Dead timber

[Huntkingfish]

Looking for pros and cons to hunting an area where bark beetles have killed several square miles of black timber. 90% of timber has been dead for two to three years. Elk were there last year but wandering if I should plan for a new spot this year?

 

[ElkQuest]

It might be prime time to hunt the area. When the cover of the trees is removed it will promote ground growth of grasses, bushes, etc. that require sunlight to grow and the elk, deer and others will take advantage of the new feed.

You should scout the area and see what the ground looks like as well as looking for animals/sign. It may take another year or two to really get lush regrowth, but it should happen soon if the tree cover was removed.

 

[cowboystl1]

i agree it should be loaded with game and fresh regrowth  under growth like a old  burn area .

 

[turbo1967]

+ 2 ELKQUEST  , should be better for a few years and then the trees will start falling and it will be hell and the animals will have a hard time with the area for 8 or ten years after that

 

[wyoelk300+]

I've been hunting beetle kill in NW WY for 7-8 years now and the elk hunting has been great.  As the wind and winter knock some of the standing dead down it makes some travel through the timber pockets a bit rough at times, but the elk don't seem to mind.  They tend to have some more defined travel routes between bedding areas and feeding areas too, so that's a definite plus.

 

[birddog]

+ 2 ELKQUEST  , should be better for a few years and then the trees will start falling and it will be hell and the animals will have a hard time with the area for 8 or ten years after that

I hunted almost exclusively blow downs and dead dark timber this year all I know is that the animals had no issues going over, under, or through it. They went twice as fast as I could go through it and they were feeding. When I shot my elk twenty some elk erupted out of the blow downs I had only seen six of them before I shot. Then when they run they just haul through it and duck under one tree and jump the next. It's tough hunting but they are in there just go slow and keep quiet.

 

[Huntkingfish]

Great feedback! Thanks and good luck!

 

[greatthosu]

It might be prime time to hunt the area. When the cover of the trees is removed it will promote ground growth of grasses, bushes, etc. that require sunlight to grow and the elk, deer and others will take advantage of the new feed.

You should scout the area and see what the ground looks like as well as looking for animals/sign. It may take another year or two to really get lush regrowth, but it should happen soon if the tree cover was removed.

X2. It is a great place to hunt.