In my hunting, I don't always find mule deer at the top of the mtn. They move up and down depending a lot on the weather. So when you hunt them, they could be anywhere. One thing I have found, in the morning, they like to increase their elevation and find a spot to bed. They like to be out of the wind. South facing slope, warm, no bugs. There is some good reading on mule deer. Have you read some of these?
http://www.sgrc.selkirk.ca/bioatlas/...h_Columbia.pdf
Thanks J.T. Also would like to add the books by Valerius Geist on ungulates !
Arctic Lake
If that link doesn't work I have the pdf and can send it if that works better.