What is your favorite tactic for hunting public land deer in the mountains?

Still hunting hardwood ridges.......sneak and peek. Keep the wind in your face and work the ridge side to side glassing down hill. Slow and steady......with many stops.

What ron w said.

I like to leave myself plenty of time to get to my spot well before the sun comes up.

I usually leave the road in my long johns as not to overheat. I add layers as needed. I also have trees with steps already installed and pack my lightweight Loc on stand.

"Walk little, Look much" Deer will bed NEAR the top of ridges just high enough to see a ways, without skylining themselves. Look for deer PARTS, not deer.

Get above the tree line and look into the trees for them.

Wait high just off the crest of the ridge, but not on the ridge, in the morning and catch them going over the top to bed down...in the afternoon I can do the same and catch them doing the opposite.  It's sometimes hit or miss where they pop up but it's usually action.

RAMPS!!--that travel quartering the slope--the longer the ramp the more deer will use it

Great feedback everyone!

Find a "Saddle" between 2 ridges or knobs, and sit there...
Always find deer trails in saddles!

I'll second what Bamboo said.