How high is High Country?

[heritagehd]

I'm new to mule deer hunting and in all my research so far I haven't come across a solid answer to this. Is it a certain elevation or more based on the terrain?

Possibly a dumb question........

 

[wildwilderness]

What are you asking? Are you trying to figure out if you are planning a “high” country hunt? I would say it is very relative. In Colorado “high country” probably starts about 9-10,000’ while in AK would be 1,500’. I guess you can say it’s near timberline if the state has country above. Otherwise you can just say it’s “higher” than the rest of the area.

 

[MuleyFever]

Above timberline to me.

 

[heritagehd]

What are you asking? Are you trying to figure out if you are planning a “high” country hunt? I would say it is very relative. In Colorado “high country” probably starts about 9-10,000’ while in AK would be 1,500’. I guess you can say it’s near timberline if the state has country above. Otherwise you can just say it’s “higher” than the rest of the area.

Yes, I guess I'm asking about what I'm planning and what guidance I should be following. All the tactics I've been reading about are geared towards "high county" mule deer hunting. If I draw I'll be in the southwest areas of Wyoming's Y region which seems to top out around 7k and looks more like open lands. Is this considered high country?

 

[Jake Larsen]

Yes, I guess I'm asking about what I'm planning and what guidance I should be following. All the tactics I've been reading about are geared towards "high county" mule deer hunting. If I draw I'll be in the southwest areas of Wyoming's Y region which seems to top out around 7k and looks more like open lands. Is this considered high country?

Not "high country" at all for WY, but many of the same tactics will apply in that area. Lots of open country there.

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[idahohikker]

Is you’re not hunting high country, are you even mule deer hunting?

Deer are where you find them and if you use good strategies you’ll be successful.

 

[NUGGET]

Actually high country is anything above 8,529 feet.

 

[Jake Larsen]

Is you’re not hunting high country, are you even mule deer hunting?

Deer are where you find them and if you use good strategies you’ll be successful.

Seems like what the OP was getting at was that he's not experienced at all with mule deer hunting, so he's wondering if all the "high country" tactics and hype also apply to other areas/zones. And as you said, good strategies for mule deer are good strategies no matter where they are living.

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[bohntr]

Above timberline

 

[heritagehd]

Is you’re not hunting high country, are you even mule deer hunting?

As crazy and laughable as that sounds I almost feel that way. As you could probably tell I'm totally new - every book, article, and show ive watched all label it that way. If our group is successful I'll make a post on low country hunting

 

[heritagehd]

Seems like what the OP was getting at was that he's not experienced at all with mule deer hunting, so he's wondering if all the "high country" tactics and hype also apply to other areas/zones. And as you said, good strategies for mule deer are good strategies no matter where they are living.

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Thanks, Jake. You're correct - totally new here and just trying to make sense of it all.

 

[idahohikker]

As crazy and laughable as that sounds I almost feel that way. As you could probably tell I'm totally new - every book, article, and show ive watched all label it that way. If our group is successful I'll make a post on low country hunting

It’s a fad. It’s cool but there’s other good options to hit as well. Come November you won’t be in the high country and that’s a heck of a time to be hunting rutty mule deer.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Others have answered the “high country” question, so I’ll leave it be. But there is nothing that screams mule deer hunting more than sage brush flats, deep draws, and high winds in the open prairie. Is high country cool? Heck yeah! Is it the only cool place to kill mule deer? No way.

it’s kinda like big elk... some of the biggest bulls come out of the desert. Ive always wanted to get a desert bull, just like I’m still looking for a velvet muley above tree line.

 

[Jake Larsen]

Others have answered the “high country” question, so I’ll leave it be. But there is nothing that screams mule deer hunting more than sage brush flats, deep draws, and high winds in the open prairie. Is high country cool? Heck yeah! Is it the only cool place to kill mule deer? No way.

it’s kinda like big elk... some of the biggest bulls come out of the desert. Ive always wanted to get a desert bull, just like I’m still looking for a velvet muley above tree line.

Mule deer are just freakin cool animals. I'm obsessed with them no matter where they live

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[flemdogg]

I believe "High Country" is dependent on what range you are in. The southern, central, northern, and canadian rockies are all different. Consider the Cascades or Sierras as well, interesting to think about for sure.

 

[Bull_n_heat]

It all depends on how many YouTube followers you are looking to get. Try to incorporate the word "Backcountry" too for added appeal.

 

[switchback00]

Where you find deer is probably high enough


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[heritagehd]

Appreciate all the responses

 

[gumbl3]

Seems like people who figure out whatever terrain they choose to hunt tend to do well. Big deer live in all types of terrain

great answer!

 

[Bull_n_heat]

Smart-@**ing aside, I tend to think of "high country" deer as those that have a migratory component. The "high country" phase is when they have seasonally set up shop for several months in areas that are relatively high for their annual cycle. In Wyoming, this could be 9000+', Colorado 11-14,000', or other elevations that are covered in snow in the winter but have relatively lush forage later into the summer.