Fire Restrictions

[huntingchic87]

We have been planning some scouting/camping trips up to 5A (got drawn for the late rifle hunt) and checked online and there are already Fire Restrictions. Kind of a bummer, its always nice to have a campfire to sit around in the evening!

I do understand why though, we have a cabin up there and hope to never have a forest fire come through.

[johnnie blaze]

Tis the season

[naturegirl]

We were up last week with the restrictions and the snow. Sure would've been good weather for a fire, but regardless no fires allowed.

 

Sad thing is it's usually not people like you and me who start the forest fires, but we are the ones who will continue to follow the restrictions regardless.

[PRDATR]

They were posted on the 18th. Take a gas grill so you can cook. The State is tinder dry and no matter how careful you are a gust will scatter the embers. I was scouting for Turkeys two weeks ago and a family who was on a Junior Turkey hunt packed up late Saturday morning and went back home.

I walked through their campsite and the fire pit was smoking and there were 1/2 full plastic soda bottles tossed into the coals and evidently they had eggs for breakfast because there were the shells from the eggs tossed into the creek.

I went back to my camp and got a shovel but all I had were 12 oz water bottles and the plastic bag my store bought wood came in so I took it and dredged it in the creek about a dozen times making trips to the fire pit to put it out completely.

I took all the junk out of the coals including cans and the shells out of the creek and hauled them off. Kinda ticked me off that fellow hunters would do that in such a remote area not to mention that there is a ranch with a house and out buildings less than 100 yards away.

Definitely not setting a good example for their kids.

[az_shooter]

You can still have a camp fire as long as your in a developed campsite, if your camping away from campgrounds then you can't.

[Xnt]

Does "established campsite" mean a named campground on the map where you pay to stay and it has the restrooms and all that? Or does an preexisting campsite that already has a fire pit in place when I get there meet that definition as well?

[huntingchic87]

Does "established campsite" mean a named campground on the map where you pay to stay and it has the restrooms and all that? Or does an preexisting campsite that already has a fire pit in place when I get there meet that definition as well?

I was curious on this too! As we have a firepit in front of our cabin that has been there for years.

[PRDATR]

Xnt,

 

It means an established campground like Ponderosa or Woods Canyon up on the Rim. At least that is my understanding of it. One that either has a Camp Host or is at least maintained by the State or the Forest Service.

If you are not sure then do what I do and call one of the District Offices.

 

 

http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/state_list.shtml

 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3798435.pdf

[Xnt]

Thanks guys. I did. If you're heading to the Apache-Sitgreaves, here is the list: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/asnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5380225

[camoremi]

www.youtube.com/user/CampfireInACan. These are pretty cool. Better than no campfire. Uh link won't work

[az_shooter]

Yes that's what it means, I know it sucks to stay in campgrounds full of other people and not being out by yourself but if you want a campfire then you might have to do that.

[Hunterjohnny]