Posted: 7/31/2007 4:35:44 AM EDT
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The scent-lok thread got me interested enough to post this, but I didn't want to hijack that thread. A lot of posts referenced 'using the wind' when whitetail hunting. I find the terminology a little confusing. I have been hunting whitetail for only two years, and I have had success with rifles. But having participated in a lot of precision shooting, I immediately realized that the challenge was to 'get closer.' In fact, right after I let my first (ever) shot go, IMMEDIATELY it flashed thru my mind, "This is too easy, I've got to get a bow." Now I'm eagerly seeking my first bow kill. So, to the point. The small piece of land that I hunt most often essentially has one entrance/exit. I have multiple fixed stands placed throughout the property, although I prefer my Summit climber. What is the best way to judge the prevailing wind and then position myself appropriately. And another fine point that I wonder about. Most of the time that I have watched deer, they have their nose into the wind, obviously. If I am positioned at the farthest downwind point on the property, don't I risk being bypassed altogether? I am banking on the fact that every lecture I've ever attended, they say that there are no stupid questions. Your kind responses are appreciated. |
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I will do my best to explain it in general terms. To hunt the wind means different things at different times. If you are stalking, you want to get your self in position so that the wind is blowing from the direction you want to go. You should begin your stalk into an area that you know holds game with the wind in your face. If you are stand hunting, you should pick a stand location that will allow you to be downwind of the trail you are hunting. If you are stand hunting over bait or water you should be positioned downwind from the bait or water. When it comes to bait and water a lot of older, wiser, animals will circle all the way around before coming in. That is one of the reasons that an elevated stand is so effective. Your scent is carried right over their head and they never wind you. You have to remember that downwind is a relative position. It is relative to your game's location. In fact you will always be downwind of something ans something will always be downwind of you.  You just want the wind blowing your scent away from what you are hunting. I remember once when I was bear hunting, I had a bear 18 yards away, on the side of a hill. I looking eye level at his ass and he was standing on a deadfall. He was looking dead at me and I could see his nostrils flaring as he attempted to catch a whiff of what I was. The wind was blowing steady from my left to right. No way he was going to wind me. I knew it. Sure enough after a few moments he turned and gave me a shot. I hope I explained that well enough for you to understand. If not ask another question. 
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Krpind was dead on. one thing to look at is the wind swirl effect. i hunt deep timber and in bottoms as well as on mountains. the wind is never a straight blow effect. it bounces off one 'wall" and wafts into another. in all our spots we have areas of "huntability". if the wind is out of this direction, what is the wind going to do..what direction will it bounce too. we also have alot of rising and falling thermals. rise in the morning, fall in the evening. like krpind. i have had bear and deer within feet of me, trying to scent me. they knew something was up, but couldnt finger me. i kill almost all my deer (rifle, BP and bow )within 6-15 yards. very rarely do i have to make a shot over 25. you can get as close as you want too or as close as they deer can possibly be. the issues at hand are: 1) scent control 2) wind adaptability 3)calmness. 4)ability to move SLOWLYYYYY. i cannot emphasize this enough. knowing when to move and how to move is one of the most overlooked pieces of the pie. i firmly believe one of my secrets of success is that i like to hunt off of the ground. i put several possible ambush sites in an area. i carry a squeeze bottle of talcum powder and routinly dust it to check wind pattern. i check it often and when the dust tells me to move..i'll ease around to a different position. i might move 3 times in a morning, while hunting the same deer run. all the spots might be within 30 yards of each other. one thing that was instilled in my brother and i was to sit motionless. moving our head and eyes only when we had too and very slowly at that. quick jerky movements blowout the senses of a deer quicker than anything. my brother and i dont wear alot of scentlock clothing. we do wear those balaclava type head covers religously when the temps allow. i think that a majority of your scent comes from your breath/mouth and head. the bottom line is that you can be extremely close to a whitetail, if you are down wind of its location. find their patterns and get close to that pattern. find funnels and runs. |
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I'll simplify even further by finishing the thought... Use the wind in conjunction with the terrain and the travel patterns of the animals. To know which way the wind blows is only part of the equation in knowing where & how to hunt. Small parcels will limit your options. Limited options make for overhunting. Overhunting leads to educated animals. Educated animals become nocturnal. Nocturnal animals become unkillable by legal means. To have a number of stands is one thing. To have a number of properties (...with controlled access) is another. |