What is normally referred to as the Farewell Burn, is the footprint of the Bear Creek fire which burned from June thru October in 1977. Since then, there have been additional smaller fires in the area, but nothing as extensive as Bear Creek. As I recall, it burned around a million acres.
Most of the fire was in GMU 19D; it extended upstream in several drainages, (Tonzona, S.Frk Kuskokwim, Windy Fork, Middle Fork) into 19C.
There were many days that fall when visibility was so limited that small aircraft could not fly VFR. We got into camp around August 25 (by flying in from the north) and ended up taking care of some dropoff (DIY) hunters whose air taxiis had not picked them up. The planes were more than a week overdue.
As to how the moose fared last winter, I cannot be specific. 19D has been the focus of some predator control programs for quite some time now and was closed to NR hunters for a while. We had some very cold temperatures last winter north of the Alaska Range (damn that Global Warming...!) but snowpack wasn't extreme the way it was on the south side.
Moose can tolerate extended periods of cold temps. They can also tolerate deeper snow. What brings on a lot of winter mortality is when you get BOTH at the same time.
Pete
Doug
I am planning a DIY moose hunt around Egypt Mtn this year from Sept 9-21. We plan to hunt on foot after being dropped off by a float plane. Do you have any updated information on the moose in the area? We also have a caribou tag that we could use on l black bear. Have you seen either of those two species lately in the area? It's my first time in the area so any information would be very helpful
Thanks a mill, //Nick Sagar