Hunting the wind

[Mayfly]

If you go hunting today, I doubt you would have to worry about subtle air currents.  From the looks of it, most of the scent will be in Wisconson or Iowa. 

I told myself I was not going to go out today and now the itch is starting.... i'm thinking ground blind tucked back into some pines.   

[FireRanger]

Not that my opinion is worth a damn  but I agree with what a lot of everything said. BUT! The fact that deer get big because they can outwit a hunter only lasts so long! If they always trusted their nose and we always give off some sort of sent...put these together and nobody would ever shoot a big deer! Ever. They make mistakes, they throw caution to the wind, they are as curious and foolish as a child when it comes to this season in some cases. They are animals with certain hieghtened scenses but they are still animals and if they were as smart as some people think then maybe we would be on their menu! Just sayin'

You're right, it's not worth much....

I don't play the wind.  I sit on an ATV trail, on the ground, on the biggest rise on the trail, and I still shoot deer.  I don't use any sprays or scent free/locking clothing, just hunt with what I've got and make the best of it.

Your not invited this weekend .......

[22lex]

If you go hunting today, I doubt you would have to worry about subtle air currents.  From the looks of it, most of the scent will be in Wisconson or Iowa. 

I told myself I was not going to go out today and now the itch is starting.... i'm thinking ground blind tucked back into some pines.   

Granted deer aren't elk, but some of our best elk hunting came in a 20+ mph wind with sideways blowing snow in September in MT. They acted just like cattle, backs to wind, didn't bother them one bit and they came out of the woods a hell of alot earlier!

Good luck if you go, make sure to not use a blind!

[Jeremy (Yeti)]

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hunting/traditional-methods/hunting-scent.htm/printable

Article from Discovery.  Also do you guys think it is the scent when your in the stand 15' feet up or is it more so the scent of you walking to your stand at ground level?  What are your thoughts...

[Mayfly]

Good luck if you go, make sure to not use a blind!

If I make it out i'm going to a spot that only a ground blind will work. Just hope it doesn't blow away but I will be tucked away in some pines. Should be fun... if I could just get this work done!

[Mayfly]

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hunting/traditional-methods/hunting-scent.htm/printable

Article from Discovery.  Also do you guys think it is the scent when your in the stand 15' feet up or is it more so the scent of you walking to your stand at ground level?  What are your thoughts...

I have a few thoughts on that.

I'll tell you a story about when I first started bow hunting back in 99. One day I went to hunt and parked in the land owners driveway, got ready and headed into the woods. About a half hour to 46 minutes later I caught some movement to the right back towards the landowners house. After a second I noticed his dog was in the woods and was coming my way. The dog, with his nose to the ground, followed the exact trail through the woods that I had walked in on and walked directly to my tree and looked up! Talk about a buzz kill!

Nowadays I rarely go in with my knee high rubber boots on and before I go in I spray them down very good! I also wear gloves when I go in and touch nothing on my walk in. I head straight to the stand and get up. I see deer using my same trail and crossing it many times and never have seen them alerted. I have in the past but not recently so I feel like I am not leaving any ground scent behind.

[deadeye]

Yes, you do leave scent on the ground.  Last year I sprayed scent killer on my knee high rubber boots prior to going to my stand.  On the way in I cross a major deer trail.  (no real option for a different approach).  I stepped over the trail being carefull not to touch any near by brush/grass.  A spike came down the trail (about 25 yards away) and stopped dead in his tracks when he hit where I crossed the trail.  He made 3-4 jumps back the direction he came from and then headded towards me.  Just as he reached the tree I was in, he again headded in the direction of where I walked in.  He again stopped dead in his tracks when he reached my path.  He finally left the area but would not cross where I had walked in. 

Note: About 1 hour later I killed a very nice 8 point after it had crossed the same path I walked in on - the same one the spike would not cross.  Go figure.