Wind Direction and Human Scent

[FlaRiverBottom]

I hunt in the Southeast and deal with swirling winds as well as changing thermals while hunting creek bottoms. It stays more consistent the more northerly wind direction and wind speed we get but more often then not it will be inconsistent. My question and I hope I can explain it clearly is not for a bed specific hunt , but more creek crossing or pinch point stand. I am trying to understand for example if my wind is say changing 40 degrees every hour while i am on stand does it affect a deer traveling through an area my scent blew 2 or 3 hours earlier? Does my scent blow through the air and settle on vegetation? I guess I'm asking if ground scent and air scent has the same affect on deer? Thank you for any feed back.

[Mathewshooter]

While I have no scientific evidence, I can tell you what I've observed in over 30 years of hunting. I dont think your air/body current scent sticks around very long if at all. I also hunt areas with swirling winds. Ive observed deer walking through many times where my scent had just been blowing. Ive also had them standing directly downwind and not smell me. Was this because my scent dissipated before it got to the deer or was it my scent control regiment? It could be a combination of both. I would be more concerned with leaving odors on the ground and vegetation. I think that sticks around for days.

[Jdw]

I had a hunt a while back where I was set up below where I expected the deer to come from. When I got set up the milkweed was going up to where I was expecting the deer movement. The deer came out 20-30 minutes after the thermals switched. I watched them for 15 or 20 minutes and they didn’t show any evidence they could smell me.

I have also had multiple times that deer busted me when I thought I had the wind in my favor.

I have certain ditch and creek crossings I won’t hunt because of variable winds. Sometimes it’s better to only cover some of the trails instead of running a high risk of getting busted.

If hunting that spot is the best option bring plenty of milkweed and try to figure out what wind and thermal conditions give you the best chance in that spot.

[FlaRiverBottom]

Thank you for the feedback.