Sage brush burn hunting

mdbrown · Oct 2, 2024

I’m leaving for an Oregon mule deer hunt
Centered about in the middle of about 300,000 acres Of burnt sagebrush.

it’s a private ranch.
The question is where do the deer go? And what do they eat?
The rancher said there are still deer there.
It’s about 95% burnt they said.

I’ll know a lot more in the coming week
It should be interesting.
Anyone have any experience with this?

I have hunted there most every year for about 18? Years. Il let you know what i find out.

HntHrdr · Oct 2, 2024

Sounds like you will find out! Good luck and let us know

Chesterwyo · Oct 2, 2024

Probably the five percent that isn’t burnt.

mdbrown · Oct 2, 2024

Short glassing session this evening
14 does , 3 little bucks
6 coyotes, the coyotes look as big as an elk in 15 power binos. At a mile and half ish

I’ll know more tomorrow

jims · Oct 2, 2024

We had a smallish wildfire in our area around a month ago. We've had very little rain that greened a few late season species up on certain slopes. There are still scattered deer in pockets that greened up quicker. Some of the creek bottoms that generally have more moisture to allow plants to grow are greener than those on south facing slopes. If you can figure out what species the deer are browsing on you may be able to find more pockets of deer?

I know it may not help you, but there are a lot more deer in adjacent areas that didn't burn. Another factor is how much cover is available to hide deer and protect them from predators and the elements.

eelgrass · Oct 2, 2024

mdbrown said:
Short glassing session this evening
14 does , 3 little bucks
6 coyotes, the coyotes look as big as an elk in 15 power binos. At a mile and half ish

I’ll know more tomorrow

14 does and 3 little bucks. It takes me 3 years to see that many deer in California.

HntHrdr · Oct 3, 2024

mdbrown said:
Short glassing session this evening
14 does , 3 little bucks
6 coyotes, the coyotes look as big as an elk in 15 power binos. At a mile and half ish

I’ll know more tomorrow

Sounds like some yotes could get thinned out…. Haha

Tikka · Oct 3, 2024

HntHrdr said:
Sounds like some yotes could get thinned out…. Haha

Sounds like the coyotes ate well after the burn...

heywouldya · Oct 3, 2024

It kinda depends on how much has feed has grown back. We had a fire here this summer, the first time it's burned in about 100 years, and there are a bucks back in there. They do like the ashes from the fire too.
I'm not sure if the ranch you're hunting is 300,000 or not, but I'd find the steepest, nastiest draws, and start there,

mdbrown · Oct 5, 2024

The ranch is 28,000 acres
The burn in this area is 300,000
So far, what I’m seeing

The does and small bucks are close to what little regrowth in the seep areas
This picture, i watched them feeding here

Not much food from what i see

mdbrown · Oct 5, 2024

Best 2 bucks so far
Both pictures through spotter

mdbrown · Oct 5, 2024

Both bucks were way out away from anything that is not completely and totally burnt

D8hntr · Oct 5, 2024

eelgrass said:
14 does and 3 little bucks. It takes me 3 years to see that many deer in California.

Right!?

........that's why I was pleasantly surprised at the area I'm hunting this year. Haven't hunted it in about 4 years and I'm seeing more deer in a weekend than I have in the usual spot in the past 4 years. Lol. Haven't sealed the deal yet but it's sure nice to see animals.