Slopes?

[azcouesandelk]

Ok after reading in the topic about the differences from the October and the November hunt I am wondering. I have been spotting most of my bucks on the southern facing slopes feeding. The only thing is most of these bucks have been spotted at first or last light. Are the northern facing slopes the places where they will bed down?

[Guest Ernesto C]

Younghunter, yes you'll find them in the southern side really early and/or at first light but they will move to the north to northwest side after that. The ones you see at last light came out of there too.

 

So what does this mean?? In the morning they will be in the move and you'll have a hard time trying to catch up(spelling) with them and the possibility of loosing them is great. In the evening or last light you may not have the time (darkness aproaching) to make your move so...........always be aware or keep your eyes open all around you but focus on the north-northwest areas.

 

Ernesto C

[shortpants]

North and east facing slopes provide the most shade. Afternoon hunts are best spent looking into the sun even though it is hard to see. The last hour of the day when the sun drops behind the mountain is very productive. Mornings are best spent looking in the same direction (west) trying to catch the deer leaving the feeding areas and watching which way they go to bed. You just cant beat that 1st 30 min. of light glassing in the orange glow of the morning sun!

[25-06]

Just about all the deer I glass up while they are bedded are on the north facing slopes...But Big bucks don't act like most of the deer that I glass up. My best advice to you is glass the north facing slopes but dont overlook areas that you think deer would never be in

[peloncillo]

25-06 has a good point. I know to glass on the northwest slopes but several times I've glassed some Toads bedded on fairly open east slopes. Almost like they were too lazy to walk over the ridge so they just laid down. They are out there somewhere.

 

Keven

[SunDevil]

look in the shade first thing in the morning as well. just because it is morning does not mean they will not be in the shade. have seen plenty of deer and bucks in the shade at first light. tough to glass but well worth it. CB

[Red Rabbit]

What Ernesto and Shortpants said.

I like to glass the south facing slopes first thing. Especially hit the southwest and west sides before the sun rises and you cannot glass into the sun. Make a few quick scans in the other directions also for obvious deer. When the sun forces me to glass to the north and west, I tend to follow the shade line down as the sun rises, looking more into the shade than the sunlit portions. Keep track of any saddles that may be passages between north and south.

 

In the late afternoon, I look west into the shady northeast or east side. Difficult to glass into the sun. Try to be in position at dusk as deer move from the noth bedding zones towards the feeding areas. I tend to glass shorter ranges since you probably can't get into shooting position before light fails.

 

As Keven said, deer may not make it back to the north side. Glass the cuts on the south facing slopes for deer that may be bedded in a speck of shade or a solitary tree. Two years ago November we glassed up a solitary, low-eighties buck that had bedded in the shin daggers on a open east slope.

 

Good Thread

 

Doug~RR

[AZP&Y]

This is exactly what Mr. Duwane adams said in his 1/2 day glassing lessons.

 

If you apply this concept to the landscape, simply put you will see more deer.

Mirroring what RR says, " When the sun forces me to glass to the north and west, I tend to follow the shade line down as the sun rises,

Try to be in position at dusk as deer move from the north bedding zones towards the feeding areas -

 

I was reading this and was impressed by the thread as well. My question is that I have the December hunt and will the colder mornings 20's and 30's temps delay their morning routine until their is sufficient warmth ? or will they move anyway at first light?

 

Doug

Azp&Y

[Guest Ernesto C]

Doug (Azp&Y) Yes they will follow the same rutine in December. I dont care if you are hunting the Canadian whitetail in freezing (spelling?) temperatures;they will follow the same rutine.......they dont like the sun for long periods of time.

 

Ernesto C

[mulie hunter]

That's great info, I'll be using it in October in 35a.

[missedagain]

I have to disagree that the bucks follow the same routine in Dec. Every circumstance in hunting is different of course but I have found bedded deer in Dec at first light and watched them stay bedded until the sun is all the way up and it starts to warm up, then the deer get up and become active.

[shortpants]

I live by 2 rules in hunting, 1) there are no rules and 2) they are where you find them.

[azcouesandelk]

you guys are awesome thanks for all of the replies

[bmf1321]

One thing you guys may be overlooking is wind direction and strength. While the sun does affect deer behavior, In my experiences when windy I have had success finding deer on the slopes that protect the deer from the wind. EX: west to east wind, i have found alot of deer on the east facing slopes.

[shortpants]

VERY GOOG POINT BMF1321!