Recent burns

[twinkieman]

A large part of our area burned last year, would you guys be inclined to hunt it this year, or wait longer?

[idahoghost]

Not sure where you are referring to. Most of unit 48 in Idaho has been shut down for restoration. They're saying at least a year. Really sucks.....

[Indian Summer]

I'd hunt it. I'd even hunt it if it burned this year. If it was last year it will be awesome by now. Only downside is you'll look like a coal miner at the end of every day. They will not have gone very far at all and we be right back there in no time this year. I have plenty of experience with burns in the Bitterroot. I've hunted places that were still smoldering.

You'll just need to find the remaining timbered areas. They will travel and even bed right in those burns. You'll see tracks going from mushroom to mushroom where they zero in on a certain kind of shroom that pops up right after a burn. What is really productive are areas of what I call semi-burn. Spot burns and patches of timber surrounded by burns. Also the edges of green and burn. Those will be likely places to find rub lines. The same wallows will be used and it's likely there will even be some green growth around them with sign. I find that in some cases a burn can be the best thing to happen to an area. So don't waste any time. Get in there and start to learn it even better. It will look different and you will see and realize some things that weren't so obvious before. In the end you'll have an areas with more habitat and feed and probably more elk that is more hunter friendly because you can use your binos more. Nothing like a good burn!

Bulls in burns....

[Ridge Ghost]

Yep, elk love burns for the new growth that will show up soon after. As long as the fire left a few patches of timber for bedding areas, your spot may even improve from prior years. Hunt the fringes between burn and timber.

Another plus is being able to glass farther and having more open shooting lanes in rifle season.

[Lefty]

A lot of guys leave burn areas
I killed my first Idaho antelope in a 100,000 fresh acre burn there were little patches in rocks that didnt burn , the size of most peoples front yards. Killed my buck in a patch of rocks
Some of the area I archery elk had a huge burn over 100,000 acres two years ago,.. No more bedding cover but the elk were still there

[Swede]

It depends. Some burns I would hunt, and some I would not. It all depends on how hot the burn was and the regrowth. I like dirty burns that were not too hot. There is still cover present and the new growth makes some excellent forage. A little scouting should tell you all you want to know.

[twinkieman]

I appreciate all of the input. Thanks!!