GR8atta2d

Ok here's the dilemma. I have a spot thats seems very hot right now and I feel the need to hunt it ASAP. (which could be as soon as tonight)

I've seen deer come basically from all sides. But the majority of the deer have come from the South East.However of the3 shootersI've seen here, NONE of them have come in this way..2 came from theSW 1 came fromdue north.

Todays forecast is for a (from the) NW wind @ 17mphso it'll be blowing straight at the majority of the deer entry point.

Tomorrow's forecast is much better BUT small game season comes in so there is the probabilty that deer will be pushed much more than normal.

Given normal conditions I'd wait til tomorrow..just to error on the safe side. But with small game opening and this is a public ground with stocked Pheasants..It will be hit! Now granted I'm back in the woods..not in the brushy rabbit, Pheasant areas..but still I'm sure withall the scent and the fact thatplenty of deer bed in those brushy areas they will be on alert.

So there ya have it..I need to hear your thoughts.

GregH

You'd have to break it down more than that in order for me to help.

Of the shooters you've seen, was it morning or evening that you saw them? Were they going to or coming from a bedding or feeding area?

You have to know why they were doing what they were doing in order to make the next move.

Possibly, you could get off to the side of the trail and prevent the wind from blowing your scent directly where you expect them to come from. One thing is for sure..... if you tell them where you are, they won't come. That's gospel!

GR8atta2d

Evening hunts are all I can do during the work week and that is when I saw them..The good bucksare coming froman area of private land, thick swampy, I'm assuming they are coming from bedding. And this is a travel ridge above the swamp to feeding and right now cruisin a heavy scrape line.

The lesser bucks and does that come from the bad direction, come in and feed on the acorns surrounding me. I've even had them bed for 45 minutes or so within site. The problem gets more complicated as they are on a hillside so I cannot out climb them by going higher.

bawanajim

Scent loc .............Forget the wind just hunt..

fingerz42

LOL.. scentlock aint that good..

GR8atta2d

bawanajim

Remeber the cat litter thread? Gotta love that carbon.

BrentH243

I'd say to hunt it today and hunt it tomorrow as well. When those big boys are after "you know what", human scent isn't the only thing on their mind. Contrary to where you have seen them before, you may get lucky enough to have them come in upwind of you if they are trailing a doe or something. Although you may have the deer patterned, anything can happen and deer can and will surpise you. If you are out there tomorrow during the small game opener, they may even push the deer closer to your stand if you are in the woods. I've only been able to make it out once this year, but will get my next chance this weekend on a couple all day hunts. No matter what the wind says, I'm still going to be out there and attempting to eliminate my scent as much as possible. I've had many deer down wind of me smell me and bust and I've also had a fair share come in directly down wind and still come in. There are so many things that could affect their patterns as well. Don't get mad at me if you go out and ruin your spot tonight though,II'm just giving you a suggestion based on what I know and based on the fact that I won't be so fortunate this year to get out and hunt day after day. Good luck either way! Listen to GregH, he seems to be a legend on here when it comes to bowhunting for mature whitetails!

GR8atta2d

Thansk Brent, I appreciate that..and in a conversation with my wife..We've decided. I'll hunt that area tonight.

On the way in, I'll look for another tree that may allow me to cheat that wind a bit more.

I'll be as scent free as possible. I had deer downwind of me Tuesday and didn't get busted. I know it's risky but by moving a bit, its a risk I feel I have to take.