Unit 1 & 27

[buffhunter]

When they had that fire years back down south in bullock Canyon in unit 33 they shut it down for a year or so from what I remember.

[huntlines]

Hunting the other side of 260 isnt an option if the entire forest is closed. They don't care if some areas didn't burn....they are closing all of it period.

 

Got off the phone with the FS rep listed on their web site and she confirmed they will not open any more than the lakes and what is currently opened until next year. Some of you may think this isn't a concern for you since you don't have a tag but the greater issue here is the FS over reaching and closing entire forest. This will affect you one day. We all need to band together here and start protesting this. If we dont then they will continue to close off areas for years at a time. With all the rain they are getting and all the time they have had this shouldn't be closed. People always know the risk of entering the forset at any time. Even if they open the forest but have some areas that burned severely closed that would be understandable, however to just close the entire area for a year is unreasonable!

[huntlines]

I have attached the FS mailing address and phone number below. I encourage everyone to write letters and/or call to demand the forest service reconsider the closure until next year. Again this effects all of us!

 

 

 

 

P.O. Box 640

(mailing address)

30 S. Chiricahua Dr.

(physical address)

Springerville, AZ 85938

 

Voice: (928) 333-4301

[coueshunter]

I just called and spoke with "Karen" she said that greenspeak area will open tonight. All area on the north side of 260 is open now and the "intent" is to open most of the unit in the next few weeks for scouting and fire wood pick up. I got the impression that the "bear study" that is currently going on will provide the data necessary for the AZGFD and Forest service to work together on not closing the unit down, but to get an agreement to allow for hunting this year. I watched the podcast and got the impression that the commission would do everything in their power to ensure that the units are open for hunting. Did I miss something?

[huntlines]

I just called and spoke with "Karen" she said that greenspeak area will open tonight. All area on the north side of 260 is open now and the "intent" is to open most of the unit in the next few weeks for scouting and fire wood pick up. I got the impression that the "bear study" that is currently going on will provide the data necessary for the AZGFD and Forest service to work together on not closing the unit down, but to get an agreement to allow for hunting this year. I watched the podcast and got the impression that the commission would do everything in their power to ensure that the units are open for hunting. Did I miss something?

 

This is great information. I don't understand how they can have such poor communitcation within one department? This is the complete opposite information I recieved earlier today! I don't recall the womans name I spoke to but I will get a name when I call tomorrow.(not able to call this evening)

 

As for the podcast, of course the GF will do everything in their power but that still doesn't mean they will be successful! The FS is in complete control here irregardless of the commission. It is their call to make and the GF department would be powerless. "Intent" is always a key term thrown around when they want to avoid a dirrect answer. heck all I wanted was a slight hope they would open it. If the information I got this morning would have had the word "intent" in it I wouldn't have been so upset.

 

I will call tomorrow and get names with the information I get. I will repost what I find. Thanks for this post.

[idgaf]

huntlines for you i'll take a drive up to unit one and take some elk pictures for you Actually, I was going to go fishing at reservation lake anyway so it will be a win win situation

[Red Rabbit]

In case some may not have seen these, Chris and Aaron have posted some great revealing photos of the burn, including aerials, on AZSJ.

http://www.azsj.org/forums/showthread.php?t=20233&page=1&pp=10

[youngbuck]

Thanks for the link RR.

[dave]

Not all of the land is forest.

 

There is a lot of time between now and Sept. 9th.

[Packer]

In case some may not have seen these, Chris and Aaron have posted some great revealing photos of the burn, including aerials, on AZSJ.

http://www.azsj.org/forums/showthread.php?t=20233&page=1&pp=10

Doug thanks for posting that link.

 

Just so everyone knows the Game and Fish has been working hard with the FS to look at this whole access issue. We have had quite a few meetings and things are definately looking positive for being able to get back into the forest. Some of the flooding concerns are coming to pass as most of the forest roads have already washed out to some extent. For instance where hannagan creek hits the 26 road it has already flooded about to windshield height. Hwy 191 is already undercutting along hannagan creek and may wash out completely with a good storm. The 24 road is about gone from Bear creek around to the 576, at least where all the drainages cross. Anyway, I don't want to post too much at this point as alot of the access we are working on is preliminary and things could change drastically with one good storm. I will be doing a presentation at the AES hunter clinic on the 30th if anyone is interested in some more info. I will hopefully have some more info myself by then and I will have maps and pics that we can go over. All I ask is patience as this thing is ugly now and may get uglier by the end of the monsoon.

 

Aaron

[pirogue]

Just so everyone knows the Game and Fish has been working hard with the FS to look at this whole access issue. We have had quite a few meetings and things are definately looking positive for being able to get back into the forest. Some of the flooding concerns are coming to pass as most of the forest roads have already washed out to some extent. For instance where hannagan creek hits the 26 road it has already flooded about to windshield height. Hwy 191 is already undercutting along hannagan creek and may wash out completely with a good storm. The 24 road is about gone from Bear creek around to the 576, at least where all the drainages cross. Anyway, I don't want to post too much at this point as alot of the access we are working on is preliminary and things could change drastically with one good storm. I will be doing a presentation at the AES hunter clinic on the 30th if anyone is interested in some more info. I will hopefully have some more info myself by then and I will have maps and pics that we can go over. All I ask is patience as this thing is ugly now and may get uglier by the end of the monsoon.

 

Aaron

 

 

Aaron,

Thanks for the effort to get the tagholders in the unit. Your updates are appreciated.

[double lunger14]

I found this Video from a biker heading from Alpine to Hannagan Meadow.

 

[huntlines]

To all that are interested,

 

Just got some information reference unit 1 access. Sounds like the FS is looking to open "some" area possibly on the 1st of August. Then more on the 15th and even a little more at the end of the month. Some of the area that burned severely will not be opened for a year or two but this is supposedly 20-30% of the unit. I just hope this 20-30% isn't in areas where roads go through to open areas. Still chomping at the bit to get up there to scout...............

[huntlines]

Here is a map just released by the FS showing what roads will be open Saturday. Not much but a start.....

 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5321920.pdf

[eagarcoues]

Went up the 261 this evening and they had open all the rds up to the top, turned down the 90 and the 409 looking for goats no goats, lots of elk in the meadows