Mule deer migration to lower elevations

[ratherbefishin]

Still pretty warm,no snow on higher ridges ..we didn’t see any mule deer lower down..

[Harvest the Land]

We were at 4500ft and didn't see any in the cut blocks or on the edges of any openings. But once we decided to go after them a little more aggressively we found them deep inside the cool dark timber (blowdown galore). Essentially impenetrable.

Anyone got any suggestions on how to pacify deer once they start making the blowing sounds? F me!

[RyoTHC]

Heh warm and dry doesn’t cut it… was able to bump a couple small 2 and 3 points bedded in heavy shade in thick coulees but something tells me the big boys are up up up still… think I’ll wait for the snow to fly with the season we have and Hot and dry with a side of locust.

[rageous]

Deers were still at 7000’ on Saturday.

[RackStar]

Beach weather still. Weirdest September season I’ve had. Sure slowed my moose hunt down they were only moving at the last 5 mins of shooting light

[HarryToolips]

We were at 4500ft and didn't see any in the cut blocks or on the edges of any openings. But once we decided to go after them a little more aggressively we found them deep inside the cool dark timber (blowdown galore). Essentially impenetrable.

Anyone got any suggestions on how to pacify deer once they start making the blowing sounds? F me!

I shot a buck once when it was running away by whistling at it, and I've stopped whitetails before by doing my own wheeze snort at them..good luck..

[oddsix]

Odd year for sure.

Seen a handful of does and 2 smaller bucks between 4000' - 5500'. Dropped down to 2500' and observed higher numbers. Couple decent 3 pointers and one big boy that only granted us with a glimpse.

Minimal movement to say the least. First 30 mins of light and the last hour seemed to ok. Bedded in the thiiiiick stuff during the day.

[Harvest the Land]

I shot a buck once when it was running away by whistling at it, and I've stopped whitetails before by doing my own wheeze snort at them..good luck..

Awesome to hear and thanks for the tip Harry. Actually been practicing the snort weeze and will give it a try. You seeing anything in your new stomping grounds?

Should also mention, all of the freshest sign (beds, scat, nipped tops of buffalo berry and rosehip bushes etc) were also all inside the deep timber. Most of the forage out in the open has started turning yellow/red/brown, but inside the thick timber most of the forage is still almost entirely green and luscious - no need for them to be in the open in the hot sun

[Linksman313]

Out hiking and blew a big doe out of hiding right at height of land in the Boundary Friday.
Sat in deadlock for 25 minutes blowing at me until i verified no bone.

Tons of food for all sorts around even at that elevation, lots of green left,
berries are dry or drying fast, bears came down to mid mountain level

nary much concentrated poop around either i noted
still pretty hot out as well, struck out at 4:05 am and it was 13C already
Good luck out there
Links


keep them freezers humming, the muley bucks a comin!

[HarryToolips]

Awesome to hear and thanks for the tip Harry. Actually been practicing the snort weeze and will give it a try. You seeing anything in your new stomping grounds?

Should also mention, all of the freshest sign (beds, scat, nipped tops of buffalo berry and rosehip bushes etc) were also all inside the deep timber. Most of the forage out in the open has started turning yellow/red/brown, but inside the thick timber most of the forage is still almost entirely green and luscious - no need for them to be in the open in the hot sun

I agree pal about the forage in the open turning... there are critters and sign in these parts though they don't seem as numerous as my old stomping grounds of reg 8/south reg 3...I put on 14k on foot with the pack on Fri in the high country, about 2000 m (6500') in elevation in an area that wasn't pressured by road hunters etc: to my surprise all I saw was a few moose, deer, and bear track, not as numerous as I'd hoped..

[Dannybuoy]

I shot a buck once when it was running away by whistling at it, and I've stopped whitetails before by doing my own wheeze snort at them..good luck..
Mulies are very curious especially the younger ones and will come to investigate noises pre rut Grunts , wheezes etc .The big boys not so much although I have seen a large 4 point follow a curious doe during the rut . Whitetails require different techniques depending on terrain

[ACB]

Deers were still at 7000’ on Saturday.
I'v seen them at over 6200' in the middle of Nov., in fact there were dropped antlers up there. Those high country bucks and does if they don't have to migrate they don't.

[HarryToolips]

Mulies are very curious especially the younger ones and will come to investigate noises pre rut Grunts , wheezes etc .The big boys not so much although I have seen a large 4 point follow a curious doe during the rut . Whitetails require different techniques depending on terrain

I agree about the MD curiosity..the whitetails I find are never curious, they're always cagey..

[bighornbob]

I’ve seen does still browsing up high in a foot of snow. Don’t think a dusting of snow up high will bring them down. Doubt any place in southern bc has a foot of snow up high in any given first week of October.

No deer around could be due to the dryness out there but nothing with migration out of the high country.

[dino]

Every mountain is different. The snow is not the determining factor as to when the deer migrate. By the 2nd or 3rd week in September there are areas in region 3 that are void of deer no matter how the weather is. Alpine areas in region 8 where they don't migrate until late December or when the snow pushes them down. all I hunt is alpine .

[Golddust]

We were at 4500ft and didn't see any in the cut blocks or on the edges of any openings. But once we decided to go after them a little more aggressively we found them deep inside the cool dark timber (blowdown galore). Essentially impenetrable.

Anyone got any suggestions on how to pacify deer once they start making the blowing sounds? F me!

Once they've blown its too late, generally. Out of frustration and knowing that they're going to leave anyways I've blown back at them. Sometimes it gets you a bit of extra time. If they don't bolt they try to circle down wind. peering through bushes/ using topography to try to get the scent or visual of what made the sound.

[Greenthumbed]

Deers were still at 7000’ on Saturday.
Elk were up over 7500’ not so long ago! Too high up for a reasonable pack out.