Six years ago, an abandoned warming fire ignited the surrounding forest and burned more than 61,000 acres and destroyed 58 homes in the Roosevelt Fire south of Jackson. Hot and uncontrolled fall fires can cause devastating damage to the surrounding communities and affect hunting seasons and wildlife habitats. 

A fall wildfire, with its increased temperature and drier conditions, scorches the soil and sterilizes it to the point that native plants struggle to recover for years. It creates an environment primed for weeds, like cheatgrass, that are extremely difficult and costly to eradicate. 

“Fall wildfires have much different implications than a controlled springtime fire,” said Ray Bredehoft, Wyoming Game and Fish Department habitat and access branch chief. “When fires are used as a management tool to benefit wildlife, they burn at a different temperature in a controlled environment for a specific purpose.”

A wildfire, like the Roosevelt, that starts and burns through the fall also can significantly affect hunting access. To prevent impacts to hunting seasons, Game and Fish, U.S. Forest Service and other land-management agencies may institute fire bans or restrictions on their properties throughout the summer and fall. Hunters should check with each respective land-management agency to see if their camping location has any fire restrictions or rules. 

Hunters are encouraged to take extreme care when building fires at camp and ensure they are completely out before going to bed, leaving for the day or packing out.

For a safe fire, hunters should take care to:

• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Clear the ground and remove branches to make sure there is enough clearance below, above and around the fire.
• Avoid building a fire under or at the base of a tree. Fire can burn into roots and smolder for days before becoming a wildfire.
• If it is windy, do not start a warming fire. 
• Keep fires at a manageable size. A large fire requires more work and water to ensure it’s completely out. 
• Drown a fire with plenty of water and dirt. Stir to make sure everything is wet and muddy. If water is not available, stir in cool dirt and smother the fire to remove heat.