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Hunting in high winds?
#6566630
12/01/16 03:26 AM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 388
foodieguy
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 388 |
I hunted this past weekend and the winds were blowing consistently 10-15 with higher gusts. The deer (does and young bucks) that were coming to the feeder seemed more skittish than what I've seen in few years that I've been hunting.
Do high winds have an effect on their behavior? What can you do to take advantage of the situation? And does the higher wind speed tend to scatter your scent faster (good?) or push it farther downwind than normal maybe spooking deer farther away?
thx
Adult late onset hunter. Why did I wait so long to get started?
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6566669
12/01/16 03:51 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 18,563
Roll-Tide
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 18,563 |
I have had zero luck in high wind.
Went out Monday, nothing. I hunt where it's thick, they don't have to move far, just roll over and eat some acorns.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6566680
12/01/16 03:55 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
TxAg
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811 |
I have had some luck in high wind, but yes they are definitely more wary. Generally, if the forecast calls for high wind I will move to hunting lower country like creek bottoms, protected draws. It's worked for me. You can also use the wind to your advantage from a scent and noise perspective if you play it right.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6566681
12/01/16 03:56 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,854
txshntr
T-Rex Arms
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T-Rex Arms
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,854 |
10-15 doesn't seem to bother mine but if it gets up around 25-30, they will get a little jumpy.
I have found it depends on the terrain that you are hunting. In Kansas, the deer will pile up on the wood line of the fields waiting to enter the open country. In Texas, the deer seem to like the very middle of the open pastures better.
My favorite thing to do in high wind is stalk into the wind.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6566813
12/01/16 12:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 262
KnoxCityNate
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 262 |
Last weekend had really high winds and I saw nothing
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: txshntr]
#6567132
12/01/16 04:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 552
TX TCAT
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 552 |
My favorite thing to do in high wind is stalk into the wind. This.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6567228
12/01/16 05:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,440
Shotgun Willie
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,440 |
Two weeks ago the wind was blowing 20, gusting 30, when I shot my 10 pt. He came in along the leeward side of a tree line, hitting the oaks as he went. The wind will blow, but they still gotta eat.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: Roll-Tide]
#6567233
12/01/16 05:11 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481 |
I have had zero luck in high wind. My experience as well. Sure they have got to still eat, but the wind doesn't blow forever, just like ive never seen much of anything in a pouring rain, but if it stops for 10 min you never know.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6567342
12/01/16 06:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 99
elbob
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 99 |
I shot a doe with the high wind.
From the Take a number going on at Kuby's when i dropped off some quarters i know at least 40 people had some luck. Took me about 40 minutes just to drop off. they were on number 376 then i snagged my number of 404 and i know the numbers were at least to 427 then i left with more trucks trying to find a place to park.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6567359
12/01/16 06:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605 |
Hunt the thickest, lowest country you can during real high winds. They get jumpy because high winds mess with their smell and hearing, their two most effective defenses. All the brush and trees waving around wildly also make them much more spooky.
We flew a helicopter census on our place yesterday and it was super windy. We know approximately how many deer we have on the ranch due to all the trail cams we run. Observed less than 40% of our deer and -0- mature bucks, of which there are many. That's why I think helicopter surveys are basically worthless, even with extrapolation. Unfortunately, they are expensive and a necessary evil of having MLD III status.
I'll promise you those mature bucks and many other deer were in the thickest creek bottom brush they could find.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6568049
12/02/16 04:33 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124
LandPirate
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124 |
White-tail are normally skittish. When every thing is moving and making noise, they go into sensory overload. My experience is that they'll be jumpy. Spook and run for no apparent reason other than wind.
Mike Buda, Tx Hunt near Freer
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6572116
12/05/16 01:37 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,113
Flashprism
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,113 |
I also find high winds make for far less movement and those that move are as jumpy as hell!!!!!!!
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6572238
12/05/16 02:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638 |
High winds can help you pinpoint deer depending on what type of terrain your hunting. On our ranch if you hunt the headers that block the wind you will find the deer there.
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6572292
12/05/16 02:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958
gary roberson
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958 |
This is kinda like the rain deal, it depends on where you are hunting. Deer out west and in the Panhandle are more tolerant of the wind than they are back east or south. 10-15 mph wind is just a breeze out west and will not affect deer movement at all. I agree that the wind need to get to puffing over 25 to have much affect on deer movement in the Panhandle or Trans Pecos. But what the heck do I know? Adios, Gary
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: foodieguy]
#6572366
12/05/16 03:39 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 33
bfrog5
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 33 |
can definitely happen if you're targeting the thick brush in lower altitude but it'll be worth it to wait for better conditions
Jesus is Lord!
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Re: Hunting in high winds?
[Re: TX TCAT]
#6572418
12/05/16 04:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,466
Jkd106
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,466 |
My favorite thing to do in high wind is stalk into the wind. This. For sure, it conceals movement and noise.
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