OK wind players.....
 

Is there a threshold where you cut it off? For example.....5mph or less (forecast)?

Or....is ANY mph infavorable wind......."too much"?

Thanks.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I can tell you one thing Jeff, I better play the wind right this morning (SSW at 4-5) because by the time I knew it this morning, I had already showered with my regular dove soap! I was on autopilot in the shower, my body ready to go to work instead of into the woods...we shall see if I put on a dove soap deer drive heading in here in a few minutes.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

See....we're forecast for a W2, starting out....and the worst forecast is WNW at 5.

I don't have a great spot for any wind with an N in it....so I'm going to a less than highly desireable spot, this AM.

I'm just wondering at what point the die hards say...."That ittle wind won't matter".....or...if they do that, at all.

Thanks....and good luck this AM, Brett. I'm heading out....sans the dove shower (I'm using the green stuff....lol).

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I feel less wind is actually worse. It lets your scent pool more and doesn't disperse it near as much as a stiff breeze does. Sometimes you just gotta take your chances. Maybe the deer will show up on your good side anyways. ;)

And it wouldn't be the first time a weather person missed the forcast!!!:D

RE: OK wind players.....
 

Don't quite know what u mean, but I always hunt with the wind direction in my favor regardless of speed. Too windy of a day such as 25-30 mph winds seem to make the deer set tight most of the time...takes away their ability to hear. Better off staying home on a day like that

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I would rather have a constant breeze but I do have some stands that just plain swirl on me at
certain wind directions.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I'm no "Wind diehard" but I always thought wind was wind when talking about deer hunting, be it 1MPH or 10MPH. However, I don't let an unfavorable wind keep me at home. I've had success several times while deer have been downwind of me. Sometimesyou just have to trust your scent control.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

5 or 20 mph. Either one Is a "no no" In my book If It's not a good wind direction. If you keep hunting the wind like you are I think In time you won't even ask yourself this question anymore. I just get pissed when the winds bad, there's nothing more I can do about It.;)

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I'll put it this way... I'm heading out this afternoon after a buck I've got on trail cam that's got a huge sticker coming off his right G2; I've always wanted a "sticker" buck. I saw exactly where he came out two nights ago, and I'll be set up there by 4 this afternoon because I've gota perfect North wind to do so.

If the wind was even blowing ONE mile per hour South this afternoon, I would NOT be hanging there. So I guess there's your answer... from at least one die-hard wind player. ;)

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I’m getting real tired of this wind dictating where I hunt deal (for my own personal enjoyment). If I have a steady forecasted wind of over 7-8 mph, I’ll try to play it. But when I get these dinky little “light & variable” or 5 mph & less, I am going to hunt where I want, and think the deer will be. I’ll let my scent control take over from there. I had the “wrong” wind for my Saturday morning hunt, but that was the only area with deer sign & I hadn’t seen a thing playing the “right” winds. I went there, saw deer directly downwind, they came in and I killed one. This ain’t the first time (killing a deer down wind), and it won’t be the last.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

If I was after a particular buck in a particular location (Greg's situation) I'd be looking for the perfect wind - nothing less. If it's under 5 I'll go where I think they'll be.

Bad wind - hit an observation stand or pick a lesser location.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

what's wind?....nah, i dont hunt if its blowin....but sometimes I take the off chance that right at twighlight there will be a calm...such as a couple weeks ago I was out...wind was blowing hard...then the last magic 30min came, it calmed to near nothing, saw deer, got dark, got to the truck after dark, and wind starts blowing again

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I may be new to bowhunting, but not to hunting. I've gotta tell you, Jeff - you've got a better chance of being winded in a 1-3 mph wind than a 15-20 mph wind... especially when the deer are going to be up close and personal (bowhunting). That almost imperceptable breeze lets your scent molecules drop much more quickly but will still spreadthe scentdownwind. It'll also make your scent more potent close to your stand. If I absolutely HAD to hunt with an unfavorable wind, I'd much rather it be blowing hard

RE: OK wind players.....
 

Well said Rybo.

I do my best to hunt the right wind, but honestly, where I hunt....the wind changes so much it just pisses me off almost every time I hunt. I'd rather have a steady stronger wind....at least there is a chance it will stay in the same general direction for more than 15 minutes. If I was in a situation like Greg's....I would not go there unless the wind was right. HOWEVER...inevitably, if it started out right - it wouldn't stay that way in most cases (for me). I have no idea how anyone can play the wind all the time, unless your wind stays steady regularly...which I rarely see. Some of the places I hunt the wind swirls ALL the time, so I'd never be able to hunt if I only played the wind. 20+ years of fighting the wind, sometimes I wonder if its even worth it. LOL

RE: OK wind players.....
 

One - If the wind is less than 5 mph and it's clear and sunny, I'll hunt knowing that the thermals will lift my scent up and out of there.

Two - If the wind is not blowing from EXACTLY the right direction for my set up, I will not hunt.

It's not about what makes me happy, it's about what the deer will tolerate. I don't believeANY scent control methods will prevent a deer from winding you if the wind is in their favor, so I don't risk it.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

Where Im hunting now, I play the wind for the walk in...once I get within 50 yards of my stand the wind begins toswirl...I have yet to have a consistant day where the wind is continually blowing in one direction.(Hunting just below andeast of a high ridge).So I play it to an extent.
I do prefer it being around 15-20 for scent reasons....my theory, although may be rediculous, the harder the wind blowing, the harder for a deer to pick it up. I think in a 5-10 mph. is slowly carries the scent right to them, but with the wind blowing hard, and the currents swirrling with 'other' scents, I think it's harder for them to pick up on. Yeah, I know high winds have a tendancy to keep deer bedded more than normal, but they have to move sometime.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

You're likely right, Schultzy.

Well...I WAS after a particular buck, this morning....so I did set up in an observation stand that was a COOL sit. Didn't see anything...but I didn't see a bunch of does, either (which is a good thing). Saw some new rubs and a TON of tracks....so hopefully (no.....it WAS) it was a good sit. I also found a little spot I'm gonna try next time I get this same wind about 100yds down the line to the S. Looks REALLY good. Lots of sign. So a GREAT hunt, nonetheless.

I have to agree. Forecast was for CALM to begin with....with a W wind at 2mph starting at 7:00. First time I saw the leaves shake I hit the puffer....and although I had a good thermal where I was....I could tell that I did NOT want my scent going the wrong way at 2MPH. I made the right call. I'm sure of it.

There was also VERY little chance of a deer coming in from the wrong direction where I set up this morning. I made sure of that, too.

That's good stuff, greg. It's taken me a while to get on board.....but I have to say....you were right and I was wrong. I've killed them when they came in from downwind from me, before, too.....BUT....I think the thermal situation you describe MUST have been in my favor (unbeknownst to me). While trying to religiously play the wind, this year, I've been winded more times than I can remember.....and the thermals usually are the culprit. When the wind laid down, yesterday evening.....I shoud have skidaddled. I didn't....and luckily it was only a doe that got antsy with me. If it had been "him".....I might have screwed the pooch. I STILL may have and don't even know it.

In the past....I had only 2 choices:

1. Hunt when I had time off and take my chances (ALL my hunting lands bordered their bedding areas......with the bedding areas being to the south. I could only take my chances at less desireable spots with any wind with an "N" in it. Now I have options......and though a N wind isn't desired....I have places now I can hunt it.

2. Stay home.

I hunted. it worked out in the end....but I won't be doing that as a general rule, this year.

Once the temps get low.....all bets are off on a light wind. I'm hunting where I know he IS.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

Well we have a North wind today and I know where I am headed;)

When the wind lays down, it sucks, your scent just lingers around your stand.[:@]

RE: OK wind players.....
 

We've got a front moving in right now and the wind is blowing at about 10 mph and should stay that way all night. It's now blowing out of the west and will be shifting north to a NW wind by dark. This is perfect for the stand I'm hoping to hunt. If that wind was in the least bit out of the south I would be staying at work late instead of leaving early.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I always play the wind when selecting a stand. But, I'm fortunate to have several locations to hunt that allow me to choose accordingly. If you have access to one or two stand sites only it would be tough. As far as deer not winding you when they are "downwind". Your scent stream is not hitting them in the face. Weather its because of swirling winds, thermals, or whatever......your scent stream has not hit their nose.

I wash and spray down and take all precautions (besides the carbon suit). But, I know there are no two ways about it.........if your scent stream hits their nose your done. I try to elimante as much odor as I can, but the infomercials can rave all they want about deer not smelling you. You can not eliminate all odors. I'mplaying the wind.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I had a good wind on Monday but nobody told me the deer would come from the wrong direction and hang out just out of range downwind and behind me...

RE: OK wind players.....
 

If the wind isn't in the right direction I will go to another stand. I do everything I can to ensure that I only hunt stands when the wind is right for them. With that said, many of my stands can be approached by deer from literally any direction. In those cases, I will hunt so long as the wind is favorable, meaning not blowing towards the more likely avenues of approach.

I have no idea why people don't hunt when it is windy. The deer are still out there and they still move.Even a 25mph wind does not really do all that much to your arrow flight out to 40 yards. If you don't believe me, go try it. It will push it a few inches and that is all.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

My brother has an interesting theory on that. In his opinion, the deer move less on very windy days because all of the deers primary defense methods are severely limited. He saysstrong windsdo all of the following:

1. Makes it difficult for deer to catch the scent of predators(including us).
2.Puts everything in motion, making it difficult for them to spot movement.
3. Creates a loud environment,diminishing their ability to listen for danger.

Personally, I've never noticed much of a difference in deer movement on windy days.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

Lol. I live in North West Texas, the wind never stops blowing. If it gets above 25 mph gusts, I tend to pack it in. Even with that said, the windy times are the times to work cliffs and funnels. Ive shoot some good bucks on windy days. Easy to stalk, and they will hull up out of the wind some times. Just got to find them, then its easy to sneak up on them.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

This has me thinking. I finally found (after two weeks) a good acorn flat. For some reason there are not alot of acorns dropping this year. Last year they were everywhere. The wind they are calling for tomorrow is a so so wind for my hunt in the morning. I am just deer hunting right now, not buck hunting. I want to put some meat in the freezer. I am worried that if I wait for a perfect wind, that the food source will run dry in the meanwhile. What do you all think?

I have deer coming from an oak flat that is maybe 100 yards long and tightens down into a short saddle. I was walking on white oaks and fresh droppings for almost 30 yards through this saddle. I believe they are coming from south to north. They are calling for a northeast wind. I think I can sit on the west side of the saddle, up high and that my scent will not cut over.

Edit--they just changed the wind again for tomorrow to a NNE---I can't hunt that spot with that wind. Only thing is, it is perfect them to travel into with their noses, but terrible for me to sit to get busted.

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I always try to play the wind but doing it requires more than a handful of stands.I have 10 good stands but that still doesn't cover many options and sometimes time off to hunt is scarce so you just gotta go with the lesser of the evils.

I much prefer a nice steady 3 or 4mph wind but it's always a gamble. How many time have you set up only to have the wind change? Other than sticking my head out the door all I can do is listen to a forcast and hope their right %50 of the time.

OR YOU CAN FORGET THE WIND AND JUST HUNT!!

RE: OK wind players.....
 

I will not compromise the windin and onany big bucks turf. I used to roll the dice at times relying on my scent minimization. I often can nottrust what the weather forcast states because the mountains here do funky things with the wind, instead I use a tactic were I enter an "area" and have multiple options to choose frombased on the wind/thermals that I find at that very instant. Once I get close to my area of choice which usually meansvery close to a used bedding area Ithen pick what I feel is my best option for the hunt that evening. (Its like getting to the line of scrimmage and calling the best play I can after I assess what the defense is going to give me from a scheme standpoint.) Sometimes it means walking an extra 1/2 mile around a mountain and entering it from the back side. Sometimes it means tucking into a ground blind only 20-30 yards from a stand that just wont work that evening due to the winds. Nevertheless, I always an will only hunt a big buck if and ONLY ifthe wind is right. That used to not be the case...

As far as scent minimization goes, I adhere to a very strict regimen moreso for residual scent thatI will be leaving behind. I expect toexit the area leaving very little evidence that I was there and I expect a buck that finds my scent streameither during the hunt ( he gets down wind or he's oneI elect to pass on) or he shows up wellunder the darkness of night when hes out hounddogging... I expect himto pick up what he would translate as a weaker odor and less threatening, like I hadbeen there many hours oreven days earlier. One that I feel will allow me to hunt that area again without him changing his routine.

As far as the RUT goes..(which this thread isnt referring to Iassume)Play/huntthe down wind side of travel routessitting in a funnel, on an edge,saddleor inside corner, and kill the big boys that get towed past by the shelas...