SCOUT SMARTER Learn proven scouting techniques, including how to identify trees that are important food sources for deer. Join the discussion by clicking here: WHITETAIL PURSUIT FORUM WIND DIRECTION TIPS FOR DEER HUNTERS By: Chris Anderson President, Pursuit Hunting Gear On Why All Hunters Need to Pay Attention to Wind Direction... Everyone has heard the adage about hunting into the wind when still hunting or stalking. The idea is that a mobile hunter can change his direction of travel to put the wind in his favor. Many stand hunters make the mistake of thinking, "If I'm in a treestand, I can't change location easily when the wind shifts, so why bother paying attention to it." What they don't realize is that they can improve their odds of success by paying attention to the wind. Read on to see how. On Shot Selection... All hunters (but bowhunters in particular) need to pay constant attention to wind direction when a deer is in range. Ideally, the hunter has identified several possible shooting lanes in advance. Knowing whether to wait for the deer to move into a more desirable lane or to take an immediately available shot is a huge advantage to the hunter. A hunter who knows the wind direction at all times can predict almost to the second when a moving deer is going to wind him. Hunters can wait to the last second to take a better shot, or conversely, take a longer or more difficult shot if they know they are running out of time. Be aware that the wind is almost constantly shifting direction, particularly in hollows, so knowing which way the wind was blowing even 30 seconds prior is not good enough. On Improving the Odds of Spotting a Moving Deer... It is unlikely that a deer will approach a hunter's stand directly upwind, since the hunter's scent will be moving directly toward the deer. By knowing the wind direction, the hunter can focus his attention on the other directions where he will not be detected. It is impossible to watch all 360 degrees at one time (unless you are a deer - more on that later), so focusing on the highest probability directions increases the likelihood that he will see the flick of an ear or a tail that may be the only visible sign of a nearby animal. The sooner the hunter makes visual contact with the deer, the more like it will be that he can avoid movements or sounds that will alert the animal. Deer often travel in a general upwind direction, but not necessarily straight into the wind. By knowing that, and knowing exactly where his scent is being carried, the hunter can pay particular attention to the areas on either side of his scent detection zone where a deer will be moving upwind, but unaware of the hunter's presence. On the Impact of Wind Direction on Deer Movement... Deer often cut across the wind on the downwind side of a ridge. Essentially, they are using the wind like a periscope to detect the presence of a predator on the top of the ridge or on the upwind side. If a ridge runs perpendicular to the wind, a deer will seldom travel on the upwind side. Look for well-used trails approximately 2/3 of the way up the downwind side of a ridge. On the Impact of Wind Direction on Deer Bedding Areas... In hilly terrain, look for deer bedding areas on the downwind end of a ridge, approximately 2/3 of the way up. From there, a deer will hear and/or see anything approaching uphill (upwind) and smell anything approaching down the top or sides of the ridge (downwind). Unlike humans, deer can "watch" all 360 degrees at one time.