Analyzing a thermal tunnel- artcle by Jeff G.

[magicman54494]

more questions
i have hunted very little in hill country.

1. why would the does bed on the windward side?
i thought the norm was to set up on the leeward side.

2. is there a time of day that these bucks cruise the inv. tunnel or is it an all day set?
3. in your article you stated that you didnt have luck on the wrong wind. wouldnt the tunnel still work but only in the opposite direction on the opposite wind? and / or why wouldnt you have switched to the other side on that day?
sorry for all the quest ions but this is new to me...... and probably almost everyone else.

4. any guesses as to how to guess where this will happen on new places? if this is a repeatable behavior there should be some predictors.

thanks

1. Does bed in groups for security, more eyes and rely on each other for safety. I find they bed on the top of the hillsides and nobs quite frequent. they do not take the wind into account as a mature buck does. the bucks will bed on the points, wind to back and looking down for danger. they are loners. they seek out the safest areas. does also do this but in my opinion not as often. they are a more social animal. the tops of the hills are brushier/denser. more hiding spots.

2. i usually catch the big bucks at grey light and just before closing time. Its not an invisible tunnel, the spot i refer to where they cross the ditch is a invisible funnel. the funnel is do to the bucks needing to cross because they know there are active doe bedding groups on the tops of the nobs. the need to breed/seek pulls them to satisfy the need. Young dumb deer will cruise the thermal tunnel route all day long, big stuff is real early or late.

3. yes the thermal tunnel would set up on the other hillside with a north wind. the wind the first sit did not set up a thermal tunnel, it was blowing more down/parallel to the hillside. the tunnel was not there and the bucks were not causing my hillside. I can not set up on the other side. access is the problem. the bucks would be bedded on the points with a north wind and would have me busted as soon as I would approach.

4. locate all the leeward sides on hills based on the wind you want to hunt. bedding across on the windblown side will cause a crossover/invisible funnel and they will use it to access the bedding on the wind side. The map of the property i hunt shows that when the bucks cross, it pretty much dead ends and they need to loop back. they don't want to take the the open field.

thanks for answering my questions Jeff.

[Jeff G]

more questions
i have hunted very little in hill country.

1. why would the does bed on the windward side?
i thought the norm was to set up on the leeward side.

2. is there a time of day that these bucks cruise the inv. tunnel or is it an all day set?
3. in your article you stated that you didnt have luck on the wrong wind. wouldnt the tunnel still work but only in the opposite direction on the opposite wind? and / or why wouldnt you have switched to the other side on that day?
sorry for all the quest ions but this is new to me...... and probably almost everyone else.

4. any guesses as to how to guess where this will happen on new places? if this is a repeatable behavior there should be some predictors.

thanks

1. Does bed in groups for security, more eyes and rely on each other for safety. I find they bed on the top of the hillsides and nobs quite frequent. they do not take the wind into account as a mature buck does. the bucks will bed on the points, wind to back and looking down for danger. they are loners. they seek out the safest areas. does also do this but in my opinion not as often. they are a more social animal. the tops of the hills are brushier/denser. more hiding spots.

2. i usually catch the big bucks at grey light and just before closing time. Its not an invisible tunnel, the spot i refer to where they cross the ditch is a invisible funnel. the funnel is do to the bucks needing to cross because they know there are active doe bedding groups on the tops of the nobs. the need to breed/seek pulls them to satisfy the need. Young dumb deer will cruise the thermal tunnel route all day long, big stuff is real early or late.

3. yes the thermal tunnel would set up on the other hillside with a north wind. the wind the first sit did not set up a thermal tunnel, it was blowing more down/parallel to the hillside. the tunnel was not there and the bucks were not causing my hillside. I can not set up on the other side. access is the problem. the bucks would be bedded on the points with a north wind and would have me busted as soon as I would approach.

4. locate all the leeward sides on hills based on the wind you want to hunt. bedding across on the windblown side will cause a crossover/invisible funnel and they will use it to access the bedding on the wind side. The map of the property i hunt shows that when the bucks cross, it pretty much dead ends and they need to loop back. they don't want to take the the open field.

thanks for answering my questions Jeff.

Anytime. It’s hard to describe typing, much easier in person, we might have to do a video podcast on the topic.

[magicman54494]

Anytime. It’s hard to describe typing, much easier in person, we might have to do a video podcast on the topic.

agreed, its hard to explain concepts with words. hill country is something i have very little experience in. I would havr guessed that these bucks would cruise the doe beds late morning after the does are settled in. i know i see that in the big woods. during the rut id rather hunt 10-2 then morning and evening.