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.