Thermal tunnel questions

[mheichelbech]

What wind speed does it take for a thermal tunnel to develop?

How do you know one is happening so its huntable?

If bucks are know to be in that area, is it always a good idea to hunt one?

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[dan]

What wind speed does it take for a thermal tunnel to develop?

With thermals rising, and wind direction going over the top, it don't take much at all, sometimes you can't even feel it but you can detect it with milkweed. With no thermals at all, it would take a slight breeze, enough to feel, to create a vacuum effect without a thermal current causing a swirl.

How do you know one is happening so its huntable?

Day time, sun is shining on the hill, and wind is blowing over the valley. Basically, anytime during the day that your on the leeward side, and there is no shadow on your hillside.

If bucks are know to be in that area, is it always a good idea to hunt one?

Not always... They are the best spot to be during the rut, and often outside the rut deer walk the thermal tunnel for a short distance as they stage before heading up or down. Its a good idea to be near the thermal tunnel because deer don't move far in daylight and will be bedded along the leeward hillside, but you still need to know where they are naturally heading outside of the rut.