Too Windy to Hunt?

Texas State DU · 11-14-2006, 04:30 PM

Tonight we are getting a strong cold front and much cooler temps, it was 87 today. The downside is that the winds will be from the NW at 20-30 with gusts of 50mph.

My question is that too windy to hunt and will the birds be out flying in the morning??

johnch · 11-14-2006, 09:14 PM

Find some water that is partly protected .
Place your decoys so they are mostly in the protected water and hunker down .
Wind makes the ducks fly low and will land in any protected areas .
With no circling , they see the decoys and comitt .
Even before you see them some times .
Have to flush them to shoot them ( NO water swatting for me !!!!)

I would set my decoys close to the cattails and call some

I have hunted in thunder storms with 30 - 50 MPH gusts that produced white caps on the 2 acre hole I was hunting .
20 yds from the decoys there were WAVES , but I cound not keep the duck out of my decoys

Enjoy

Johnch

jmatura · 11-15-2006, 09:40 AM

The only reason it is ever to windy to hunt ducks would be for safety reasons when you have to boat to your hunting spot.

But otherwise high winds often mean great duck hunting.

1) For what ever reason strong winds (above 20mph) stir ducks up and get em flying. This is a good weather event to make the most of your success for the birds your area is currently holding.

2) Strong NW winds most often mean new ducks will coming, if the area they are leaving also is having strong NW winds.

Good Hunting,
Jeff Matura
TakeEm.com

SwampCollie · 11-15-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: johnch

Find some water that is partly protected .
Place your decoys so they are mostly in the protected water and hunker down .
Wind makes the ducks fly low and will land in any protected areas .
With no circling , they see the decoys and comitt .
Even before you see them some times .
Have to flush them to shoot them ( NO water swatting for me !!!!)

I would set my decoys close to the cattails and call some

Absolutely great advice! Couldn't agree more. As long as you can find some leeward shelter, you can have a great hunt.

Texas State DU · 11-15-2006, 07:07 PM

Well I follwed the advice and had a great day. 1 Gadwall 2 Teal 1 Pintail and 2 other ducks that I have never seen before

SwampCollie · 11-16-2006, 06:46 AM

Thats awesome man! Congrats!

MinnFinn · 11-17-2006, 08:05 PM

Almost always, wind is a waterfowl hunter's friend. The only exception is if you need to travel in a boat in strong wind that come up suddenly.

Birds fighting the wind are more likely to commit to coming into a setup. There is more action to decoys.

For birds that are passing, they tend to fly lower. If they are going with the wind, well... good luck!