Colorado forest closures

[Oak]

"Due to unprecedented and historic fire conditions, the USDA Forest Service’s Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests is announcing a temporary closure of all National Forest land in Clear Creek, Jefferson, Gilpin, Boulder, and Larimer counties, effective at midnight Oct. 21. This decision will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change."

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee National Grassland - News & Events

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee National Grassland - News & Events

www.fs.usda.gov

 

[TOGIE]

so brutal. i've already heard people blame the recent fires "on hunters"; as biased as that may be, true or untrue, this is for the best

i have until 5 pm on november 6 to turn in my deer tag. i ain't giving up yet. thank god for state wildlife areas.... i hope

 

[Oak]

Additional refund options for hunters impacted by Forest Service closures due to wildfires

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. CPW issues hunting and fishing...

cpw.state.co.us

 

[rideold]

A bummer for sure. Personally, I support the closure even though it spells the end of my second rifle deer hunt. The conditions are just crazy. Seeing as we've had two fires start in two days in Boulder County we just have to be careful for the immediate future. Doesn't mean I like it! Now, I'm hoping the Ice fire doesn't close down unit 70 for 3rd season.

 

[one ate E grain]

Cold temps and snow showers for the weekend, it wouldn't take much to turn things around. I've got a buck tag and my kid has a doe, deer are just for fun anyway, still have my safety elk.

Cool feature of this web site, when I started to write a similar thread the web site popped up similar posting titles to see if anyone had posted on the subject already. Great feature.

Good luck to all you hunt talkers this fall and you all stay safe.

 

[rideold]

So true. Just like the weather in Colorado.....things can change quickly.

 

[COEngineer]

My real concern is that no one will turn in their tags and we'll all be crowded into smaller portions of our hunt units. Oh well, just one more crazy part of this year.

 

[TOGIE]

^ that's exactly why i might still turn mine in.

i assume we're all banking on the state wildlife areas in 191 remaining an option.

if all like 650 3rd season tag holders decide to still go... yikes

i wonder if cpw would tell me how many people have turned in their 3rd season tags, cause i assume they're not putting them back on the leftover list

 

[COEngineer]

i wonder if cpw would tell me how many people have turned in their 3rd season tags, cause i assume they're not putting them back on the leftover list

I just called the hunt planner and they don't have exact numbers on refunds. He did say they are not re-issuing the tags.

 

[COEngineer]

Lots of road closures too. From here: https://www.cotrip.org/map.htm#/roadWork

 

[Oak]

Based on recent fire activity from the East Troublesome fire, you can be assured there will be no national forest access the rest of the year in unit 18 north of Highway 40.

 

[COEngineer]

From here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/arp/home

 

[Oak]

And East Troublesome is on the Medicine Bow-Routt NF. Here's the Troublesome closure map.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Based on recent fire activity from the East Troublesome fire, you can be assured there will be no national forest access the rest of the year in unit 18 north of Highway 40.

Colorado hunting units + MODIS and VIIRS (FIRMS) 24hr Layers. Essentially those are heat spots detected by satellites which is what inciweb uses to draw the fire outlines. These are active hot spots in last 24 hours.




7 days

 

[denverteacher]

Saturday is gonna be a rough one for East Troublesome with the high winds expected. Prayers for the firefighters right now.

 

[MTGomer]

Is there any winter showing up there yet?

 

[Oak]

Is there any winter showing up there yet?

With a vengeance. I think you can (thankfully) stick a fork in the fire season, for the most part.

 

[Oak]

Here's a current picture near where the fire raced across Hwy 34 and into RMNP last week.

 

[MTGomer]

Here's a current picture near where the fire raced across Hwy 34 and into RMNP last week.

View attachment 159578

Hopefully it’s there to stay this time.

 

[Oak]

From the update posted a few minutes ago:

"As of this morning, the fire areas have received about 6-12 inches of snow and continued light snowfall is expected until mid-day today. Much of the temperatures have dropped down to single digits with some areas dropping to negative temperatures with windchill. The snow has stopped fire activity in lighter fuels, but large downed logs and other large fuels under the forest canopy are still expected to smolder. The snow has slowed fire activity; however, it is not expected to be enough to put the fire out. Temperatures are forecasted to gradually warm back up beginning Tuesday."