when to start scouting?

Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
418
Location
bend, oregon
Hoping Robby Denning will chime in on this one. I Have an area that I have found BIG bucks in july and august but havnt hunted it yet due to timing. What is a good time to start scouting this area for quality bucks. I have seen bucks up here in multiple years but do they stick around into september? These are not desert bucks. These are big bucks above timberline. Will high mountain muley bucks stick to their summer areas through september? I want to bivy hunt this for big bucks the first week of september this season.
 
A good rule I've always followed throughout most of the high country is the bucks start coming down the last week of September first week of October. If the weather stays warm they might stay up higher later. But it's hard to say area depends of when bucks move if they winter along ways aways they will start moving earlier. Some areas in Colorado I've heard if buck staying up high until the end of October. Hunting pressure can make them move down into the thick trees. It's a tough call an area I've hunted the last few year I've seen them up high but this year all the big buck where down lower. That's why we love hunting mule deer as soon as we think we have them figured out they do something that lives us scratching our head.
 
matt,
being that you've seen them multiple years, I'd be all over that place. I'd hunt it as early in September as allowed (bow season is best as you can start in August). Short of a freak snowstorm or guys spooking them, I'd be amazed if they weren't close by. 1Heath is right that its always a gamble, but they should be around. Keep us posted.
 
Thanks guys. I've seen multiple 165ish bucks up there in July and one monster that was 200 if he was an inch the day before season 4 years go but just havnt had time to hunt it. Taking the first week this year for deer if I find them there during summer scouting.
 
Back
Top