I hunt Vermont and from my perspective their are a couple types of deer. Farm deer and mountain deer. Farm deer are edge deer, the type you can watch in the summer in the fields and probably what most hunt in VT - and maybe NH? The smaller tracks of land that farm deer cover make them more accessable but they never seam to amaze me how they can find holes to hide in when the presure is on. None the less - they are different birds. I haven't had the luck - except to see some of these deer being dragged out and weighed in...but that's all it took and I was sold. At this point - I'd rather go home empty handed and do nothing but work these deer.

The ones I've seen are in an area with lots of limestone and are big animals and support some of the biggest racks in VT (which aint big by comparison mind you) but good enough for me. Although their are smaller deer mixed in the ones I've helped drag seamed big - more over the 200 mark and a couple over 250 dressed when said and done. These deer maybe the exact same deer but they are less molested because of their formatable surroundings and may grow bigger. I can sit for 3-4 hours when necessary but like to track and have spent a lot of time up top. There are some ridgelines and saddles up there- especially in the evergreen which make a mighty nice home - and have had good success up there.. if only seeing flags and some huge tracks. On the other hand I've started at 3:30 and hiked for two hours with a flashlight only to find that there hasn't been a big deer up high for a day and a half - pending weather mostly. Big storm or high winds and I'm looking for thier low wind protected gettaway.

Some say there are short legged deer and mountain deer/ or long-legged deer.. not sure - but at the check station or hanging you can see the difference in genetics between these deer I think - and maybe the legs are a piece of the puzzel? Don't know.

Anyway,, there are some tremendus bucks of both types - farm/mtn but most looking for the mountain variety hunt those same 2000-3000ft hills to get a proverbial "ridgerunner". For the past several years I've been hunting the "mountain" variety exclusively - mostly tracking but alot of sitting and still hunting mixed in. I'm not "lucky" and haven't scored on a big one yet but have passed some smaller bucks in the process - so that' success to me.

The loggers have the real details cause they all but live with them I'm told. I don't have that luxury as I live in the west and scout when I get there (which is via topo only). Some of the most successful mountain deer hunters in Vermont - and Maine for that matter are loggers or these guys that will push those ridgetop hideaways or work in teams maybe to get them.

Since fields are a few, the food types are different but they travel that same "under the edge" sidehill method a lot or run from the top to the bottom when moving. Think the feeding and bedding areas are different and harder to locate in the mountains.

This year I've learned that they can cover some serious ground and aren't going to go in those small circles like some of the "farm deer" I've tracked and killed.. more just tracked. The one I was after I worked for 7.5 hours the second day.. and would pick him up at some time of the day each day, sometimes jumping him up - but mostly not. About the second day he took me quartering across but with the wind - due South from his bed where I kicked him in the low evergreens, up through the hardwoods - solid beaches, then through a real mix of higher mountain hardwoods mixed with black birch to this mix of what I call tiger-whip-tails (the ones that will whip your eye out of your head) and into that stunted growth stuff on the very top.. Maybe that "shrub" is the mountain laurel..

Heard him go up there but never layed eyes on him. This small feed plant that seams to grow in all directions was covered in ice and made for a noisy approach. Know they eat the buds off it. Need to do the research to get the real name - but they like it anyway.

I have heard from old timers that have killed more big bucks than I have - all deer combined - , that some of those bucks just never come down. They can survive up there by burrying in the mountain hemlock other everygreen and blowdowns when its bad out - and never really leave their mountain hideaways except to chase doe when the rut kicks in or lastly when they get 4 days or more of just absolute hurricane winds with deep snow.. apparently that will drive them down too.

I shot at and missed one last year and am waiting for my second chance but am a believer in the "mountain variety". Think if you get one big - you can get one there. Just ramblin..

Good luck.