Shooting in High wind

[bigugly1]

So I got sick of shooting in the hallway and the sun was shining so I headed into the backyard. Problem was the 50km/h wind with gust to 70km/h and -20 to boot. I shot untill I couldn't feel string anymore but likely ended up with about 60 shots. I can tell you it was an experience, at 20y if I waited for the gusts to let up I could group them pretty good but at 25y I was still hitting bag but the arrows had some pretty funky waving happening, especially since I was shooting from between houses and the arrow was affected by different winds. Still fun but man the hot cup of coffee feels good. Thank God for woll and fleece. So when do you say enough is enough? I would never hunt in a wind like this that's for sure!

[Stumpkiller]

It is humbling for certain.  I know from 3-D shoots and my own yard targets a side wind will mess me up.

Luckily, when bowhunting, the wind is at your nose.  ;-)  I never give up; though I can't remember having a shot opportunity in extremely windy conditions.  Our tangled woods are pretty good at stopping the worst of it.

[JimB]

I know what you mean.We haven't had one hour's letup in the wind for 3 weeks-till just now.I hate shooting in the wind normally but used it to test some new arrows.I have been trying some 3" four fletch lately and used the heavy crosswinds to test them out,using broadheads.They handle the wind noticeably better than the 5" three fletch I have used for decades.They still wobble some but a lot less than 5".

I shot yesterday in the high wind and they were grouping real well at 15 yds and I don't change my point of aim.In this country,you have to plan on hunting in some wind if you want to hunt much.

It is an eye opener for sure.

[pdk25]

When I have to hunt in higher winds, I take my heavier bows with skinny shafts and not too much fletching.

[McDave]

I don't know that I would hunt in a high wind, as it might result in a wounded animal.  However, as far as practicing or shooting in tournaments in a high wind, I think a person could be his own worst enemy.  True, you're not going to shoot as well, but neither is anyone else.  Shooting not as well is no excuse for not having good form, but I find it hard to maintain good form when the arrows are flying sideways.  But it's a good exercise of mind over wind, (hey, that's kind of neat: turn the "m" over in "mind" and you get "wind"!), so is a worthwhile thing to learn to do.

[Bill Sant]

Up on the haul road if you don't hunt in the wind you can go for weeks and not hunt.  I try and shoot every chance I get when its really windy.  It does give you a great dose of humility.  There are so many circumstances that hunting throws at us that we should try and be aware of and should try and learn to deal with.
If all you want is to plunk arrow after arrow at a target with good lighting, 20 yards,72 degrees, no wind, you're missing a lot of what hunting is all about.

[pdk25]

The beauty of hunting in high winds is that you can often get closer to your quarry.  Makes less difference.  Trying to shoot with the wind in your face rather than a crosswind helps also.

[ksbowman]

I always like a little wind when hunting to help cover my noise.The amount of when does govern how far I'll shoot though.

[steadman]

Ben he said hunting "in the wind" not "with wind". You might have read that wrong LOL!          
If you don't want to hunt in strong winds, stay away from Wyoming then!

[bigugly1]

Oh I'll hunt in wind but not a wind like today. In my neck ofthe woods the deer just don't move when the trees are sideways. I do like to practice in everything too.

[bigugly1]

Oh I'll hunt in wind but not a wind like today. In my neck ofthe woods the deer just don't move when the trees are sideways. I do like to practice in everything too.

[Green]

We've had a pretty windy couple of weeks here....when the wind blows 20+ I put away the woodies and drag out Beman MFX skinny carbons that are pretty high FOC and have 4" fletching....they still tail a bit in the wind, but the extra weight up front lands them where I'm aiming.  Like McDave said....this isn't the kind of arrow flight that is good for penetration when hunting, but for backyard target practice it'll stop you from thinking your bow is way out of tune, or you've gone completely to pot on your shooting form.

[Bow Bum]

15-20mph Cross wind will mess up the flight on a wheel bow.

Cross winds can really mess with your confidence when your practicing.

However, I've found that unwavering concentration can overcome the wind.

B

[Night Wing]

I don't like to bowhunt or tune an arrow in high wind conditions. The last two days have been great wind wise. Very light winds. It's allowed me to tune a 32", 2212 aluminum arrow so I can shoot it out of both of my take down recurves.

[Bonebuster]

It drives me crazy to see anything but good arrow flight.

When hunting season is approaching, I WILL shoot in whatever weather conditions exist, but times like now, I wait for calm winds so I can watch how pretty they fly.