The Wind?
 

Can anyone be of service to me and explain how wind will make the hunt good or bad? Im new to all of this and I m willing to lean all the basics to be a successful deer hunter next year. THANKS

RE: The Wind?
 

If a deer smells you, the hunt is over..... When people say they hunt the wind, or watch the wind, or use the wind, they basically are saying only hunt your area when the wind will not be blowing your scent towards the area the deer will be approaching.... Of course it can get much more technical than that, but that is the nuts and bolts.

RE: The Wind?
 

Ok I see. But if you have a stand set up all year in the same spot.. the direction of the wind can change right? And does that mean if the wind direction is different one day I shouldent try?

RE: The Wind?
 

Set stands up all over the wind can change anytime....

RE: The Wind?
 

That's why you should have multiple stands, or a good climbing stand.This way as the wind changes its direction you'll follow suit and change yours.
One can never be absolutely certain of the direction the deer will come from--one can however be certain of the wind direction.
Unfortunately at one time or another and many times more that once, we will all get busted--that's all in the game!!!
But it sure helps to play the wind--and like Double Creek mentioned--there's alot more to it as well--just go out there and have some fun, time and experience will help along the way.

RE: The Wind?
 

THanks for the advice.

RE: The Wind?
 

keep in mind another thing keeping the wind in your faver is a good pratice but keeping your movement down on a tree stand is alot more important.i think hunters get busted more on movement then the deer smelling them.i know i have!!! but thats my 2 cents

RE: The Wind?
 

Keep in mind that typically deer are moving towards their bedding areas in the mornings and towards feeding areas in the afternoons.... So figure out which directions those are and then plan your hunts accordingly and only when you have the wind in your face or a cross wind....

RE: The Wind?
 

ya I guess pre season scouting makes a difference,,

RE: The Wind?
 

Try to be as far down wind as possible.

RE: The Wind?
 

I like to be between 20-25 ft, all depending on the cover behind you. Does not matter if the deer can not smell you if he can see you. You can never "hunt the wind" as some would say(IMO). The wind shifts, upper thermal and lower thermals. Sometimes the deer just walk behind you and downwind, any scent control would be good. There are a lot of good ideas on this site. I always keep the wind in my face and have certain stands for certain winds. Seems to work for me.

RE: The Wind?
 

always use the wind to your advantage. You have to have the wind in your face.....

RE: The Wind?
 

I believe we should all "try" to hunt the wind. But I still believe it can be a perfectly still morning/evening and 2hrs later the wind picks up against your back. Then you have to make the decision-move and take a chance of being busted or- stay put and hope your cover scent/stand position works. Also their is always the chance that "Luck" will be on your side. Thats why they call it hunting. LT

RE: The Wind?
 

Always stay downwind. I cant tell u how many times I have been busted while sitting in a treestand. I always thought that if u were up high then the deer wouldnt smell you....man was Iwrong.......

RE: The Wind?
 

Build a small fire outside and sit on one side of it. In fifteen minutes of time, you will see the wind change directions several times. I think your best bet is to get high in a stand.

RE: The Wind?
 

Ok all your advice is good but has anyone killed anything with wrong wind

RE: The Wind?
 

Yep, but there are a lot of reasons why. This year both bucks I shot were behind me, but both were focused on other things. During the rut is your best chance. I also practice scent control. I dress in the field wash my clothes in scent free soap. Shower with scent free soap before I go out. I also use deaddown wind products.

Scent control clothing and other garments

I like new base layers eat orders, X-sent and scent-lok make some. Also the suits, all these things help, but one thing I know works for sure is to shoot the deer before he smells you!!

RE: The Wind?
 

Sure, I was high enough in the tree and my scent blew over the deer. BTW, I don't use any scent products. Wash my clothes in plain water, air dry and totally play the wind. Shoot a few deer too.

RE: The Wind?
 

hunting the wind is a little over rated. i hunt here in maryland and i can get a nice mature buck on the grond about every other year.im not the best hunter but i can kill im for sure. sure if your setting up in between a bedding and a feeding you should try to hunt the wind.but the wind mite change.now some people say get down and go somewhere us.well you going to be walking longer then sitting.i can hunt alot and have 100s of deer around me each year.i know when deer sometimes spoke around me its normally because they caugt movement.during the rut most of the time there isnt a rime of reason were that buck mite come from.if you want to kill mature deer or any deer for that manner hunt were they are and hunt as much as you can.also make sure you make it count when he steps out.

RE: The Wind?
 

Madeline, I would guess that 99.99% of PROVEN big buck slayers would disagree with your statement about the wind being overrated....

RE: The Wind?
 

That's right! If they smell you, they're gone. My set ups are totally based on where the buck may come from and I want the wind in my favor. If the wind is not right, I won't hunt the stand. I don't want ANY deer to know where I am, especially the ones I pass on. Once you're busted in your stand, you'd best let it cool off for a while, or you'll burn it out. Its actually rule #2 for hunting big bucks...Hunt only if the wind is right. Rule # 1 for hunting big bucks is.... Hunt where there are big bucks.

RE: The Wind?
 

I've had deer look right at me while stalking or still hunting and they didn't spook. However, if a deer ever catches your wind, he's gone!

RE: The Wind?
 

Hey you kinda parsed my statement

I was talking about being 25 ft in a tree with no cover behind. Does not matter that deer can not smell you if he can pick you off. My guess is the deer who looked at you, you had great cover behind you. Which is why the deer could not pick you off. That was my point. My statement "Hunting the wind" is simple, you can not. The wind shifts, deer walks behind you etc. Now I always try to keep the wind in my face, but its the wild and things happen.

If your going to take a quoate take the whole quaote. What you parsed off is not what I said!!

RE: The Wind?
 

Usewind to your advantage.

But it can also blow a hunt for reasons, already stated


Depending on your techniques and style of bowhunting, it can really help a hunt. Here in Kansas it's windy a lot. And those are the best times to spot and stalk.Having that 20-40 MPH wind in your face, when stalking a buck and getting within 30 yards, is a crucial advantage for several reasons.

1. Deer doesn't smell you.
2. Deer will be less likely to see you since you're not the only thing moving.
3. Deer are much less likely to hear you. That is especially important if you're around any trees. Because trying to stalk on dry leaves is nearly impossible.

I love windy days... the only stalking weather I like better is rainy days. Use it to your advantage.

RE: The Wind?
 

My point still is that you can fool their eyes be it with camo or cover (or both) however, you will not fool their nose.

You can have a deer spot you but not recognize you as a threat due to camo or having good cover around/behind you.

BUT, if a deer catches the slightest bit of wind from you, your hunt is over. The nose is the only sense you cannot fool.

PS. My quote came directly from your post. It was not edited or altered and was exactly what you said.

RE: The Wind?
 

Ok I see all thats really good advice.. I like peoples different point of views. I guess now I will just have to scout preseason..

RE: The Wind?
 

i dont want to wrinkle any feathers here are these the same PROVEN big deer hunter selling you scent lock suites and wash every time you go into the woods all thore soaps. or is the ones that spend there time in the mid west all year and tell you i would have never killed that 130 class deer .it sounds great but in the real world.im sure if you talk to most bowhunter they dont have time to go home and take a showers. i know i dont and it looks like your from wis.you live in a great area for big deer.honsty i inv you guys in the mid west i think you guys are spoiled.ha ha ha. here in most parts of maryland if you get a shot at 120 or so class deer you better shoot it.if you want to know were some of the real PROVEN big deer hunters live go to pa or ny or other states that dont have alot of mature deer. these guys kill some really nice bucks year after year.!!!! my good hunting buddy smokes while hes hunting and i think hes nuts and hea killedkill as many mature buck as anybody so go figuire!!!well that my 2cents for what its worth!!!

RE: The Wind?
 

You must think that mature bucks in the midwest grow on trees! That every time I go out I can just pick one? Age says more about a deers wariness than antler size. A 3 1/2 or older buck is a real challenge no matter where you hunt. I read that the midwest produces some of the best bowhunters. I'd have to agree with that!;)

RE: The Wind?
 

hey i agreewith that there is truly great bow hunter in the mid west.i also agree about that a mature 31/2 year or older any were you hunt isnt a easy hunt. im just stating that there is some great hunters else were to.i think trurly it come down to if you want to kill mature bucks every year spend the most time in the best area you can.i also think confidence has alot to do with it as well.if hunting with the wind and taking a shower will help you set still and spend more time in the woods go for it .its not me or any body else to tell anybody how to hunt.any body who thinks they know it all are missing out on alot of info!!!!!!!

RE: The Wind?
 

Well if you look up the meaning of the word parsed you will see what I meant. I will help you out. Edited, altered has nothing to do with the meaning of the word. You took a piece of my comment. Because you took my second sentence it seems I put deer's vision over smell. All stated was to remeber to have good cover, because deer can catch movement(that is out place) real easy. The orginal post ask about wind, some people get high in the tree. I was letting him know deer can pick you of with the sight also and you have to take all the elements into consideration when hanging a stand.

No problem, just letting you know

RE: The Wind?
 

Let it go, it's over, move on.

RE: The Wind?
 

thanks for the wisdom old wise one[8D]

I forgot I agree with you 100%!!!