Got a fire going near the entrance to Mesa Verde NP. No lightning, but windy. Hope they get it out soon. From my deck, lookin east.
First Fire of the Year
- Thread starter Colorado Cowboy
- Start date
Winchester
Veteran member
Not yet. There is no storms or lightning, but it is pretty windy, could have been a tree or limb into a power line.
Winchester
Veteran member
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,816
- 3,011
We have them every year. This year there were 6 pairs with goslings. Several pairs nest on the island in the pond, the rest walk in from where they nested. Right now the adults have molted and cannot fly. The only trouble is that there is goose crab all over next to the pond. In the fall I've had as many as 100 or so geese on the pond. Really make a lot of noise going and coming.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,816
- 3,011
Had to go to Durango this morning for a Dr appointment. Got some better pictures of the fire. Man it is roaring thru some great game habitat.
JimP
Administrator
While it will be rough this year, next year it should be great for game and hunting.
I was in the Book Cliffs of eastern Utah back in 2002 when a real hot fire went through them. About a month after the fire the elk and deer were found in the burned off areas of it just chowing down on the fresh growth that was coming up. And that year and for a few years after that you wanted to hunt the burns. Now that brush is 10' high and you can't even see through it enough to find a animal in it. But they are still there.
Back when I bow hunted a lot I loved to hunt burn scars a year after they burnt. A lot of hunters would shy away from them figuring that no animal would be in them but the elk and deer loved them. During the hunts I would just hunt the fringes of the burns and or pockets of trees that were left. I tagged out every year doing that.
I was in the Book Cliffs of eastern Utah back in 2002 when a real hot fire went through them. About a month after the fire the elk and deer were found in the burned off areas of it just chowing down on the fresh growth that was coming up. And that year and for a few years after that you wanted to hunt the burns. Now that brush is 10' high and you can't even see through it enough to find a animal in it. But they are still there.
Back when I bow hunted a lot I loved to hunt burn scars a year after they burnt. A lot of hunters would shy away from them figuring that no animal would be in them but the elk and deer loved them. During the hunts I would just hunt the fringes of the burns and or pockets of trees that were left. I tagged out every year doing that.
Winchester
Veteran member
They just closed Hwy 160 between Durango and Mancos/Cortez. I took the last picture I posted today from Hwy 160.
Winchester
Veteran member
The really bad thing about this (a least for me) is that that area is home to a lot of wild turkeys. I have hunt it a lot, so we'll see next spring what happens.
Winchester
Veteran member
Yeah, but once the fire is out a lot of small green plants will start popping up again … might be ok for turkeys.
JimP
Administrator
I have watched turkeys feeding in the freshly burned areas. Once the plants start coming back so do the bugs. The biggest problem is roost trees but as long as the larger trees still have stable limbs for them to roost on they should be fine.
RICMIC
Veteran member
Turkeys will be able to get away from the fire, but the chicks won't. I don't know if they will have a second batch like some birds do if they lose the first one.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,816
- 3,011
Depends on how early they loose them. Prescribed fires are an often talked about factor of poult mortality in Georgia.
Interesting read here if you like to read. I found it very interesting.
georgiawildlife.blog
Interesting read here if you like to read. I found it very interesting.
Does Prescribed Burning Impact Wild Turkey Nesting?
Each spring, concerned hunters contact the Wildlife Resources Division about growing-season prescribed burns and their effect on turkey nesting. Good news, turkey hunters! Several research studies …
georgiawildlife.blog
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest - Home
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest - Home
www.fs.usda.gov
Winchester
Veteran member
It's very smoky here today near Colorado Springs.
I imagine it's smoke from this fire blowing east.
I imagine it's smoke from this fire blowing east.