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Hunting in strong winds (15mph+)

Discussion in 'Whitetail Deer Hunting' started by ajohnson03, Oct 25, 2013.

  1. ajohnson03

    ajohnson03 Newb

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    I was really confident going out to the stand tonight. No one had been in the stand for a couple weeks, the wind was blowing in the perfect direction, it was a little bit cold and I've been seeing a lot more deer lately. Of course, I didn't see a thing in the 4 hours I was out. I'm wondering if maybe the strong winds had an effect on movement? I've found some articles that say deer movement decreases the higher the wind velocity. Can anyone else attest to this? Supposed to be the same strength tomorrow but it's not going to stop me - I don't get out enough as it is. Thanks for any reply!
     
  2. jrk_indle84

    jrk_indle84 Grizzled Veteran

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    Most the time in high winds the deer where I hunt stick to lower areas or areas that are blocking the wind. We have lot of hills and couple wooded draws that will block higher winds. Other than that I've also heard they lay low during windy days and I would imagine there's some truth to it.
     
  3. ajohnson03

    ajohnson03 Newb

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    I guess it would make sense. I would think it would make it a lot harder to smell predators with that much wind. Especially since I was directly downwind of where I expect them to come from.
     
  4. KillerC

    KillerC Weekend Warrior

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    Smell is one thing but imagine how hard it is for them to pinpoint things out of place or movement of predators when every branch is whipping back and forth on them.
     
  5. Muzzy Man

    Muzzy Man Grizzled Veteran

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    I kill lots of deer in strong winds. Its the only time you can say the heck with scent... well almost.
     
  6. kennyg

    kennyg Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Last weekend I had them bed down 15 yards downwind from me and there was 20 mph winds. I believe the wind kept my scent up higher longer and dispersed it better.
     
  7. Muzzy Man

    Muzzy Man Grizzled Veteran

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    Another huge advantage is with all the tree tops moving... you can practically dance a jig in a tree without being noticed.
     
  8. Thunderbolt52

    Thunderbolt52 Weekend Warrior

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    Don't really like hunting in high winds.....except in a blind...deer ussally are really spookey...so if you can get down out of the wind is your best bet to kill in high winds....
     
  9. Curtix

    Curtix Weekend Warrior

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    I see less deer in high winds for sure, but I normally go anyway.
    One Saturday right as the rut was heating up last year I "had to go" in rain snow mix with a heck of a wind blowing 15+ for sure.
    I got to my parking spot at about 2:30 and looked to the field I was walking down the opposite side of.
    Big Buck nose to the ground not giving a damn about the wind or weather.
    Outside of that rut though almost never see anything in high winds.
     
  10. ultramax

    ultramax Grizzled Veteran

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    I see a lot of mature bucks here move into open fields during high winds,I think they have sensory over load in the woods.
     
  11. woodsy211

    woodsy211 Weekend Warrior

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    I've had good success in high winds , seems the deer like to head out to the fields, I think it makes then feel safer where they can see all around
     

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