Brian Head/Panguitch Elk Situation (Post Fire)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-18-17 AT 11:36AM (MST)[p]Just curious if anyone has been on the Panguitch unit lately and can provide any info on how the elk have been affected (or not affected) by the Brian Head fire from last summer. I know they are resilient animals, but wondered if they have moved out of areas that they used to frequent. I have the Panguitch Lake - January cow tag. I know that they will be in their wintering areas by then, but didn't know how this year may be different from past years. I plan on asking F&G, but wanted some hunters' preliminary observations as well.

I don't know how the elk are down on Panquitch, but I hunted the Manti a few years back after a big fire down there. We were surprised to find the elk laying right in the middle of the burns almost like they liked it. The burn itself did not seem to cause them to move at all. At least that was my experience.

Talked to a guy from the dnr during the archery hunt. He said they have radio collared elk on the unit. During the fire they moved off a couple miles and within a month after it was over they moved right back in. That has been my observation as well. However, there sure as hades aren't 1700 elk on this unit like dnr claims.

I spent time on the unit hunting elk with archery equipment and deer with a muzzleloader. The elk are pretty much right back into their old patterns. They use the burnt areas nearly the same as they did before the fire. Same travel routes and all. It is weird to see a herd moving through the burnt remains of pines like there was still cover. One of the neat results is a lot of the bulls and bucks have been rubbing on the burnt trees resulting in coal black antlers. It makes them look huge through your binos or spotting scope. I feel this will be a very beneficial event in the years to come. There is already new feed growing in several of the areas that were choked out before the fire. While I did see several fawns and calves I'm sure a few were lost due to the timing. It will be interesting to see them on winter range and the yearling crop next year.

I was there during Early Rifle Hunt and all the above posts agree with what I have to say. Elk were moving in and out of the burns like it was normal.
The new little aspen growth was popping up and was getting munched on pretty good.
Good luck on the Hunt!

Thanks for the insight, guys. See you on the mountain!

I got a cow on the early hunt, there were plenty of elk just outside of the burn.