Hunting in Burn Areas: Understanding Post-Fire Regrowth and Mule Deer Behavior

By: Trevor J Hubbs

Wildfires are an inevitable part of the western landscape, shaping ecosystems and influencing wildlife behavior. For mule deer hunters, understanding how burn areas and regrowth stages affect deer movement and feeding patterns can make the difference between a successful hunt and a long, fruitless trek.

The Science of Burn Areas

When a wildfire sweeps through a forest or brushland, it drastically changes the habitat. Mature trees, dense shrubs, and undergrowth may be reduced or completely removed. However, fire also stimulates new growth: grasses, forbs, and early-successional shrubs emerge quickly, creating a patchwork of green shoots in the charred landscape.

This new growth is rich in nutrients, attracting mule deer and other herbivores. In the months and years following a burn, deer often shift their movement patterns to take advantage of these lush feeding areas. Young regrowth is particularly attractive in the first 2–5 years post-fire, when forage is abundant and easy to access.

Hunting Strategies in Burn Areas

1. Scout Early-Season Growth: Early successional plants in recently burned areas are highly nutritious. Pre-season scouting can help hunters locate where deer are feeding before the general hunting season.
2. Look for Edge Habitat: Deer often feed on new vegetation along the edges of burned areas. These transition zones between burned and unburned habitat can be hotspots during daylight hours.
3. Understand Movement Patterns: In burn areas, deer may travel greater distances between bedding and feeding sites due to sparse cover. Focus on natural funnels, ridgelines, or draw bottoms that channel movement.
4. Pay Attention to Cover: Even in a burned landscape, pockets of standing timber or brush provide essential security cover. Identifying these pockets can guide where to set up stands or glass for deer.
5. Adapt as Vegetation Changes: As regrowth matures, deer may disperse or shift feeding areas. What works one year might not the next, so continual observation and flexibility are key.

Conservation Matters

Fire and regrowth don’t just influence hunting. They also shape the health of mule deer populations. The Mule Deer Foundation works tirelessly to conserve, restore, and enhance critical habitat, including areas impacted by wildfire. Through projects that reestablish forage, improve water sources, and protect migration corridors, MDF ensures that both deer and hunters benefit for years to come.

By supporting the Mule Deer Foundation, hunters are investing in healthier ecosystems, more resilient deer populations, and the future of western hunting traditions. Every burn area regenerated, every water source restored, and every migration corridor protected is a step toward sustainable hunting for generations to come.

Good Luck!

As always, good luck this fall everyone and remember to send any success pictures or stories from the field to [email protected] and you could be featured on our website or in our magazine. If this article or any of our articles have helped you become a better hunter or conservation steward, consider becoming a member of the Mule Deer Foundation for only $35 dollars a year. Click here to join: https://muledeer.org/product-category/membership/

Trevor Hubbs

Trevor is the Communications Manager and Editor for the Mule Deer Foundation and Blacktail Deer Foundation. He grew up hunting and fishing the Ozark Mountains for quail, ducks, and bucks. Now he ventures west for mule deer as often as possible.