Silver Lake

rcmountainman · 06-18-2003, 08:06 PM

Is anyone out there hunting Silver lake this year? I haven't been over for 2 years now. Have done really well on long creek in the past. How much was burnt up last year? Any info will help. Thanks in advance. RICH :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

MikeT · 06-19-2003, 05:53 AM

Rich,
I drew a tag and will probably go this year.
Skipped last year due to the burn but my cousins had a decent hunt.
I haven't seen the burnt area but heard the damage was extensive. It may, however, improve the habitat and hunting. Condition of the winter range is far more important for the health of the deer over there, and it's in pretty poor shape according to a wildlife biologist I spoke with.

Good luck this year....MikeT

Lured In · 06-19-2003, 08:44 AM

I'll be down there for muzzleloader antelope from Sept 6-14. It will be my first hunt in that area. I am planning on making a few scouting trips over the next two months, so I will let you know what I find out.

I did talk to a wildlife bio and they said much of the "burn areas" (I guess there were a few) have started to green up. They also said, they have already had two lightening started fires this year.

Good luck and let me know if you have any info that might help.

Merle · 06-20-2003, 07:56 PM

I have hunted the Silver Lake unit for the last 45 years. Going south on FS Rd. # 28 about 12 miles and then east 3 miles on the 3006 Rd. is where it started near Tool Box Springs. (Tool Box Complex fire) back out on FS Rd. #28 from 12 miles south of Silver Lake to about 20 Miles south and then fanning out Eastward, things were burned pretty badly. But west of FS. Rd. #28 escaped the fire. Here is a link to the Fremont National Forest web site Last year they had a link up to satellite imagery and you could actually see it burn, and the day by day progression of the fire.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fremont/

MarlinMark · 06-20-2003, 08:34 PM

Merle,

Do you prefer to hunt Silver Lake or is it just what your family has always done? I was up there last year and I can't say that I would ever really want to go back. Didn't even see that much birds or other wildlife. I'm not poking fun at you I am honestly curious. I know that you probably have it all figured out by now, 45 years and all.

Respectfully,

Mark

rcmountainman · 06-21-2003, 07:56 PM

Thanks for all the info. The web sight was really helpful Merle. I have killed 12 Bucks in this unit since 1983. Hope to ad another one this year. Good luck everyone. Rich

Merle · 06-23-2003, 07:25 AM

Mark,
I probably go to the Silver Lake unit each year
for nostalgia as much as anything. Silver Lake is where at ten Years of age I first started hunting with my Father,Grandfather and Uncle.
Our family has taken a lot of Deer out of The Silver Lake unit over the years. The Mule Deer hunting is not as good as it used to be but,
Mule Deer numbers are down through out the state. I go back for the memories. I have harvested a good number of deer over the years so if I get my buck great but if not, no big deal. My Father, Grandfather and Uncle are all gone now but I still have the memories of every camp fire we shared together and every deer that was taken and the locations from where they were taken. The only problem is most of the locations were burned in that darn fire last year. :depressed:

[ 06-23-2003, 08:28 AM: Message edited by: Merle ]

MarlinMark · 06-24-2003, 07:22 PM

Merle,

Sounds like you have all the right reasons to go back. :smile:

Mark