Thermals and how deer use them in my experiences....

YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THERMALS.....BAROMETRIC PRESSURE, TEMPATURES, MOON PHASES, ITS ALL A VERY IMPORTANT ROLL IN ATTEMPTING TO HARVEST BIG MATURE BUCKS WITHOUT A DOUBT.

 

Thanks for the post, very informative.

 

Thanks for the plug Todd

Most of the travel that I see on the ridge sides is on the Leeward side ridges right where the predominant wind and the thermal
wind meet I dubbed that "the thermal tunnel"... There may be more than one trail running the ridge at different heights, wind speed, exact direction, and temperature effecting the thermal may cause the "thermal tunnel" to be higher or lower... Bucks cruise the tunnel because they can smell whats above them on the top from the predominant wind direction, and smell whats below from the thermal wind direction... During the rut, I see my most "cruisers" where two or more leeward ridges meet.

 

Dan, could you please look at the map I am posting and tell me if I labeled it right? I tried to label it based on the description you gave in your post. I labelled the south wind and the rising thermals from the north as the day warms. I put my projected buck "cruising" routes in yellow as a result of the south winds mixed with the rising thermals from the north. I also placed the yellow crusing lines where more than one ridge meets up on the leeward side. Let me know what you think. I really appreciate your thoughts.