Terrain Choice and Technique

What kind of terrain do you chose to hunt? Deep in the mountains? Steep and lotsa oak? Rolling hills? Ocotillo thickets? Mesquite flats?
Why do you choose it? What do you look for in that area to hold bucks, and how do you hunt that terrain? Any change in area preference from early season to the late?

Doug~RR

Rough, steep, and rocky in 32. Lots of thorns. The county I hunt also has desert bighorns. Just came back today, stayed off the trigger too long and ended up coming home empty handed. Oh well, had to cut this one short as I have an elk tag for next week.

Here's some pics of a couple spots I have hunted. I like to hunt at around 5000' elevation, below where it is too thick, and above the muley flats. I like to see oaks on the north slopes, for bedding in shade and food/mast.


This first pic is looking nortwest, so it is of the southern face. There is another peak to the right not seen that forms a good saddle with this peak. Deer feed on the south slope and move back around to the north side to bed. There point in the middle of the 700 yard wide saddle that makes a good spot to be for glassing and within shooting range before daylight and before dusk as the deer come back around to feed in the evening. THere is a tank right below where the pic is taken.
On the right side of the peak, you can see a point that allows one to glass below and to the northwest to another saddle. Deer have come around from the north side on both ends of this peak. Some have been spotted bedding in the cuts seen in the middle of the south face. One can also glass to the south and across to the oak covered north side of the ridge the pic was taken from.
Being at the picture taking spot will give a good view of the south slope and the saddle. THere are enough draws that a stalk could be made up one and hope the deer have not moved. I would prefer to be near the saddle before daylight, though.


This pic is looking southeast. In this area, I look to see deer feeding on the open ridges and bedding in the trees in the cuts. There is a tank below and to the right of this ridge.

Doug~RR

I personally prefer higher country with grass and trees (juniper, oak, mesquite, buck brush, etc) just because it is prettier but good deer can be found down in the low stuff. Specifically ocotillo thickets.

It seems that in units that offer both, there seems to be less pressure down low. Don't know if people don't like to hunt lower or don't think there are deer down there. Maybe both. Just my 2 cents. CB

Doug,
I hunt areas that look very similar to those pics. The last one looks like it is on the way up to Cedar Flats? I hunt up Clear Creek and 260 out of CV and also east of 17 before you get above Stoneman Lake. That type of terrain is awesome, and rugged. Gotta love it!!!1






It's Bush's fault!!!

Scott,
The first pic is southern AZ, and the second is NM. Drew a 6A tag several years sgo, and decided to put in down south again afterwards for better coues numbers and more open country to glass. Some good bucks in 6A are taken each year, but it's a tough hunt.

RR