After watching the Blood Bros DVD (Hill Country), I was super impressed with it. Just like you guys said I would be. So here's a map of my area, so that you all can get an idea of the elevations. In your opinion, do thermals still apply as much since the terrain isn't "Hill Country"? I mean there are "hills and hollers", some big, some small- but no huge valleys as seen in the DVD. I'm thinking they DO apply, but not as much- Maybe in only certain areas.
I hunt an area that is a large valley with many draws and a creek in the bottom. The tops are all ag fields. What I have noticed more than thermals is that wind direction changes drastically once you get down off of the top. It will pay for you to get out there during different wind directions and see what's what at each location that you want to hunt. I have one stand that is great for bucks in October, but the wind does funky things so I have to be aware of that. I know that I can hunt the general wind direction if I get on the top 10% of any of the ridges. Plus, if the wind is really cranking, I hunt down low where there is less wind and it is blowing up of down the valley.
Check out "Mapping Trophy Bucks" by Brad Herndon. You'll learn alot. Especially since you are using topo maps. I hunt in some pretty hilly country, and I have found some great spots by applying some of the techniques from that book to the topo maps I have for my hunting areas. Instead of wasting time walking around looking for sign, I went straight to great terrain locations and found sign almost instantly. Great book. A must read for all deer hunters.
