Posted: 11/3/2025 9:26:38 PM EDT
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Last year I realized that since the 11 day muzzle loader season comes just prior to rifle season, I could sit in my blind for 11 days hunting for horns instead of meat for the freezer. This is because the first 5 days of rifle are buck or doe. Pretty much a guarantee that we'll be eating backstraps even if I don't whack a buck in muzzie season. This strat worked out last year. Day 9 of sitting in the blind a big bodied 4 walked up and went home with me. It was a wicked windy day and I thought no deer would be moving. Wrong. This year I'm doing the same thing. And this morning, the big 8 I've been catching on my cam at 0100hrs or 0430hrs, finally appeared on cam at 10 minutes after shooting light. Clearly a sign that the rut is on and he's looking for action. Unfortunately, the wind was entire wrong so I slept in. Good decision. He would have scented and busted me for sure. Tomorrow morning the wind is from the right direction but is projected to be around 20mph gusting to 44mph. Based on last year's conditions and success, and articles/studies I've read that indicate that bucks move more when it's windy, I think I stand a better than normal chance of getting a shot at this buck. What's your experience of buck movement on windy days? |
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
I'm not lazy, I just really enjoy doing nothing.
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I read a multi-year study on radio collared deer that said deer will move less as the wind increases - up to about 20mph. Around 20mph and above the deer movement picked up considerably. The theory was that the higher wind speed messed with their hearing and smelling senses that they rely heavily on. **HOWEVER...you are hunting during the rut so much logic goes out the window and any time in the woods is a good time. If the wind is light and right, hunting standing corn can be productive. Be extra super careful if using any bullet gun. |
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
I'm not lazy, I just really enjoy doing nothing.
Joined:
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Posts:
14430
EE: 100% (17)
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Very high sustained winds, I don't see a lot of deer movement on those days. My cameras say the same thing. Cameras in or very close to bedding will get some action, but pinch points get almost nothing. If you have to hunt a windy day, use the cover of the wind to get in very close to bedding. If you can do that, there's a chance. I try to get out in the woods about an hour before the winds are supposed to die down, or the morning after a very windy day. They will move after the wind lays down. |
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Originally Posted By Hillcountry: You must be in zone M? Today was the last "doe day" for muzzleloader in zone I1 Couldn't go out today Dr appointment so far only a doe and skipper in the pre-dawn darkness no shot. Doe days are 1 - 6 Nov. Then horns only til the 11th. I've had does in daily but I have an 8pt I'm hoping to tag. If I don't see him before rifle opener on the 12th I have 5 rifle doe days to decide if I want a doe. This morning the wind was ripping but I still had 3 does come in at 0730. They seemed maybe a little skittish, but not much. |
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
|
Originally Posted By JCoop: Last year I realized that since the 11 day muzzle loader season comes just prior to rifle season, I could sit in my blind for 11 days hunting for horns instead of meat for the freezer. This is because the first 5 days of rifle are buck or doe. Pretty much a guarantee that we'll be eating backstraps even if I don't whack a buck in muzzie season. This strat worked out last year. Day 9 of sitting in the blind a big bodied 4 walked up and went home with me. It was a wicked windy day and I thought no deer would be moving. Wrong. This year I'm doing the same thing. And this morning, the big 8 I've been catching on my cam at 0100hrs or 0430hrs, finally appeared on cam at 10 minutes after shooting light. Clearly a sign that the rut is on and he's looking for action. Unfortunately, the wind was entire wrong so I slept in. Good decision. He would have scented and busted me for sure. Tomorrow morning the wind is from the right direction but is projected to be around 20mph gusting to 44mph. Based on last year's conditions and success, and articles/studies I've read that indicate that bucks move more when it's windy, I think I stand a better than normal chance of getting a shot at this buck. What's your experience of buck movement on windy days? Sometimes I see deer moving in the wind but I think it’s been to feed ahead of a storm. It really hampers their safety of listening to or smelling their surroundings so I don’t think they want to move. Today I have a crummy cold and the winds are 35-40 mph. Other than voting and picking up some Nyquil I am staying in. My knees are strangely achey from climbing in to the stand. May be flu or bug related. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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Now that I think about it, I shot a big bodied 4pt last year on the last day of the muzzie season and it was windy as hell. Not like today, but pretty windy. He trotted right up to the bait site looking for some action. The rut was in full swing. edit; oops, already mentioned that. The point is, I guess, is it was during the rut. |
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
|
I shot my first deer on a windy day like this many years ago. Just a few years ago I was in a tree stand swaying with the wind and a big piece of pine tree came crashing down. It missed me by 20 feet or so. Unable to hunt today for other reasons. The howling winds help take the sting out of that. It's the last day of any deer in my zone. Gotta work tomorrow. Good luck! I'm taking next week off. First 4 of rifle are any deer. |
Call sign: Smack
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I seem to see less deer and very windy days. I don't think they like the noise, they use their ears a lot to detect danger. However it is the rut and bucks do stupid things for does in the rut. Like my buddy is fond of saying, you can't shoot a deer sitting on your couch watching TV. ( we live in the suburbs) |