Colorado unit 41/421

Hey guys first time post on the forum. I drew my first Colorado mule deer tag this year. Unit 41/42/421. I've hunted blacktail since I was a kid and have no experience with mule deer. I was looking at the grand mesa nf but have not narrowed any particular spot yet.

Can anyone give me info on the area? Looks heavily timbered from Google earth. Any glassing opportunities or will I have better success still hunting? My experience with blacktail has taught me to get high and glass transition areas early and late in day. Should i use these tactics with mule deer? Hunt will be 3rd season and I'm sure weather will dictate the elevation I hunt. Should I start by focusing high or look mid to low with any weather. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I will have an ATV with me and I plan to do allot of hiking with possible spike camps depending on weather.

Thanks for your time!

Look up the Colorado hunting atlas. Click on Mule deer, and zoom into your hunting area. Focus your efforts on the Winter range areas, and transition areas to the Winter range. The rut will be getting started and the deer will start dropping to the lower country during this time, regardless of weather. Snow will help

Thanks for the info. I have looked at the atlas a couple times. I will check it again. Have you hunted the grand mesa nf before? How is it for glassing? Seems to be quite a bit of blm between the units also. Im kinda partial to the backcountry but I've had good success on blm land with blacktail.

I haven't hunted those units, but I will be in 421 chasing Moose with my Bow in Sept. Just offering general advice for 3rd season on the Western slope, that can be applied to any unit.
Good luck on your hunt!

BR, I sent you a PM.