High Hunt question regarding elevation

[tbrady]

Hey Guys,

Was talking to a good friend yesterday that has done the high hunt for the last 20 years or so.  He said they consistently saw muleys at 6k or higher, sometimes even 7k.  A typical situation was for them to be camped around 5k or a bit higher in the valley floor;  they start glassing with the spotting scopes most of the ones they saw were a good 1k or more above them looking down.  He said it made it very difficult to put a stalk on them.  The strategy that seemed to work better was for them to climb up 2k before daylight (usually at around 7k) and try to spot one from above and work down to it.

I was a bit surprised to hear they were so high.  I've done the high hunt a few times over the years but I mainly concentrated under 6k.  Just curious what other people have experienced.  This would be in the ALW and GPW primarily.

thanks!

[brocka]

Your friend is right! People often under estimate places where these bucks will hang out. We always say "when you find the goats, look higher".

[mazama]

I was at 5000ft started glassing high ridges where i had seen goats,spotted does and fawns in terrain and elevation that i would not go in,you would need rope to go to some areas deer hang in.

[Skyvalhunter]

They are at different elevations. The deer just stick out more at the higher elevations due to less brush, trees, etc. Some of the larger ones will go way up high with their backs against the cliffs as this offers the best views for any on coming danger. I wouldn't be inclined to go up there 2 hours before daylight though.

[JM]

I camp high and glass from there. Saves the unnecessary hiking. You'll find deer from the tops of peaks to the valley bottom. It just depends on the time of the year, weather and pressure to where you'll see bucks. I usually see where they bed and try to plan my stalk from there.

Not saying this is the right way to do it, but it works for me.