When do bucks start moving?

[profj]

While on a fruitless search for high altitude elk in muzz season, I saw a metric shit ton of nice muleys (at around 11-12k altitude above treeline). Checking the points situation, I might be able to score a first rifle season tag (in CO), that's usually the second week in October. So, I'm wondering when the bucks start moving down, and what affects that, like eg. big snow early in the year?

 

[Matt5266]

Two major factors that I've noticed over the years with deer. Snow and pressure. 2 biggest factors in them moving.

 

[Greenbelt]

In my neck of the woods it seems to be the snow and real bad weather that starts the move.

 

[Marble]

For those specific deer, as soon as there is significant snow, they will move into timber and feed and bed...primarily. It basically moves them from their summer patterns. But of the snow if only inches, they will be right back, there will be less does, and continue to live, feed, and bed in the area.

My biggest bucks have been killed on those same hills. I've watched them walk in belly deep snow from a mile away and live there with barely any competition from other deer. They will put on the weight until they have to move because that grass, small shrubs on those hillsides on super high in protein.

Backstraps on those bucks have actually had fat marbling...

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[208Idaho]

Those big bucks will hang until they are pushing belly deep snow.

 

[RockAndSage]

Deep snow, and the rut.