need mule deer guru

I found a good looking canyon with realitive little pressure and some good sign, my concern is its too high in elevation and the deer have left! the terrain varies from 8500-9000K. I found quite a few does and 2 smaller bucks, so my question for those smarter than me.

Will those deer stay at that elevation till the snow pushes them down, or will one day the deer say "piss on this" and head to their wintering grounds?


thanks
9er
6,104
gilamonster8
their peeing now
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A lot depends on the climate where your at.

It's not always just snow that is the deciding factore to leave,
bucks will stay high as long as the feed is still good and alive.
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MuleyMadness
Agreed, has more to do with FEED freezing than anything else IMO.

If it's consistently cold and freezing the feed, they will move. If not, there still be some there and possibly some big bucks. Number wise, most might be gone, but not always quality as in size.
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9er
the feed was plentiful, quite a bit of snow in the shade and spotty on the north facing slopes!

i was just wondering, cuz as long as there are does in the area, it shouldnt be to much longer and the bucks will start looking(if they havent already) for them!

9er
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As far as the feed goes 9er, what might still look good to us, might not be too tasty for them.
They will definately follow the frost line like Brett pointed out.

An area may look depleted of deer but a big weary older buck will stay as long as possible.

Another thing to factor in is the rut which is approaching.
If there's still doe's up high, the bucks will be as well.

But on the flip flop, he doesn't want to be alone up there all by himself eating a fine dinner alone, he wants the company of some pretty ladies this time of year. And if their not up there....he'll travel down to where they are. :thumb
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9er
skull,

ya, i saw 8-9 does, with a medium buck and small 2 pt, i just know there is a bigger buck there, just got to find him now!!!!

9er
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Good luck to ya 9er, just be patient.

"good things come to those who wait". [-o<

Also, somtimes those big boys don't like to come out till last minute, so don't give up till you can't see a thing on your evening hunts.

Water SHOULDN"T be TOO big of a factor now that it's cooled off.
If it were me, i'd watch those doe's like hawks!! :thumb
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ridgetop
I believe it all has to do with the migration habits of the herd. If the herd migrates a certain time or the genes from that family of deer migrate a certain week each year, they will do it. No matter how much snow. We have been watch one buck the last 4 years that has always showed up in the same low country draw and it was there again today. With little snow in the high country. I have also see bucks and alot of does up in the high country in late Nov., right around the ski resorts, in over two feet of snow and have heard of people seeing them up there into Jan. up to their bellies in snow.
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waynedevore
Food and the quality of the food is what keeps the deer around. Freezing temps lowers quality. Often it takes snowcover to move deer down. Also if deer know their safer up high they tend to stay up later. And for sure, if the does are staying high, the bucks are close by. There's few old and mature bucks and their much less visible.
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MULEY7MM
I dont know about the bigger bucks but the last few snow storms we have had have driven the deer right in my back yard i never would have thought i would say this but its driving me crazy cleaning up piles of deer dung in my back yard :222
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My experience has been that the really good bucks will stay up in the high country until I decide to hunt up there.
Then they will move to lower ground.
If you study my habits, and hunt were I aint, you're bound to kill a bruiser!
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Hiker
"ICHABOD" wrote:My experience has been that the really good bucks will stay up in the high country until I decide to hunt up there.
Then they will move to lower ground.
If you study my habits, and hunt were I aint, you're bound to kill a bruiser!
 LOL! =D>
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