Alta Late season muzzy

[Thanny78]

Evening All, headed over the eastside this weekend for a family camping trip to Silverline. Also going to start our scouting in the Alta for the late season quality muzzy tag that my brother drew. We have spent years hunting gardner and pearrygin GMU's but not a substantial amount of time in the Alta.
Not looking for a handout but if someone could point us in a place to start I would definitely appreciate it. Reading past post though it appears that this could be a bust since all the wolves may have chased the deer out of the 242...

Thanks a bunch,
Nathaniel.

[4T]

Wolves have definitely made an impact on the herd up there but there is still good hunting. Can be foggy, but there are lots of areas to glass.

[stickbuck]

Even with wolves, if you get snow you will see a good amount of deer. The fog will be your biggest issue. Your scouting trip should focus on finding all your public access points that are down low. Once the snow hit on the final two days of the hunt, the deer finally started showing up, but the fog really made it difficult.

[BoomWhop]

Anyone getting excited for this tag?   

[WAcoyotehunter]

I am excited for it!  I drew it this year.

[Jrzbullelk]

pm sent

[BoomWhop]

It is a interesting tag.  I have drawn it twice.  We did not see monster bucks around every tree.  Lol. Pray for snow and for the fog to stay away.

[huntnphool]

Great tag, congrats Wacoyote

[boneaddict]

It's gone way down hill, but still some big ole buggers around. congrats!

[WAcoyotehunter]

Thanks!  I intend to do some good scouting and spend the whole season there looking for a big one!

[boneaddict]

Scouting won't help you much other than to learn the roads, private property, and a place to camp.   One day there won't be a deer there, the next day there will be a pile of them.  Any animals you will want will be migratory.

You'll enjoy that time of year there.

[BoomWhop]

Scouting won't help you much other than to learn the roads, private property, and a place to camp.   One day there won't be a deer there, the next day there will be a pile of them.  Any animals you will want will be migratory.

You'll enjoy that time of year there.

Don't scout too high. Neither year were we able to get all the way to black pine lake.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I'd love to have that one.  Past peak rut probably, but still actively rutting.  Find 6-8" snow depth and use that as a starting point.  If there's no snow, start locating doe groups and make a circuit hitting as many of those as you can; if the weather doesn't change chances are they will be within 1/4-1/2 mile of where you found them last time.  Focus on, in order:

1.  Doe groups with a mature buck in the group and visible (this means there is a doe in estrus or will be shortly).  Assuming you aren't interested in that buck, still worth checking back as a more dominant buck my displace him for breeding rights.
2.  Doe groups with no visible buck and multiple young bucks 100-400 yards away (this means there is a dominant buck keeping them away, but not so close to a breeding opportunity he's wasting energy chasing away the teenagers).  This is where quality glass comes in handy.  Check out every low spot, clump of brush, etc.  You are looking for an antler tip, a hoof, an ear, an eye. 
3.  Doe groups with no visible buck (may be same scenario as above, but the young fellas are off chasing other whiffs of perfume)
3.  Doe groups with young bucks in the group being stupid (no imminent breeding opportunity, these guys are flexing for the ladies with little chance of breeding). 

[WAcoyotehunter]

Scouting won't help you much other than to learn the roads, private property, and a place to camp.   One day there won't be a deer there, the next day there will be a pile of them.  Any animals you will want will be migratory.

You'll enjoy that time of year there.

Don't scout too high. Neither year were we able to get all the way to black pine lake.

I'd love to have that one.  Past peak rut probably, but still actively rutting.  Find 6-8" snow depth and use that as a starting point.  If there's no snow, start locating doe groups and make a circuit hitting as many of those as you can; if the weather doesn't change chances are they will be within 1/4-1/2 mile of where you found them last time.  Focus on, in order:

1.  Doe groups with a mature buck in the group and visible (this means there is a doe in estrus or will be shortly).  Assuming you aren't interested in that buck, still worth checking back as a more dominant buck my displace him for breeding rights.
2.  Doe groups with no visible buck and multiple young bucks 100-400 yards away (this means there is a dominant buck keeping them away, but not so close to a breeding opportunity he's wasting energy chasing away the teenagers).  This is where quality glass comes in handy.  Check out every low spot, clump of brush, etc.  You are looking for an antler tip, a hoof, an ear, an eye. 
3.  Doe groups with no visible buck (may be same scenario as above, but the young fellas are off chasing other whiffs of perfume)
3.  Doe groups with young bucks in the group being stupid (no imminent breeding opportunity, these guys are flexing for the ladies with little chance of breeding). 

Good advice guys!!  Thank you!!!  I am open to any tips or advice as I have not done much late deer hunting.

[huntnphool]

WAcoyote, your inbox is full.