Those crunchy leaves underfoot in the woods aren’t just a nuisance for scaring off game.

The dry, warm weather that has continued through September and October has fire officials especially concerned about the potential for new wildfires from warming fires once the general hunting season begins this weekend.

New wildfires caused by campfires have persisted well into October, and barring a significant snow or drenching rain, that danger will continue as the general rifle season for deer and elk kicks off Saturday.

Forest fuels are still as dry as they are during a typical summer, and cooler autumn nights have failed to put a damper on overnight fire activity in some recent wildfires.

“I think everyone thinks of summer as the fire season,” said Ali Ulwelling, a fire prevention specialist for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. “Once we get a frost, our days are getting shorter and the nights are cooler, but those brown grasses are still dry, and I think that’s what kind of fools people.”

While fire activity has dropped compared with the historic number of fires this summer, state firefighters in Northwest Montana have already responded to more than a dozen wildland fires this month.

Fire officials recommend hunters take the following precautions when heading out this fall:

• Keep warming fires small and manageable.

• Maintain a wide zone clear of vegetation around and above the fire.

• Never leave a warming fire unattended, even for a short period of time.

• Before leaving the area, drown your fire with plenty of water, add dirt and stir.

• Check that the fire is cold to the touch before leaving the area.

• Keep vehicles on established roads and trails and avoid driving through grass and brush that could be ignited by hot exhaust systems.