Mule Deer When the Snow Fly’s High

[trophyhill]

For those who hunt and have hunted in the snow, what is the general pattern of movement as the snow depths increase at high elevation 11k+ and gradually starts accumulating down to say 8500’? Talk to me about your strategies leading up too and into the rut.

 

[Poser]

I have not yet figured out this strategy because the Muleys seem to just file into town and hang out on golf courses, college campuses and HOA neighborhoods.

 

[PathFinder]

Once upon a time, I attempted to generalize rules about mule deer migration based on weather. Basically, if it snows X", or at a certain date, the mature bucks will do Y. What I've found is that there are no rules that apply universally across all regions or even from one adjacent mountain range to another. Some herds migrate early regardless of weather, some will stay as long as possible.
Some factors to consider:

• How far is the winter range?
• Do they utilize transition ground, or go straight to winter range without stopping?
• Does weather drive buck movement first, or is it the rut?
• What is the quality of winter vs summer range?
• Does hunting pressure affect deer migration? Do they move to seek refuge in big chunks of private?

I've found that all of those factors affect their patterns. It's something that has to be found through experience in each area. I try to identify corridors and focus on them immediately after what I think will be a storm that forces migration. Glass for tracks, and trends in major trails. Over a period of 3 years or so a pretty good picture will start to come together.

 

[Wapiti1]

Pathfinder has a similar take on it that I do. It is very dependent on the area. I hunt one area where the deer stay high well into December, but they have a lot of browse in that mountain range. No need to come down until they really have to.

In another, the does are all low by mid-October, and the bucks are at or a bit above mid-mountain and they don't come down until the rut. They'll plow through belly deep snow mid-November on the way down. Again, there is enough to eat up high, so they stay.

One other area is pretty dry, and all the deer move down at the first hint of snow, or by the first of November at the latest. There isn't anything up high to eat after it freezes. The bucks stay higher, but not like in the first two areas.

Jeremy