Fishing Forum

anyone considering fishing or hunting in the uintas be aware that All lands between Weber Canyon and Hwy 35 on Wolf creek from Samak to Highline pass are CLOSED ! Mirror lake Hwy open to thru traffic only.
Looks like a bust for hunters 

There goes my deer hunt. Happy to make the donation.

Providing a wildfire link below for those interested.

https://app.watchduty.org/i/35116

(10-12-2024, 04:29 PM)tktmsa Wrote: [ -> ]There goes my deer hunt. Happy to make the donation.

The fire is 26K acres and there are literally millions of acres in most units.  Why not hunt in a slightly different location within your unit?  Just curious?

(10-13-2024, 12:58 AM)BearLakeFishGuy Wrote: [ -> ]

(10-12-2024, 04:29 PM)tktmsa Wrote: [ -> ]There goes my deer hunt. Happy to make the donation.

The fire is 26K acres and there are literally millions of acres in most units.  Why not hunt in a slightly different location within your unit?  Just curious?

That maybe true for some units. But, the area that is closed is pretty much the whole Kamas deer unit.

Just think, if you live in southern calif. where they close the entire forest because of fire danger. Not because there’s an actual fire. The whole forest, not just a hunting unit.

(10-13-2024, 12:58 AM)BearLakeFishGuy Wrote: [ -> ]

(10-12-2024, 04:29 PM)tktmsa Wrote: [ -> ]There goes my deer hunt. Happy to make the donation.

The fire is 26K acres and there are literally millions of acres in most units.  Why not hunt in a slightly different location within your unit?  Just curious?

My area is the Wasatch unit and you are correct, there appears to be an area to the South that isn't burnt.

(10-13-2024, 07:10 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: [ -> ]My area is the Wasatch unit and you are correct, there appears to be an area to the South that isn't burnt.

Yes but you may not be able to access it due to road restrictions

My initial post was to inform everyone of the situation, as it is dire.
the meeting today in Kamas was informative, but the reality of it is....
given the weather pattern for some time, this could devastate the whole western Uinta mts.
Let's hope it doesn't happen! 
And yes... I am seeing and breathing it everyday since day one so I am not an armchair

(10-13-2024, 09:58 PM)Perchawg Wrote: [ -> ]

(10-13-2024, 07:10 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: [ -> ]My area is the Wasatch unit and you are correct, there appears to be an area to the South that isn't burnt.

Yes but you may not be able to access it due to road restrictions

My initial post was to inform everyone of the situation, as it is dire.
the meeting today in Kamas was informative, but the reality of it is....
given the weather pattern for some time, this could devastate the whole western Uinta mts.
Let's hope it doesn't happen! 
And yes... I am seeing and breathing it everyday since day one so I am not an armchair

Unless the fire is out by Sat or we hear different, to confirm your suspicion about the roads to the South being closed, we might take a drive up there to check it out. Worse some to worse, we could bring our fishing poles along and fish the Berry from shore, if it is closed but it might be a good idea to contact a fish and game guy and see what he knows.

I contacted the DWR about my hunt unit, Wasatch East unit, I got this reply:
"Good morning, You had a question about the Wasatch East unit and if it would be closed this year due to the fire. The answer is no, the hunt will go on as planned. Most of the fire is on the South Slope Yellowstone unit. Some of the Wasatch East unit burned, but not a lot. There are some closures in place that may limit roads to access hunting areas. I would reach out to the Forest Service office in Heber for specifics on those closures. Good luck on your hunt.
Derrick Ewell"

I next tried the Heber FS but they have not answered their phone, after 3 attempts but I will keep trying.

(10-16-2024, 09:43 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: [ -> ]I contacted the DWR about my hunt unit, Wasatch East unit, I got this reply:
"Good morning, You had a question about the Wasatch East unit and if it would be closed this year due to the fire. The answer is no, the hunt will go on as planned. Most of the fire is on the South Slope Yellowstone unit. Some of the Wasatch East unit burned, but not a lot. There are some closures in place that may limit roads to access hunting areas. I would reach out to the Forest Service office in Heber for specifics on those closures. Good luck on your hunt.
Derrick Ewell"

I next tried the Heber FS but they have not answered their phone, after 3 attempts but I will keep trying.

Good luck getting in touch with the FS in Heber. Last time I stopped there a few months back for a pole permit the office was closed and the sign said they were only open 2 days a week I think. That being said, there is a lot of Wasatch East to hunt that is nowhere near the fire.

FYI
Here is today’s updated closure map
Looks like some areas have been open back up
Good news for you hunters and us fisherman

The Kamas DNR office told my son that the area (Kamas unit) was open to everything but camping. Day trips it is.

The crowds were down - big time, all the campgrounds were closed. The Kokes are stacked in the river above the Smith Morehouse res in surprising numbers. The mature bucks are still very high and almost inaccessible, except for good glass. Amazing quality for how hard the area gets hit.