Blue Mountain deer, how do YOU hunt them?

[MHWASH]

I'm headed to the Blues again this fall. Mostly to spend time in my wall tent and prepare for elk season.

 I've seen a few nice bucks during elk season, but this is because the rut is near. Most if not all the bucks I've seen during this time of year is from the roads. I do a lot of hiking during elk season and very rarely see bucks during elk season away from the roads.

 I'm curious if i'm better off to hunt the open hills sides doing lots of glassing, or if the mature bucks are sticking to the thick timber.

[Henrydog]

I have had Blue Mnt Mule deer success 3 times.  Each time was the same.  I was as high as I could get on the biggest hill around at sun up.  Glass each draw and then make a move once spotted.  The good think is in the morning the air is rising as it warms and you as down wind if calm out. 

[270Flat]

Big boys are solo that time of the year.  And I usually find them where you expect elk. The younger smaller deer will hang out near the road where the rest of the group lingers. More and more whitetail up higher past 10 years. Bumped into and glassed some big mountain deer all around there during elk season. Bigger solitary bucks get hit hard by the cougar population. Over the last few years the wolves, cougars and bears in the area have taken the toll on deer and elk. They are there but get big by being ghosts. 

[stew pidasso]

Thick timber, always.

[LDennis24]

C'mon everyone, more input would be nice...

[CoryTDF]

#1 There are no deer in the Blue Mountains.
#2 There are no elk in the Blue Mountains.
#3 There are no color phase bears in the Blue Mountains.
#4 There are TONS of Bigfoot in the Blue Mountains


Now that we have that all cleared up I just don't see any reason why anyone would want to come hunt over here. I ONLY hunt the blues out of convivence and noting more. You are all better served hunting elsewhere

[MHWASH]

#1 There are no deer in the Blue Mountains.
#2 There are no elk in the Blue Mountains.
#3 There are no color phase bears in the Blue Mountains.
#4 There are TONS of Bigfoot in the Blue Mountains


Now that we have that all cleared up I just don't see any reason why anyone would want to come hunt over here. I ONLY hunt the blues out of convivence and noting more. You are all better served hunting elsewhere

We ran out of deer on the Palouse, so I had to widen my horizons.

[LDennis24]

#1 There are no deer in the Blue Mountains.
#2 There are no elk in the Blue Mountains.
#3 There are no color phase bears in the Blue Mountains.
#4 There are TONS of Bigfoot in the Blue Mountains

  He's right, that's why I'm not seeing anymore reliable responses isn't it!

Did I ever mention my wife's family has a cabin out there on Dexter Ridge? I've been ansy to try some deer hunting up there but wasn't sure how to tackle it yet. I've seen some nice bucks but never been there during hunting season. C'mon everyone, more details...

[emac]

I am pretty sure when I see your rig parked during elk season you are napping and not hiking 🤣

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[MHWASH]

I am pretty sure when I see your rig parked during elk season you are napping and not hiking 🤣

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

an old timer once told me to find a comfortable place to sit and wait for the elk to come to you.

[emac]

I am pretty sure when I see your rig parked during elk season you are napping and not hiking 🤣

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

an old timer once told me to find a comfortable place to sit and wait for the elk to come to you.

Well those are wise words. I guess I will have to try it this year.  I will just park right next to you.😎

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Magnum_Willys]

You can’t get close to big deer in the timber pre-rut so your only option is get on a hillside and glass.   Pre-rut you only have day break and maybe mid-day water trips that they are out.   Find a spot, sit.   Try another spot 2moro.  Repeat. 

[stew pidasso]

You can’t get close to big deer in the timber pre-rut so your only option is get on a hillside and glass.   Pre-rut you only have day break and maybe mid-day water trips that they are out.   Find a spot, sit.   Try another spot 2moro.  Repeat.

I have to disagree with this a bit. I know you don't mean you can't get close to big deer ever, ever. It's just very hard. What I can say is in my experiences I have almost always ran in to bucks in the timber pre rut, and shot quit a few big ones. I never hunt open hillsides anymore, I still glass them but prefer slow walking the old growth timber. So many times I've cought them slipping away quietly from catching my sent or movement before I saw them. Believe this or not but there is a certain style, type, spacing of timber that I like that when I get into it I know that within 8 hrs + - I will jump a buck. Crazy huh, never fails me. Over the years I have fine tuned my hunting that works for me and upped my opportunities by a considerable amount. MHWASH, put your ghostfeet on and try it for a few days. Good luck and shoot straight.
By the way @Magnum_Willys, wasn't it you a few years ago that we both had spring bear tags and you found my daughter and I out sawtooth? Never heard if you connected.