Combating Swirling Winds

Photo courtesy of Apple Creek Whitetails

One of the questions I get asked most often is, “ How do you hunt in swirling winds?”


Swirling winds can occur anywhere in North America. However, they seem to occur most often while I’m hunting whitetail deer. Swirling winds can be a real nightmare. Often the only thing we succeed at is blowing are scent all over the hunting area and lowering our chances of seeing deer let alone harvesting one. While swirling winds are far from the ideal hunting situation there are a couple of things you can do to improve your chances.

First off, we should place our stand high on a ridge. This will help prevent both thermals and circling winds from pushing our scent throughout the area.

Secondly, we should place our stand high in the tree. I recommend a minimum of 18 to 20 feet. This dramatically improves our chances of keeping our odors above the deer’s noses.

If I’m still hunting or stalking, I’ll move into the direction of the prevailing wind regardless of the wind swirling. Often the prevailing wind will keep the swirling winds from spreading our scent to far in front of us. But you’ll be much farther ahead if you hunt out of a high stand on a high ridge during swirling winds then any other hunting method.

I can promise you this, you have a better chance of killing a deer hunting in swirling winds than you do sitting in your living room watching football.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
Jim
The Book
http://jimcollyer.com/