Over the past year I have heard the Montra" You must play the wind for success!" This is one of the clearest and most factual things given by expierenced hunters to us who are new to hunting. Thanks guys for it is spot on and can be proven time and time again. When I got busted by a Doe last thursday evening I had been working hard on clearing paths to some of my favorite stand sites and worked up quite a sweat. By the time I made it to the corn field I could smell myself and I'm sure any deer downwind could as well from a mile away. I use good camo,scent eliminators and go out as scent free as possible. Does it work? I believe it can't hurt but only help so I would say it helps us go undetected to a point. Can I say with absolute confidence it works,no I can't. But I will say this when the wind is in our favor it always works. I don't think they know your there because I proved it thursday evening and last season as well. Two mature does not more than 18 yards away could not smell me even though I flat out stunk! My point is if you can't afford high dollar camo and lots of scent free products get what you can to blend in and at least wash your cheap camo,like I have and self and play the wind and success will likely be yours. Don't play the wind and you will more than likely see deer from a long ways off or hear them as they move away from your aromatic presence. Good Hunting to all, 10 days and counting here in Indiana! C' Mere Deer I got a nice shiney trinket for ya on tha end of this here stick!

Great post, I think that it all depends on how you use the wind. It is your enemy if you ignore the direction, because then deer will smell you. It is your friend if you make sure that you are downwind from the area that you're trying to hunt, because God helped us out by giving deer poor vision

Wind is certainly something to pay attention too, it keeps a lot of deer alive for sure...

Thermals have also spoiled a hunt or two, so don't forget about those...

Lastly, young deer and some Doe's are not as cautious and occasionly to curious for their own good, helping to fill many a freezer. Just be careful not to make the misunderstanding that "mature bucks" make many of these comparisons equal. Although rut does make a lot of walls full