whitetail hunting in strong winds/ change tactics???????

[Zradix]

Tomorrow I'll be ground hunting for deer on our opening day in a mixed hardwood/pines area.

The forecast is for strong winds (Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a north wind 11 to 14 mph increasing to between 20 and 23 mph. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.)

Any hints or insight on how this changes the deer's patterns?

Thanks    

[Blaino]

people say that deer don't move much on windy days because that can't smell or hear as well.  i say you can't shoot anything if you don't show up.

[Zradix]

oh yeah man.
I'll be out there come hell or high water...lol
I don't really give much credit to the " they don't move" story either.
I mean they like to eat and drink..not to mention find the girls here a little later.

[jamesh76]

Hunt the creek bottoms that catch less wind and below the ridges.

It is also a good time to do some stalking and try to find some bedded. Especially if the ground is not all dried up.

[Zradix]

yeah that sounds smart.
The ground will be pretty quiet.
It's been rainy for the past 5 days.

hhmmmmm

[NBK]

I agree with James.
This time of season daytime deer movement isn't great anyways, so I'd walk any ridge tops or contour with my eyes looking on the downwind side.  I've also seen deer bed far out in the middle of open areas with taller grasses, i.e. marsh or crp etc. because I believe they can use their noses to cover upwind and their eyes to a greater advantage downwind.  If nothing else it'd be a good excuse to cover some ground and find those first rub lines of the season which can payoff before the rut kicks in.  Good luck and have fun!

[bentpole]

Stay on the ground wind in your face. They'll be bedded down in the pine thickets. They stop the wind. Deer get crazy on windy days. They loose all their senses. Noisey can't hear you. Windy can't smell you. You can practically step on squirrels on windy days too.Try to shoot straight!

[Burnsie]

Walk a row or two deep in standing corn, can't hear anything with the ratteling corn stalks.

[wollelybugger]

Got to shoot a couple of deer on windy days, stay in the thickets and hunker down. They still get hungry but won't move out in the open.

[Shawn Leonard]

I agree with James, hunt the bottoms and also you can use all that extra movement and noise get close. Shawn

[Mike Theis]

I love a cedar swamp when it's windy, around here they are thick. The tops are rocking, and at the base fairly quiet. Finding a shooting lane is the problem. Most of the time, they'll jump up before they take flight. Wind creates indecision in them. But hey, lots of fun putting the "Mohican Sneak" on them. And you should have the place to yourself, because so many avoid hunting in windy weather. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Go for it.