Ground pounders and swirling winds

[buckeye_hunter]

A puffer and a very light feather or two. If the wind is up even just a bit it will carry the feather and show you where the wind is traveling.

By light feather I mean SUPER small. Helps if there is a bit of a curl to it. Like the down that comes out of pillows and such.

[Covey]

Where's ol Joe Skipp? He's a ground hunting guru, he helped me a bunch! Jason

[Ray Hammond]

RC is shootin the cut straight - no offense but folks who haven't hunted the extreme SE don't really get what you're sayin' I dont believe

A ridge down here is three feet higher than surrounding ground

Our topos have one elevation mark on a map

This isn't really like much else I've hunted and I've hunted a ton of states and provinces

When the temps are falling and there is no wind, hunt as low as you can.  When the wind is shifting and it is warming hunt as high as you can.  I use to use a feather on floss, then went to powder, but nothing tells me where my scent is going as good as smoke from a cigar or a corn cob pipe.  Actually I once had a huge 12 pointer adn a 22 inch 8 pointer come in on me when when I was smoking my pipe from down wind.  The 12 gave me a chance at only 12 yards and the 8 was 12 feet.  They started to square off with each other with me in the middle.  There was no way I could shoot because my metal handled compound was hanging on a branch out of reach.  that was my compound year, 1973.  the bow was hanging because my hand was freezing and I was sick of carrying it. I moved to catch the morning sun and sit on the more comfortable side of the rock, the side with no place to hang that heavy, clunky cold bow.

[ron w]

It's swirling for the game also, just do your best and keep an eye on the wind the best you can.

[Lost Arra]

Two suggestions:

1. Hunt days with a strong wind from a sustained direction. I've got areas that swirl when the wind is light so I hunt those areas when the wind is really blowing harder (frequent in Oklahoma). I think strong winds level the playing field a little because there is more noise and movement with leaves and branches moving around. I've actually gotten closer to deer when ground hunting on windy days.

2. For calm days find tasty tag soup recipes. I've got plenty.

[swampdrummer]

Thanks folks, Lots of good advice here. Like RC and Ray said. Its flatter than flat down here. Sure keeps things interesting!
But thanks again. Ya'll have given me a bunch to think about!

[straitera]

Never seen so many deer as when I dug a pit blind about 3' deep. Surrounded it w/deadfall leaving shooting lanes most every direction. I could stand, draw, & shoot unseen. Deer came from downwind too many times. East Texas has roots every half inch so I don't dig here.

[GingivitisKahn]

Just play the forecast wind and realize you will lose lots of times.  It's just the way it is.  What's your other option - sit at home?

Your odds of killing a deer are significantly better if you get out there where they are.

 

Originally posted by buckeye_hunter:
A puffer and a very light feather or two. If the wind is up even just a bit it will carry the feather and show you where the wind is traveling.

By light feather I mean SUPER small. Helps if there is a bit of a curl to it. Like the down that comes out of pillows and such.

Good call.  For super light, you can get a little bit of marabou feather (in a variety of colors, if that's of any interest) from a fly tying shop.  If there's a lighter, puffier feather, I'm not aware of it.

[Bow Bum]

I have a spot like you describe. Lots of deer, and some big bucks too.

I have to really watch my scent as in washing clothes in bakign soda, and keeping them aired outside as much as possible. I've also succumbed to the scent free shower soap and use that stuff the entire season with non-scented deodorant. I also have to hunt from a tree. I do get "detected" but have not been all out busted from my scent in about a year.

I've also noticed that on cold, still mornings alot of time there is a thermal kind fo taking place. Letting a fuzz go from your hat or ves will often result in its floating upward. This would probably be the best situation for a swirling wind - ground bling application?


I feel for you and the situation.

Best of luck.

B