just started hunting in the george washington national forest in Va. I am not used to such steep terrain. You can either hunt deep valleys/creekbeds, mountaing tops (~3000 ft), or the sides of the mountains (very steep with few benches). Is there a typical place that deer would reside in such terrain. Do they travel on the sides of these steep mountains even though there are very few benches? I just don't know where to start.

I would try sitting on the benches and saddles to see if they are crossing through there. Just being out in there and scouting is the only surefire way to tell.