Man, didn't mean to cinch up so many people's thongs. I have read thru the whole thread just now. I was not able to follow in realtime today.

I will have to say this thread has probably taught me a thing or two. 1.) There are guys here that have bowhunted and observed mature whitetails for years. I trust your experience. You know who you are. Thanks. 2.) There are those who will hunt like the experts(magazine/video pros) no matter how much real life experience/advice is given to them. 3.) The wind IS one very important factor in hunting deer. 4.) Never underestimate a deer's nose/memory.

I also would like to state that I have learned a few things on my own concerning deer behavior. 1.) Deer have predators. If you hunt, walk, stalk, creep, or make noises like a predator, the deer are always looking for you. Imagine if you will, you come home one night to find a thief with a loaded .357 pointed at your nose. You get away unscathed. Now the question is how long will you remember this? Think about it. You can think of hundreds of other scenarios, we as humans could encounter that we would not soon forget. I remember when a friend of mine was killed in a very bloody car accident and my brother and another friend were critically injured. I can still not stand the smell of that scene today. This is human olfactory at work. Now reconsider the deer who smells a human that causes him alarm/harm. He will remember. 2.) If you want to move stands when the eind gets wrong, I will have to agree it can be accomplished. I will not risk this unless conditions are totally in my favor. ie., exit route, entrance route to another stand and amount of cover between me and where I think deer may be. I will not chance letting a deer see me over letting them wind me. If they are lenient enough to see me and not leave, then smell will probably not play a role here. On the other hand, if they are lenient enough to smell me and not leave, why should I move a muscle. I really believe a deers eyes play just as vital a role in survival as their sense of smell.

Just my 2 cents.

LT