Yes they move back into the area's almost immediately. Unfortunately with the drought we are currently having here in Arizona and New Mexico antler growth this year will not be nearly as good as the past few, if we get good moisture the next few years you could very well see some monster elk coming from those burned area's. Three years after the Rodeo/Chediski fire in 2002 (largest fire in the state until the now current Wallow fire) the area I live near there have been several 380 to 400 class elk taken even into the 2010 season.