Whitetail Question

[OutHouse]

I hunt near a lot of private land that borders the National Forest in a mixed whitetail/mule deer unit. I have had some success getting whitetails on the public ground above the private property, however, it is abundantly clear to me that the whitetails tend to stay in very small ranges in the private land below. My question is what is driving them up to slightly higher elevations? They seem to have plenty of food and cover below but they occasionally head up the mountain (where I need them to be). I get these rare opportunities where bam all of a sudden they are up in my area but there doesn't seem to be anything driving them off the private land. Is there some reason(s) that would help me better pattern their behavior?

Any and all comments/observations welcomed on this point and on whitetail behavior in general. Thanks.

[Lucky1]

At the risk of stating the obvious , here are a couple thoughts .
They move around a lot more during the rut.
The food sources change.
Predators you might not be aware of like cougars may be making them move.
Human activity.

[idaho guy]

At the risk of stating the obvious , here are a couple thoughts .
They move around a lot more during the rut.
The food sources change.
Predators you might not be aware of like cougars may be making them move.
Human activity.

   


That about sums it up! It would be one of those i would bet if you are hunting anywhere close to the timing of the rut that’s it

[nwwanderer]

They do need space, as the population of whitetail increases you will find them in new areas regularly. Years ago we would only find them in the bottoms and living right with us.  Now they are on the top of the mountain, a 1500 foot elevation difference with no permanent people on top.  The rut certainly puts bucks on the move but their non rut areas are even smaller than the does.  Lots of conflict with whitetail, much more than mule deer.

[OutHouse]

Thanks for the replies. I have not been able to hunt them in this unit in the rut unfortunately. When they are in the rut, I have seen the big guys out cruising for does without a care in the world. The same big ones that I'd get on a cam but be lucky to ever see in person.