Jimmy S: Most of my hunting up until the mid '70's concentrated on the Southern Tier/ Western NY farmlands. Lots of deer. I still do quite a bit of bowhunting here/there, but majority of my gun hunting is done in the Adirondacks, High peaks region.
My first two years hunting the mountains, I used the same methods as the other regions, sitting. It only took me two seasons to realize, you could sit for a week in the Mtns. and not see a deer, let alone a mature buck. THAT is when I started to learn how to still hunt effectively. Up there, you have to go find them on any given day.
Just as in New Hampshire, for the most part, there's not an overt amount of sign, but they're there. Very few actual deer trails leading from bedding/feeding areas. Amazing how you can hunt all day, not see a deer, snows that night, and a day later, looks like the Rawhide cattle drive came through.
One thing about the Mtns., extremely difficult to pattern deer. They pretty much go where they want, when they want. There are some rules of thumb to follow regarding THOSE deer, but bottom line, you have to find them each day. Might be 2 miles from the tent, might be 1/4 mile. You never know.
So, yes, styles need to be adjusted, if you want to be successful on a consistent basis. W hen I discovered hunting in the Adirondacks, I discovered HUNTING.
