The same thing could be said for the powder....at least milkweed is free. If you use powder you might think the wind is good for a spot because you can only see it float out 5 feet from you. Let some milkweed float and you'll see the wind doubling back on you 10 yards out or swirling out from you and blowing your scent where you thought it wasn't being blown. Now, I don't usually leave a stand once I'm in it because the wind switched because it does this all the time where I hunt (which is why I find the concept of hunting the wind ridiculous) but I do like to know where my scent is drifting in case a deer is approaching this area I will know if I better shoot before it smells me or not. Trust me, give the milkweed a try....you'll be surprised at what your scent really does. I've had milkweed float back past me after I watched it float out of sight 5 minutes earlier!
I use a sent stick it helps calm the deer down. I just got it this year a new thing in the bag. It works a dow and fawn came out less then 20yrds. They were standing right where the wind was blowing. They never picked up my sent. I think the wind thing like some are saying is a little hard to stick with. I have one stand in public land. The deer have come out in the same area for 3 days now. I went last night it was the first time I didn't see any. (bad weather.) I have a chalk wind checker from dead down wind came with a box of stuff. I use it very seldome.
I would have to say any time I use any sort of wind checker is when I already know the wind is iffy. I'll use it to make sure I set up my stand on the right side of the trail I'm expecting them to use when I get that abnormal wind. But Justin makes a good point and something I always wondered. Do you guys really move if 2 hours into your sit the wind changes? To me, any wind checker is useless once I'm in the stand, when I know the wind forecast, and when I know the time of day/temp changes for the thermals. I've had the same bottle for 4 years and it doesn't even feel like I've put a dent in it. I guess maybe checking the wind just gives you something to do while sitting.
If there is still time left to move, then yes, I would move. When hunting near buck beds if your scent gets blown into the bed your day is over. No real reason to keep sitting that spot, IMO. Or sometimes it's not too late but milkweed can show you that the winds are shifting a bit, and you might be able to move to another tree just 20 or 30 yards away and be okay.
You just stated the exact reason why it's more valuable. You could go to a field edge with the perfect wind on scoutlook. But once you get out there the milkweed shows the wind hitting the tree line, shooting back into the field. Now that hunt may be ruined but the next time you have that wind you will know. Why waste a perfect opportunity to learn the wind on your property?
I check my scout out look deer app. the cent cone was pointing twards them. I was less than 20 yards, and made a bit of noise when they came in. I never noticed them I was setting up my rope to pull up my bowe on the tree. I hit the stand with the clip they jumpped a little and went right back to feeding. Was it the stick I don't know but they seemed to be very calm.
If you had milkweed I bet you would have found that your scent was not reaching them. If they heard you AND smelled you they would've been gone.
I use milkweed and have found it to be essential in understanding the wind and how mechanical turbulence works. I hunt hill country so what the wind is doing right at my person (5 feet or less) is pretty much useless information.
