What does the biggest fire in New Mexico history mean to the outdoorsman?

The Whitewater-Baldy Fire scorching the Gila Wilderness is the biggest fire in New Mexico History. But, as an avid outdoorsmen hunter and fisher what does that mean to us? Although the full extent of the damage from this fire won t be known for months, Gila National Forest officials have stated that hunters will get the best of news versus the anglers after the outcome of the fire is settled. Last year, the Las Conchas blaze in northern New Mexico burned with such an intensity that the damage was so severe that the Santa Fe National Forest closed a lot of public access. When this happened the Department of Game and Fish offered refunds to hunters with licenses in that unit and many streams were closed to fishing. Art Morrison, a Forest Service spokesman told the New Mexico Wildlife Federation that a team will soon enter the burned area to determine the damage of the Whitewater-Baldy Fire and make recommendations on short-term mitigation efforts. Based on initial reports, Morrison said he doubts that hunting will be curtailed much, although some drainages could be closed to access. The bad news for anglers is that the monsoon rains this summer will wreck trout streams in the area. Morrison stated that Willow Creek and Whitewater Creek will be the two most affected. With the rains comes ash and sediment from the fire funneling into the creeks. Deer and elk hunting will be affected in this area, and even though access is granted to hunting after the fire is gone, the wildlife won t be in the area...more