question to cold weather hunters
 

Does tempertures below 0 degrees affect a deers nose. If it is really cold out can a deer pick up your scent as well. Thanks for the info

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

Good ?

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I'm not sure, good question. We don't see alot of 0 degree weather in god's country here. But, I can tell you that when I've been hunting in 8-10 degree I didn't see a dang deer one! I think for such a drastic drop in temp, they don't move, cuz they are not acclimatized, compared to deer in Minnesota where that's normal. To answer your question I don't think it would be an issue. Not sure if scent would disepate or freeze when it's that freakin' cold. It seems that it would. Not really the dude to answer that quesiton....

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I think if a deer is gonna smell you, they'll smell you whether its 20 degrees or -5 degrees...Iwould just tryand always hunt the wind no matter how cold it is. Good question though I really don't know for sure, thats just my opinion. Curious to know

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

Nothing messes up a deers nose except a broadhead in the boiler room. At least that's the way I'd plan.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I hunted 24 degrees below zero tempsthis past month in Nebraska. I went through the same scent control precautions I always go through, and setup according to the wind.

I wasn't going to take any chances. My guess is yes they can!;)

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

On second note, there are definitely days where scent lingers longer and is no doubt stronger. I'm an AKC licensed field judge and that isobvious if you've ever spent time around scent trailing dogs.

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

It is indeed harder for a deer (or any other animal) to detectyour odor as it gets cold. I am not saying that they cannot, just that it is harder to do so. Odor molecules are just like everything else in the world, they contract when cooled and expanded when heated.

I have no idea how much of a difference it makes, I just know it does make a difference.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I remember judging a trial once when it was bitterly cold and a dry cold to boot. We had trouble finding dogs that could follow a scent. I think a few of the more experienced dogs sight ran tracks part of the time. I do agree scent retention & strength changes with several variables.

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I agree.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

Maybe up to a certain point. Try running scent trailing dogs when it's 90 degrees, and dry as a bone.;)

It's a combination of temp, humidity, pressure, moisture in the ground, etc.

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I would say scent isdefinitely toned down when it's cold. One reason to support this is, in the summer months the garbage in the bin in the garage 'stinks' when the bin is opened. Now when it's cold in the garage the garbage doesn't smell as much...the only reason for this is the COLD.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

The question did not deal with dogs, 90 degree temps, humidity, pressure, moisure. ;)

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

Well they sure seem to know just exactly where to paw through feet of snow to find food. You tell me if it is working.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

When It gets cold here In Minnesota It's usually dry also so the combination of the 2 makes It harder for a deer to pick up on our scent decent. I know when It's dry and cold our dogs have a hard time picking up scent from pheasants.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

Dogs? I'm talking about the ability of Field Champion Dogs to SCENT trail. I think scent is what we are talking about and how that changes with different weather conditions.[8D]

There is more to it than Hot or Cold!:D

If scent varies and changes the way that dog can trail the scentyou can bet it changes the way a Deer can scent you also.;)

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I Agree Steve!! There are parts of the country where it can get cold and still be moist compared to your area. That's why I said it's a combination of things.

Not just the Temp.;)

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I agree Dan but I believe the Winter months are worse and usually have much more drier air then any other months (at least here In Minnesota anyway). My skin gets much more dry/chapped In the winter months.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I've noticed the dry air in my travels to MI, as well as NE. but it isn't that way every where. Actually I think dry air doesn't feel as cold as air with more moisture in it, but that's another thread.

Either dry or wet 24 degrees below zero is Cold!!

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I'm guessing this was the wind chill and not the actual temp being this was In Nebraska.;)

Very true!

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I was in the Extreme NW corner of NE, andNope first morning I was there it was 16 below with a wind chill of 68 below.

The following morning it was 24 below, then 20 below, and then 20 below again. Those were straight temps, and thank goodness the wind died down after the first day.

I never seen above zero until the 4th day. that's including the highs. It finally got up to a Balmy 15 degrees the 4th day.;)

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

Damn, that's hard on the body Dan!! I hate hunting In cold temps like that!![>:] I guess I didn't realize Nebraska got that cold, my bad!

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I'm still dealing with a little frostbite on my Bow hand. If you noticed in the pics I posted on that hunt, the Turkey pics I had no gloves on, but in the Deer pic I had learned better.

I'm pretty hot natured, but Darn 20 below is cold!!

Also I had to spend the night in my truck the 1st night. I slept very little, but when I woke up about daylight. It was 16 below and the Truck was rockin' from the wind. There was also about 1/4" ice on the inside of all the glass.

I was a little chilly!;)

Dan

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

I'd say so!!:D

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

That is some seriously cold weather Dan!

I don't know exactly how much cold effects a deer's nose. I know that I am just as careful of my scent, if not more, in the late season. The average temp during that time is somewhere in the mid 20s. Most of the deer I see are in the evening and usually all of them are coming from a specific bedding area. Most of the time I see one group of deer the last 30 minutes of light. If I spook one deer in that group, my hunt is likely over for that evening. In October and November and I can see deer at anytime and they can come from multiple directions. Spooking one deer won't always mean I won't see another. In late December, spooking one usually means spooking all the deer I was going to see that sit.

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

Is that from the cold or the furnace running 24/7?

RE: question to cold weather hunters
 

well if you look at it from a scientific stand point, scent molecules are goingto slow down and move a lot less in colder temps than in warmer temps, can they smell you still still?Yes forsure, but I believe from all my cold weather hunting both here in Idaho, ND now and back in Alberta and Montana... once those temps drop below zero, I always seem to notice a littler higher tolerance by deer in and around me say 20 yards or less.. Just my 2 cents..