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Several studies have indicated unreliable or sporadic establishment of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata�ssp.�wyomingensis) using conventional seeding methods. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the fall placement of sacrificed sagebrush plants in recently burned areas. The harvested sagebrush could serve both as snow catchments and seed source as the seeds dehisce, with the accumulating dead leaves potentially providing litter/mulch that could also enhance germination by increasing soil moisture. We established treatments within three newly burned sites in northern Nevada, 30 to 60 km apart and having variable elevation, topography, and soils. We used a randomized block study design, with five blocks at each site. Within each block, three 15-m2 plots were randomly selected for either cut-shrub placement, broadcast seeding, or no treatment. At each of the cut-shrub plots, we placed Wyoming big sagebrush stems (harvested just before seed-ripe in November 2016). Seeded plots were hand-broadcast with seed zone-adapted sagebrush seed to simulate conventional broadcast-seeding practice. First year results showed that sagebrush seedling survival in cut-shrub plots, though quite variable, was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at each of the sites than in the broadcast-seeded plots. In May, some cut-shrub plots had a �carpet� of sagebrush within 0.5 m of the cut sagebrush, but by October, natural thinning had reduced survivors by approximately 50%. Although more natural thinning is anticipated, the October aggregate survival density mean for cut-shrub plots (5.7/m2) was still two orders of magnitude higher than that for broadcast-seeded plots.� Precipitation was higher than normal during this first year of study. For comparison, we will establish additional plots in at least three new wildfire sites during November 2017. Preliminary results indicate potential utility of this technique where establishing sagebrush islands could serve as a seed source for successional recovery of critical sites over time.