RE: I always hear this story...
 

I agree with the statement that you should hunt the wind but I also acknowledge that it isn't always feasible 100%. If I only hunted the wind I would probably only hunt one or two times a year on my property. The perfect wind is a NorthEast wind for my property, depending mostly on which exact spot but mostly it holds true. That wind rarely happens, especially during bow season. Mostly the wind is from the West, occasionally South, and even less so East. I'm in mountain country so I mostly play the thermals and hope for the rest. If I am hunting somewhere else I will try to play the wind as much as possible and some stands I won't hunt unless the wind is perfect but that's because the setup is so strict as far as the direction of deer travel. When the setup is perfect for a deer to be funneled from a specific one or two direction I'll use the wind but often they can come from 360. I have seen YOUNG deer disregard wind and be directly downwind from me but rarely have I seen mature bucks not bolt when they cross downwind. I've often wondered how many bucks I didn't see because they winded me long before they got near me, but I try to make the best selection I can with the limited options I have.

As far as deer distinguishing activity they certainly do. They pattern us better than we pattern them. I have does and bucks come into my yard and stand 10 yards from me WHILE I AM PRACTICING WITH MY BOW and eat apples from my trees. I can talk to them and walk to and from my target and they may be a little skittish but they see me practicing all the time and don't associate that with danger. If I tried that in the woods they'd be gone.

RE: I always hear this story...
 

Interference with the lawful taking of wildlife. 34 PA CSA Sec. 2302. Can't say I'm not surprised...

RE: I always hear this story...
 

Well then it doesn't sound like you'll have any problem piling them up .

We get one tag per year so I have to chose when to use it , and to use it wisely.

RE: I always hear this story...
 

It's a wonder any of us kill anything.[&:]

RE: I always hear this story...
 

I've been thinking that all the way through this thread.

RE: I always hear this story...
 

I hunt in the mountains, at least part of the time, and wind directon isn't a consistent factor at all. You can check the wind, but when you go in , at certain junctures, it swirls like water at a bend in a river. Certain ridges and mountainsides deflect it, and it can be entirely different from the prevailing wind in the open. You have to be prepared for the specific spot you are hunting, and take every precaution that is feasible. Even then, it is still tough. I hunt with a climber, and sometimes it takes as long to pick out the right tree as it does to get to where I want to hunt. I have literally stood in one spot trying to find the right tree for as long as 45 minutes![&:]And, then when you think you have it right--it changes after you climb! That is one reason hunt as high as I can without getting to the point of being too high for a good angled shot.

RE: I always hear this story...
 

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

RE: I always hear this story...
 

I think everyone pays attetion to the wind, but I don't think I'd risk getting down and changing too often. If I'm not seeing any deer it's one thing, but if I see deer in the distance, I figure take the chance of getting winded rather than getting spotted getting down and walking to another stand.

RE: I always hear this story...
 

Lets ask this question again in another 10 years and see if some opinions change. I'm not talking about a varible wind. If I go to a stand that needs a south wind not to spook what I'm looking for and the wind goes North than my fat can is moving to another location. It might only be 20 yds, or across the field to another location. Sure deer come from every direction but I'm not hunting deer'sssss Im hunting a deer that I have put a ton of scouting and planning into. Do we know what a buck is thinking? I do, and I bet afew of others will say the same. I'm not talking ESP here but just a good understanding of a bucks body language. Got news for ya, big mature bucks will usually never blow, he will just turn around and slowly walk away. I had a big bastard bed down 60 yds from me one morning. The wind was in my face andI was going to be super quiet until he decided to get up and move along. I knew where he was heading. I felt the wind shift and hit the back of my neck, it wasnt 3 seconds he stood up and walked 180 from the source. I have seen it over and over. Its just another level of hunting guys. If your happy killing what ever happens along than thats great and fun.Sometimes you can luck into a great buck doing that. If your picking out a single buck, the dominant buck, than tactics have to change.

RE: I always hear this story...
 

Only problem with this logic is you're giving a deer the same brain power as a human.....which I think is flawed. Just a difference of opinion.

Granted. But for "how long" is debateable. I don't give them the same credit some do in this arena.

Agreed.

Again....common ground.

Agreed. If he winds me from a distance.....he's got a good idea (or heck....he KNOWS) I'm in the area. If he SEES me.....he's got my stand location pinpointed. You take a risk either way. If I want to hunt that stand again.....I don't see one being more important than the other.

Again...good point. BUT....I'll be willing to change it up and try other methods in the future. If no one else is willing to risk change, though....the conversation won't have much merit.

I've seen this occur. Very true.

Again...rock and a hard place. If he'd SEEN you, too....he'd put ANOTHER piece of the puzzle, together.

While I have to trust you on this.....and I will be playing the wind.....if I'm able to take 3.5 yr old deer and older on a (pretty much) yr to yr basis in my future endeavors.....SOME credence will have to be paid to my methods, also.

LOTS of good information passed along in this thread. I appreciate all of it. Thanks.