunt the burn area...
 
There is a flower that grows after a burn that elk love. The new growth will bring them back in. Definitely hunt it.

fca2e9e9.jpg
 
I would definatley check it out. Several years ago there was a huge fire where we hunt and we found ourseleves in the same predicament. However, we decided to hunt it and took two very nice bulls. Plus, we were the only people hunting the burn. Good Luck!
 
I was told by Forest service that a burn is real good to hunt the 3rd year after a burn especially for elk.
 
A few years back a canyon I hunt had a prescribed burn prior to the hunt. Forest Service kept us out for the first 3 days of the hunt. We watched from higher ground opening morning and the elk didn't care one bit that there stomping grounds were burning. It stormed good one day and the place was opened up. Both me and my dad killed spikes and they were coated with gray/black sloppy ashes. The funny part was because of all the pines cracking and popping prior to our arrival, the herd didn't even flinch until both elk were dead and we walked into sight. Hell they didn't even move more than 100 yds away before they stopped and started milling again.
 
Might as well just stay in camp and relax... no elk near 50 miles of that burn!!!Better check it out anyway. Good luck.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom