I have a first rifle tag in GMU 82. Last week a lightening strike on the border of GMU 86/82 ignited this fire. Containment isnt projected until 10/01/2016. Which is two weeks from first rifle. Forest service isn't fighting the fire at altitude so winds could carry it into 82. I expect the fire to burn until first heavy snow.
My questions are will the elk completely flee both GMUs to get away from the fire/smoke? Should I turn in this LE tag for an OTC?
GMU 82 covers all of the western side of the Sangre's from Poncha Pass to Blanca Peak. Obviously you are aware of this. Hayden Pass is near the north end of the unit. The fire has not yet crossed the ridgeline into Rio Grande NF, and at this point remains in GMU 86. Unless you had already planned to hunt in close proximity the fire area I think it's premature to worry about returning your license.
The fire is burning in country that has so much dead timber in it you can barely walk through it. It almost certainly will burn until fall. The elk will be used to it by then.
I think the biggest problem concerning GMU 82 is not the Hayden Pass Fire; it's the nearby Baca National Wildlife Refuge and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Although the USFW service has recomended opening the Baca to elk hunting, it has not happened yet and the elk will move there and into the park once rifle season starts.
A lot of elk in that unit summer above timberline in the high basins and won't budge from there until November. Fire is unlikely above the trees and some of those upper canyons are huge.
So, if you're planning to hunt low and near the pass ... you may have some issues. Hunt high and ... good luck.
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4849/Link to daily updates on the Hayden Pass Fire.
I have a deer tag that's good in unit 86 and a hand full of other units. The way I look at it, the Hayden Pass fire just creates an area that I don't have to investigate.
KC
Need to take a peek out there, have an 86 deer tag as well (2nd season)
Last I saw the fire was contained to the eastern side of the range and had only burned as far south as the area around rainbow lake. That still leaves a significant portion of the eastern side untouched.