Look for Preferred Food Sources

In August and September, the bucks will be visible for forty-five minutes to an hour after daybreak. By mid-October, the grasses and forbes that made up the majority of the deer’s summer diets begin to dry up, and new food sources are found. Now the period of early-morning activity is reduced to fifteen minutes, and being where the bucks are at dawn is critical.

 

Very few deer will be found near mountain peaks. However, what deer we do find are usually big mature males. Every year, hunters rush to the high country for early season bucks. They believe that bucks seek out higher elevations to avoid the late summer heat. Deer migrate to higher elevations in response to preferred feed, not to stay cool. An abundant supply of feed for the deer is crucial regardless of where you hunt. Many hunters have spent weeks in the high country and never laid eyes on a deer. Check to make sure there is a preferred food source at the elevation you plan to hunt before you spend your entire season looking into empty basins.

Jim
More on food sources 

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