i have found that nmost of the birds i have been hunting when they leave the roost they go east into the sun into open strutting areas these birds are merriams and are found in open ponderosa forests with lots of open areas these observations occur when birds are roosted on open ridge tops any other thoughts on where birds go off the roost ? East West north South

Quite often they head for the nearest water, or mostly, away from whichever direction I am sitting.

if they are going east off the roost,then you get east of them. then they will go west.

LOL ; if you have them figured,just go in real early and get set on them.I hunt the swamps of Fla. they fly down in all directions.sometime if I can find them over the river,then I know they will come my way to dry land.it is hard to figure the way they will land in the swamp.[:@]