Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: DoubleJ on April 19, 2010, 11:04:23 AM

Title: What elevation should I look at?
Post by: DoubleJ on April 19, 2010, 11:04:23 AM: in relation to the snow level, where should I look for deer, in north central or north eastern washington, in general terms so to speak. This will be my first year hunting over there and I'd like to know where to start looking. If there is snow on the ground at say 5000 ft, should I be down at 4500? Lower, higher? If it's like other places I've hunted, the snow will drive the deer lower so, if there was snow on the ground at 3500 ft, I'd need to be hunting 3000-2500ft range. Does the same hold true here?

Thanks
Title: Re: What elevation should I look at?
Post by: sandythebowtotenmama on April 19, 2010, 03:33:50 PM: I always go to the snow and look for tracks, see which way they are going.
Title: Re: What elevation should I look at?
Post by: AKBowman on April 19, 2010, 10:20:27 PM: I would go to where the deer where at. Works out best
Title: Re: What elevation should I look at?
Post by: DoubleJ on April 20, 2010, 09:48:53 AM: Quote from: AKBowman on April 19, 2010, 10:20:27 PM
I would go to where the deer where at. Works out best

Hey, good idea. Maybe I'll give that a try :sas:
Title: Re: What elevation should I look at?
Post by: boneaddict on April 20, 2010, 10:20:45 AM: Honestly...snow on the ground really doesn't effect them much unless its in Quantity, so really your question is irrelevant and the answer you got from AKbowman was closer to truth than being smart ass.
Title: Re: What elevation should I look at?
Post by: DoubleJ on April 20, 2010, 11:14:00 AM: OK. Sorry about the smart ass comment
Title: Re: What elevation should I look at?
Post by: AKBowman on April 20, 2010, 02:19:45 PM: Quote from: DoubleJ on April 20, 2010, 11:14:00 AM
OK. Sorry about the smart ass comment

It's OK I got thick skin :tung: really though theres too many factors to say. Sometimes if its an early snow the deer will stick in it up to thier chests, other times they'll move way down below. If theres nothing for them to eat they wont be there meaning if they hang up high in early fall and it snows early they wont necessarily move to just below the snow line, if theres no food for them in that area they might just move right into thier wintering areas early b/c that is where the feed is (up high in early summer/ low in winter and not much in between) If there is feed in between then they will feed and hang there until the snow pushes them down or they rut.

If you're hunting during the rut just follow the does. If theres does there will be BUCKS!

the key might be to hunt an area where you know there historically has been good deer #'s than scout and hunt and get out as much as possible before /during /after the season to find out where the deer in that particular area go depending on the weather/time of year/pressure etc.

Get to know the deer in your area and the general patterns and you can "just go to where the deer are" too!