By Mike Maltais
Wildfire and floodwaters have left their marks on local hunting areas in and around the Methow Valley, where hunters will begin their search for deer on Oct. 11, opening day of the modern firearm general deer season.
According to information in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Weekender Report, most of the affected lands are in the Methow Valley. As of late August, the most seriously affected Game Management Units (GMUs) in descending order of impact were GMUs 239 (Chiliwist), 242 (Alta) and 224 (Pearrygin). Smaller portions of GMUs 218 (Chewuch) and 231 (Gardner) also burned.
Large areas were closed to public access in the immediate wake of the fires, but most parcels are now open. Smaller area closures may remain in place around the Little Bridge and Upper Falls fires, and some U.S. Forest Service roads remain closed within the Carlton Complex Fire perimeter.
Flash floods and mudslides from intense thunderstorms that followed the fires caused widespread damage to primary and secondary roads, particularly in GMUs 224, 239 and 242. Periodic road closures were required in some areas, primarily along state highways 20 (the North Cascades Highway) and 153 near Twisp. It’s possible that some road and area closures could last throughout the hunting season, the report said.
WDFW Okanogan district wildlife biologist Scott Fitkin said that emergency changes to this year’s hunting regulations are being considered to increase antlerless deer harvest in heavily impacted areas. This will likely be accomplished through the use of increased youth, senior, disabled, second deer, and master hunter permits drawn from this year’s applicant pool for relevant GMUs. Additionally, damage-related permits will also be used to address anticipated agricultural nuisance issues as they develop.
Fitkin said significant unburned areas in Okanogan County could see increased numbers of game animals. “Fires typically don’t directly kill a significant percentage of larger mammals or birds,” he said. “But fires can affect wildlife distribution. Where fires burned intensely, wildlife will likely be scarce, but adjacent unburned areas could actually see an influx of animals. If substantial fall rain and green-up occurs, some animals could be back into the fire perimeter, at least temporarily.”
A WDFW public roundtable discussion that will address recent fire and flood fallout, among other topics, is scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m. this evening (Oct. 1) at the Columbia Cove Recreation Building, 508 W. Cliff Ave., in Brewster.
Specific information about prospects for all hunting opportunities throughout the region is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/prospects/.
