I hunted 124 last year late rifle because my typical 127 spots got crushed by blue tongue. The deer seemed to survive way better up in the mountains.
Anyway, I saw a ton of deer in private fields, but they bed up in the timber lands for cover. There's plenty of deer, bear, and especially cougar in 124 so make sure you have all the tags.
Hike in is great, less competition. I hiked in to IEP land last November and shot my buck, didn't see another soul all day, had the mountain to myself.
Good luck dude!