I see the "pros" on TV using some sort of a powder they spray into the air to check wind direction. I'm sure there has to be other ways to do this.
I'm curious as to how everyone checks the wind. I'm thinking of tying a piece of thread to the top of my bow.
So what do you do?
I have a piece of floss tied to the top limb. But I also pick up cattails and cotton wood blow off and keep with me. And the there is the ol' lick your finger and hold it up method.
Used to always have a marabou feather on the string near the upper tip on 6" of thread. Often doesn't last through much stump shooting so I have the remaining thread.
As I age I find ear and eyebrow hair detects wind currents pretty well.
I like to use milk weed pods. Just pull out one of the white puffy clumps and let them float. Not only do they tell you wind direction they show you how the thermals are working. Last night the wind was out of the NW. It got dead quiet and the milk weed showed me that the wind died to zero because it went straight to the ground under my tree just as a doe approached at ten yards. She stopped, knew something was amiss but couldn't figure it out. She hung around for about 10 minutes, licked herself and preened most of the time but she caught my movement and I am pretty sure the dead wind gave her enough of a sense that she turned and walked back the way she came. Dead calm can hurt you when the deer are too close.
I tie a milk weed pod to my bow with a thread.
White thread tied on all my stands. If ground hunting tie it on your bottom bow tip.
Miklk weed,thistle, all work great. The guys on TV are more than likely using corn starch. That's what some of my buddies use in the little bottles. The threads tied to your bow work great too.
I like to use un-waxed dental floss... After it is tied onto a limb tip it can be pulled into single strands that will move with the slightest breeze... Stronger then thread also.
... mike ...
I use the powder (called corn starch) that the "pros" use. It works great, and sometimes will show you thermals.
If you tie flies or know someone who does, Antron yarn is perfect for a wind indicator. Tie a 2" piece on each end of your bow or string. Catches the faintest breeze.
If you tie flies or know someone who does, Antron yarn is perfect for a wind indicator. Tie a 2" piece on each end of your bow or string. Catches the faintest breeze.
Milk weed for sure. Can follow it in the air for as far as I can shoot.
Hap
Second the corn starch in a small puff bottle.
Cotton balls. Stuff them in all your pockets...you only need one or two really, cause they last. I used to do the milkweed pods too, but cotton balls are easier. Pull a bit off and watch it drift.
I use both, milkweed, and I'll use cornstarch. The milkweed, I can see what the wind is doing for quite a distance, even thermals
milkweed, just grabbed a few pods yesterday for season
I use bubbles that my kids have. They are the kind that dry and don't pop easy. I can watch them for a good distance from my stand and have even seen them land on a leaf when it's calm only to drift off again as the wind picks back up.
I like to add some flour to corn starch in a puffer bottle. It seems to give me more visible dust to follow wind drift.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I think I'll try the cornstarch. Where do you get a puffer bottle?
I cleaned out a bottle of hand sanitizer and filled it with climbing chalk. (you have to break it up)
Cost about $2 for a lifetime supply.