Ridge in High Desert Country

[83mulligan]

Hey all, I'm confused on how to hunt a ridge that runs through a piece of private that I'm hunting this year. It runs pretty much North/South. The ridge is about 200 to ft. higher than the area below and has pine growth on top. East and west of the ridge are sage flats and draws/coulees. The ridge runs a mile and a half on the property and is pretty carved and broken on the south end. I'm not a real experienced mule deer hunter. I know I need to get high and glass the flats and coulees, but I'm also wondering if the best bucks might be right on the ridge i'm climbing to get elevation. I access the ridge from the north. Help please.

 

[83mulligan]

A little more info. It's an October 1 Rifle Hunt and it's private land so there should not be much pressure on the herd at all.

 

[83mulligan]

So, what's the best strategy? I'm thinking of getting up on the ridge on the north end and glassing west in the morning/east in the evening, then moving down the ridge a half mile or so a day until I find good deer movement. My confusion comes with.......will the biggest bucks likely be bedding up on the ridge itself in the pines? I won't be able to see much of the ridge if I'm up on it. Help me out, experienced Muley Hunters! Thanks in advance.