Deer are moving better each day now, but the high winds are making sitting in a stand difficult. Forecast is for high winds the next few days.
Should you wait until the wind decreases, or get out and hunt regardless of strong winds. How will the wind affect movement. Now that the rut is starting, will bucks move just as much, or hunker down until things settle.
I'm sitting in a tree now with 20mph gusts..just had a buck chasing a doe go by. I try to set up on transition areas where the wind doesn't make such a ruckus..edges of pines, sage brush, etc. Some of my best hunting encounters happen on really windy, gusty days. My advice is to get after them.
Good luck!
Deer still move on windy days. They still have to eat. I sit on the ground in the thick stuff, because that is where they will feel safest when they can't hear well because of wind. I took two deer on a day with 40 mph gusts because they were confused.
Look for spots that have heavy cover out of the wind. They like those types of spots........Plus the wind can hide your mistakes if you make any! Just keep it in your face!
How about still hunting. You can stalk into the wind, and they'll never hear you coming.
One of my best days hunting ever as far as seeing bucks was on a gusty windy day.Get out and hunt cause you never know.Just strap yourself in :bigsmyl:
I tend to use the wind to allow me to get in a little closer to bedding areas and setup.
I think high wind just changes where the deer move. High winds are not much fun to hunt, but I have had very good luck on very windy days. High winds keep more hunters from moving than the deer.
Randy, are bucks already chasing in Georgia? I've noticed wind has very little effect on rutting deer.
Keep huntin em
I'll be out tomorrow. Hoping to sit a stand in the bottoms so I don't get blown out of the tree.
I prefer it to those days when there is no wind and it seems like your heartbeat will give you away on the draw.
I actually like the wind, my groundblind is set up so that 90% I am downwind from where the deer come from! The other nite it was dead still and i had a deer right at dark I swear it heard my stomach growl! LOL It has been quite windy up here, kinda gusty but still seeing deer move!
Be sure to look for dead or rotting wood around your set up area before settling in. Nothing worse than having a tree or big branch come crashing down at you. Been there, no fun.
I still love hunting windy days, but I'm always looking up!
I don't hunt on windy days anymore. I started bowhunting in 1984 and have never seen much action on windy days on farms with a lot of bucks. I truly think the bucks lay low as they have a tough time using their alarm senses. My trail cameras tell the same story. I think it is way too early in the rut also for them to drop their guard. I am waiting until Thursday. That should be a good day after these high winds the next few days.
just watched a SLAMMER 8 point oblivious to the weather (high winds) and my truck trot from one side of the road to the other with his nose to the ground...
Well, I was out this a.m. in the wind and rain, and no movement, not even the squirrels were anxious to come out.
Forecast is for even higher winds tonight, so I'm sitting tight at home, but tomorrow morning might just be a good time to be out.
Yornoc...your right on with the dead limbs falling from above, saw a couple big branches come down.
Bob,
Sunday afternoon the big buck was seen chasing a doe around my Dads farm which is about 10 minutes from our hunting lease. I've seen some big ones moving durning windy days when they are seeking the does but in general high winds usually means few deer sightings for me.
Winds are going to be worse tomorrow BUT Thursday looks like a good day. Winds will be dropping and it's November 1st!!! I'm thinking about an all day sit (if my a-- can handle it). Are you in?
Thinking the same thing...that Thursday/Friday may be great days to be in the bush all day. Started vacation today but after seeing the weather came in t work and saved the day. Will take rest of the week off and try Tues/Wed as well.
Have seen some good deer in the wind, but couple that with a big front and I believe they are laying low right now. At least that is what I am telling myself cause I came in to work today haha
" I'm thinking about an all day sit (if my a-- can handle it). Are you in? "
You gotta be kidding?
I'll take that as a NO.
J Dean, I heard all the big dumb bucks were walking around Witby today.....HAHA :laughing:
I was hunting in a cornfield Sun., the wind was really kicking it, damn near got run over by two does. Hunting in the wind, is not my favorite because your sense of hearing is handicapped, but the deer still move, and carry on.
Never the less, if i get a chance at the woods, im going! :archer2:
"J Dean, I heard all the big dumb bucks were walking around Witby today.....HAHA"
That's ok I am after the smart ones...
It's been blowing hard around here for a couple of wks and suppose to be in the 20mph's tomorrow. I don't mind it as long as it's not blowing the tree I'm in around so much I can't hold steady for a shot. Bucks are on the move and they could care less right now.
I also am cautious about dead trees around when hunting in high winds.
Saw the best buck of the year last year out in picked corn Fielding on a very windy day about this time of year. I was goose hunting because of the wind. Limited on geese but was a little mad I didn't deer hunt. My only problem is I don't get good arrow flight in 20 plus mph wind so I don't care if the deer do move in it unless I have a very sheltered area.
It's been blowing hard here ( over 20 mph. ) for over a week. I have seen several bucks cruising over that time, from 9 to noon. I actually prefer the wind, easier entry and exit to stand sites. I would rate buck activity here as high. Get out there!
I plan on sitting as much as possible after all this weather moves through. I have thursday and friday off, so hopefully they will be on their feet. I didnt go out last night because of the rain, dont want to shoot one and not have a blood trail to follow up on.
Had a shot at the biggest buck I've had the opportunity on during a windy day. The only problem was that he was in the pasture and I was in the woods. As soon as the arrow cleared the timber, the wind caught the fletching and the arrow took a left turn! The height was perfect but it ended up with the feathers brushing the back of his butt. You'd be surprised at just how high a 250+ pound buck jump, swap ends, and land on his feet!
I killed the nicest buck I ever killed while hunting a very windy day. My advantage that day came from the wind hiding my noise. I was within 20 yards of this buck for over 20 minutes moving along next to him as he fed with some does. I would never have been able to do that without the wind covering the sound of my feet on the leaves. I think the wind can be a huge advantage. Specially if you are hunting on the ground. Anything that can lower there senses only helps us. We need all the help we can get. At least I do!
High winds can blow your arrows around, I had 45 mph winds blow my arrow out of control a couple of years ago and caused a clean miss. the arrows flew perfect with less wind, but side stepped like crazy with the quartering tail wind. Just remember to to put rocks in your pockets and tie down gram-ma when it get real windy and avoid shooting long shots across the wind.
I just got in and the wind was and is really whipping. Saw a medium size buck at 8:30am come off the hill and just knew he was going to walk the main trail he was on right on down past my stand. But, he took a left. I don't know if I could have held on him anyway. The tree was really swaying.
Walked up on the biggest buck I've seen during daylight in about 7 yrs. at 11:30am. I was coming out from way back and looked to my right and there he was. Just standing broadside at about 60yds. in some thick stuff. He'd already seen me and was hoping I would walk on past. When I got an arrow out of my quiver and waited on him he bolted. He was right behind the soybean field behind my house.
I'd just seen his big fresh rub and was planning a hunt there when I busted him..hate that.
CRAZY high wind right now but i want to hunt so i'll have at it tomorrow morning!
I have pictures I retreived today of 3 different bucks-2 shooters-out and about at the height of Hurricane Sandy's temper tandrums, winds very near or above hurrican force-74 mph.