What will burned land do for hunting?

So unfortunately our hunting lease got caught in the West Texas wildfires. Not all of the ranch was burned, but 90% of our pasture was torched! We lost one stand and one feeder. My question now is what do you guys think this will do to the hunting? We did see deer roaming in the burned places but not alot. It was really a sight to see that much land burned. Out of 2500 acres on the ranch 1500 acres burned.

Next couple of years should be good. This year maybe not.

All the bucks we saw looked real good! So far it hasn't seemed to bother them too much but its really hard to tell, cause they were just passing thru. I hope, for my dads sake that it is ok cause its his first year on the lease.

Actually burning is a way for nature to replenish nourishment in the ground. Ash contains a lot of good nutrients and will stimulate grass growth next year if you guys get some rain. It is a heck of good fertilizer. It is not going to help for this year but the deer will come back once the grass and browse regrowth. You could have some of the prettiest ranches in the area in a couple of years if we finally break this drought.

It looked like there was already some new growth starting to emerge. I really hope that next year is a much better year. It kinda took the wind out of our sails when we came around the corner, while driving into our pasture, and all you saw was black. But like I said, not all of our area was burned so that is a big plus.

Not much if it don't rain.

With rain, soon, you will like everything but the mud holes, with no rain, it will suck

My lease was also hit by the fire. I lost my trailer and blinds etc.. I didnt lose my feeders or cameras. Yep very lucky I know. I' ve got new growth coming up and also some nice doe and one nice buck and one buck thats hard to say how his rack will be. Got hogs and turkey back in so hoping this season wont be a total bust.

Hopefully with a bunch of rain it will be great. Otherwise probably/maybe Ok..

The fires definitely have the deer scattered. We have battled a number of fires in our county that have been anywhere from just a few acres up to the Swenson fire that was over a hundred thousand acres and I will say one thing, the deer are on the move. But the good news is that what I have seen on fires like you are mentioning is that the deer are not seeming to move a long ways. Keep the feed out and hopefully you have good water in the tanks and I think your season will be fine.

We were discussing this last week. I am wondering what impact it will have on the west Texas muleys. Will the Arizona and NM fires push them west in any discernible number. Mule deer cover so much ground we were optimistically convincing ourselves that it would. We have had great success stalking NM deer as they cross the state line as the rut begins. Huge numbers. It would make sense that they will be thick this year. Racks may be questionable... time will tell.

A large section burned 1/2 mile north of our hunting area. I'll take a look and see how they track it this season.

For some I think the hunting will be great. I've heard where high fences were bull dozed in a lot of places with big fires. Some of their neighbors will get a chance at some big bucks and exotics I bet.

I think if your lucky enough to get an inch of rain soon' it will blow your mind how fast it will get Green.

"Burning the old overgrowth will provide nitrogen and fertilize the new incoming growth. Just as a farmer will burn wheat stubble and then work the ground. It puts nutrients back into the soil. This fertilization allows the new re-growth of grass to come in faster, get more sunlight, more moisture and more fertilizer". ( Back yard Ranch)

Get some moisture and the deer will have better forage than they had before the fire, just cross your fingers we "DO" get the moisture.

Well in true hunting story fashion, 1500 acres out of 2500 sure isnt 90%, more like 60%.

If and when it rains it will come back with browse that is much higher in protein for a while and will be tender and better for the deer, they will love it. The downside is that your place along with every other Tome Dick and Hary's burned so it probably wont draw them. Our place burned a couple years ago and it was the only one, it drew deer like crazy from the neighbors.

Is the place Hi or low fence? I would start feeding whatever you could if you arnt already.

matt

The entire ranch is 2500 acres! We only get a 600 acre part of that and 90% of our 600 acres burned. It is a low fence property. We loaded it with feed to try and hold them there, and there are watering troughs all throughout the place to keep the water there. I'm truly hoping that it turns out good this year. If nothing else, the hogs are loving it right now, and I will pop a few off!

The fires in Nolan county hit us hard last month but spared a few of our feeders. The deer are hitting the protein HARD -- as nobody around us is feeding protein, it looks like the deer are staying put. And with the little bit of rain we got things are already starting to green back up.

Regardless, should make for an interesting season...

The fires in Arizona have run some of the wild horses and mules out of Arizona into New Mexico. Some have been spotted as far as Carizozo, north of Ruidoso.

A buddy of mine hunts the pitchfork up in Dickens,it burned about 30% of the southwest pasture.We were there last weekend,deer tracks everywhere,especially in the burned areas,new growth was sprouting from the base of mesquites and the deer are eating the heck out of it.It looks awful but kinda cool at the same time,in most of the draws and canyons you can see areas that before were solid cedar.This is going to be a great year out there.BTW we saw three dead bucks on HWY 380(not all together)they looked GOOD,lots of horn.

:(I am sorry to hear that~ maybe you will get a great loss this year. The wildfire is always ruthless and beyond our control. Hope everything fine soon!

At the same time, you should feel happy that another 1000 acres ranch is still exist. You can come up with some good ideas to take advantage of it well though it is very difficult.
The fire scary the deer definitely, so the most important thing you should do is to take good care of them. Next year, it will be OK!

Anybody have any thoughts or tips on planting food plots on burned land? Is it better to let the natural forbes grow? Seems like the cleared land and the nutrients added to the soil would make it easier to establish a good plot.

I think the hunting will be good IF you get rain on it. If not, it might really suck. I think it would depend on your lcoation to water and how available it is in tanks, ponds, water troughs etc.

I would clear a food plot, but unless the weather pattern changes I would not waste my seed money. Cotton and grain farmers have left fields unplanted this year all throughout west Texas. It is as dry as I have seen since the 1950's drought. Planted seed in this dry soil would be wasted.

Dogcatcher is spot-on,you might clear a small area but dont expend too much time,energy or $ on food plots this year.If possible hunt over water,windmills,bringing it in maually,whatever.You must have the water this year,its more important than feeders right now.