When do Mulies Leave the High Country?

DreaminOf200 · Oct 28, 2011

Hey guys, I'm curious to know anyone's thoughts on what causes mule deer to leave the high country. Is it temperature? Snow? Or just a mental calendar that tells the deer to start the migration?

I've hunted the high country several times and in different states, but we almost exclusively put in for early season tags when we know the bucks will be up high. Lately I have been debating on whether or not I want to try hunting a different season to change up my draw odds and weapon choice.

As an example, a muzzleloader hunt takes place in early Sept. Most of this hunt would be done at over 11,000'. A second rifle hunt in the same unit takes place at the end of Oct. and takes fewer points to draw. I would love to hunt the same country more frequently (with an easier weapon to boot), but I'm worried the deer may be gone by the time the hunt starts. Is it all dependent on the weather, or would most of the deer be out of the high country by the end of Oct. no matter what?

I know I could always find lower country within the unit, but I don't have much experience hunting that way. Call me stubborn, but I thoroughly enjoy the 'high country' hunting methods and would prefer to continue to hunt that way, as I simply have more confidence.

I'm 1000 miles away from the closest mule deer country I hunt, so I can't exactly make frequent trips to learn this information first hand, although I wish I could! Thanks in advance for anybody's $.02, and sorry for the long post fellas...

gb22 · Oct 28, 2011

I assume all of the things you mentioned are factors....but something called genetic-herd memory (the term used by the F&G biologists who described it to me) comes into play.

A little west of Sun Valley is a back-country area that holds good deer numbers all summer. By the time the season opens, the deer have migrated OUT.

It's NOT due to deep snow. It's just something they do.

The biologists told me the herd didn't leave that early just 20 years ago. They said, it seems that the deer are leaving about a day earlier every two or three years. They had no explanation other than to say, the "lead animals" had left early once (probably caused by an early snow) and had gotten into a habit.

It sounds odd but it's true. It's almost weird...to spend a week in PERFECT country and see no deer...lots of old tracks and lots of elk...but the deer have gone lower. It's only about 9,000.

Within the shadows, go quietly.

DreaminOf200 · Oct 29, 2011

GB, thanks for the response. I had always been under the impression that the calendar played a stronger influence on when the deer started to head lower than the weather, but wanted to get others opinions. As I said, I haven't been able to spend enough time in the high country when that transition starts to have any first-hand experience.

Would be more than happy to listen to anyone else's opinions or experiences! Thanks!

travishunter3006 · Oct 29, 2011

I agree with the first post. I have hunted the extended archery deer hunt in Utah for a few years and have listened to people say that the snow needs to push the deer down low, etc. But every year, even with 3 ft of snow up high, I find the big buffers are still up there. I think it really has a lot to do with a built in bio calendar more so than just weather, etc. Just my experience.

It was a big bodied 2 point. (this is my signature)

bowhunt · Oct 30, 2011

It is largely dependent on the area and the deer habits in that area.
Studies have been done on the Pansagaunt deer that leave very early and for what seems like no reason.
I have hunted some late hunts in Idaho and chased bucks in waist deep snow at high altitude.
Snow and cold eventually drive deer lower...but habits and genetics seem to play a larger role.

SanJuan · Oct 30, 2011

I would agree with the other posts but would add that where I live and hunt this is specific to small areas and small herds. I live at 7800' and have hundreds of deer on my land until the middle of Oct at which point they disappear, snow or not. I work at 9-10,000 feet and consistently see rutting deer in this area until late Dec with 1-2 feet of snow on the ground. Keep in mind this is all in the same gmu.

liecabucks · Oct 30, 2011

I just got the Christansens hunting mag today and there is a great read in it about pre-rut and migration activity. It helped me understand things a little better.

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high, keep your eyes fixed to where the trail meets the sky...

kingfish · Oct 30, 2011

I believe deer follow food...When certain foods dry up they move to the next available source and that has a lot to do with seasonal changes. Heavy snow will move deer but I think it's more about following the food availability. Just my opinion.

Government doesn't fix anything and has spent trillions proving it!!!
Let's face it...After Monday and Tuesday, even the calender says WTF!