Too early to scout?

[ida homer]

When do you guys think that a majority of the deer make it back up to their summer range? I've always waited until July and August to scout, not sure why.

We all spend a lot of time thinking about when the deer and elk migrate down in the Fall and study weather patterns etc. But the topic of them migrating back up and their staging is interesting to me. What do you guys think?

 

[grizzly_]

I was near the high-country I hunt deer in earlier today. There were a few elk tracks, but the deer aren't up there yet. I'm thinking I have another 3-4 weeks before I can do much scouting.

 

[mtmuley]

Antler growth isn't complete till sometime around the end of August or so. mtmuley

 

[Art Vandeley]

I found some bucks up on the peak of our mountain range last weekend, but it is only about 7,000 ft. Antler growth isn't enough to tell how good they will be until early-mid July in my opinion.

 

[2rocky]

I think it is going to vary based year to year and location to location based on:
Snowline
Greenup
Bugs

In a mountain range that goes from 6000 in the foothills to 10,000 in the passes with 12,000 ft peaks, the trails still had snow on them on the north facing slopes with drifts 6 ft deep. That was on 4th of July weekend. It was tough for me to get to country the deer were in already.

Even in August, the bucks are chilling on snowbanks.

So I'd go as early as I could go, as far as I could go , and still be looking up the ridge. I was amazed at the deer and elk tracks in the trails in Early July.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Now is not really the time to go to your A & B spots and look for big bucks. That doesn't mean you can't go to some new spots and see if they look as good as they did in your head or on a map. You don't need to see animals to be scouting.

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

My wife says it's too early to scout or talk about going anywhere hunting related. She's mad b/c she just found out that the actual hunting season starts in August this year. Whoopsy

 

[ida homer]

My wife says it's too early to scout or talk about going anywhere hunting related. She's mad b/c she just found out that the actual hunting season starts in August this year. Whoopsy

She has half of summer to get over it...

I'm getting pretty antsy already, although I should probably wait till some horns come in a bit better. I feel like I can never scout enough because before you know it it's mid august and archery is starting up the 30th.

From my observations they don't seem to migrate back up in droves like how they come down in late fall. It seems like it's more of a stage back up thing following the snow line in that particular area. At least with the bucks and bulls. I wonder how long the cows/does wait post birth to head back up to higher elevations. Just kind of thinking out loud here.

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

I'm not too knowledgeable on the high country, but it would be fun to get out to do some camping and hiking to get into shape. Thermometer on my truck said 108 yesterday so anywhere else sounds pretty good about now.

 

[Phaseolus]

Scouting is just another reason to go to the hills. Why wait?

 

[mtmuley]

I like to get into the hills myself. Just know the deer you find now, may not be doing the same things in 3 months. mtmuley