Fires May Affect Your Hunting Plans
Forest fires and hunting season seem to have been hand-in-hand in recent years, and this year may be more of the same. The hot dry summer is resulting in increased fire activity in the Panhandle and it seems more likely than not that wildfires will be active, especially during the early elk season. Access into some of your favorite hunting areas may be affected.
Here are some things to keep in mind while planning you fall hunting trip:
- Check for area and road closures. Take a look at IDFG's Hunt Planner (https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/mapcenter/ ). You can use the interactive map center to turn on fire layers, road closures and other hunting related layers. You can check out local closures on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf/) for the most current area closures.
- If you are hunting in other areas in Idaho, check out https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ . This page includes any wildland fires across the United States with up-to-date area closures, maps, and restrictions.
- Be aware of current fire restrictions. The Idaho Panhandle Forest currently is under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, which means you can have a campfire only within a designated recreation site and only within a permanent metal or concrete fire ring. For local fire restrictions, check the Idaho Panhandle National Forest website listed above. If you are hunting in other areas, check the website of the local land management agency.
- Have a backup plan. Fires can pop up anywhere and grow rapidly under current conditions. Consider a backup plan if your primary hunting area happens to be within a fire closure area.
Remember, be safe, be aware of area closures, and abide by any restrictions.