Questions about high country

[fishunt247]

I've spent very few days scouting/hunting the high country (I pretty much just hunt the sagebrush), and have a few questions for those that actually do hunt up there.
#1: Last year I found bucks around 6000 feet, with no does up there. It seemed that all of the smaller doe and fawn tracks were way down lower at the bottom of the trail. Yesterday I went out around 5200 feet, saw one doe and lots of doe/fawn tracks. Question is, if I'm finding does am I too low for this time of year?
#2: Does a basin/canyon need to have a spring and/or quite a bit of green grass for feed? The basin that I found bucks in last year had both, and the basin I looked in yesterday was very open on the south slopes and very rocky/cliffy with small pockets of timber, with the north slopes being very timbered. Didn't look like there was much of anything to feed on, at least compared to where I found the bucks last year.
Thanks for all of those who have a little info. 

[400out]

Ok your on the right track, for the early hunt yes you will have to get up away from the does the bucks will be up high getting as far away from the bugs that eat at thier antlers until they shed the velvet, besides that your ding good just find water (doesn;t have to be much) and food then open your glasses and watch 

[fishunt247]

Thanks. I'm not hunting the early high hunt though. I muzzleload for deer, and I'm thinking general muzzleloader season, so end of Sept. through early Oct. But summer scouting as well (even though that's basically over).

[Lowedog]

Why not go back to where you found bucks last year? 

[fishunt247]

I might. But it's a very small basin, more easily accessible than I'd like, and very near a very popular area with hunters and hikers. And why not have more than one place? I always try to have multiple options, and I love scouting out new areas for everything I hunt. Change of scenery.

[coachcw]

have you high hunters found more bucks on thr nortyh or south slopes , I know the south slopes are key late.?