Chance it or not go - thermals/wind

[mheichelbech]

How many times have you had situations where you knew the thermals or wind had a good chance of getting you busted and you decided to sit there anyways? How has it worked out?

Since I have come to recognize those things as problems I have to say probably 75% of the time I’ve either been busted or didn’t see any deer (likely busted and didn’t know it).

It’s tough sometimes as there are spots I really want to hunt and the conditions dictate that I shouldn’t hunt them. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s best to pass unless there is an alternative place to sit in the area.

[Dewey]

I know that feeling. The last two days I started out with a consistent wind but then went light and variable at primetime. Combined with falling thermals it’s been tough in the hills. My milkweed has been going completely mental. Looks like tonight and tomorrow will be much of the same. Give me a stronger steady wind any day. Light and variable is tough no matter how you approach it. Deer don’t like it either and are really on the edge losing the scent advantage. Pretty frustrating knowing your burning good spots but it’s all part of the game and all you can do is adapt to it and try to make it work somehow. When I’m hunting out of state skipping a day of hunting isn’t an option.

[Boogieman1]

For me the situation you describe happens quite frequently on evening hunts. I be good all day with wind but come prime time when the thermals drop things start looking “iffy”. Other times I will go in just b4 prime time with a bad wind but set up for the thermal. Both cases have cost me several bucks but on the other hand it’s got me a few too. It’s tough to find a good spot, with safe entry, good stable wind and thermal in your favor. I pick my poison and give it my best crack.

[brancher147]

I have learned the hard way too many times...if the wind/thermals are not right you gotta move or get out of there.

[naternate]

Happened to me the other night. Spent 2 hours stalking in to a stand within 80 yrds of buck bedding. Very light to almost no wind so I was checking thermals with milkweed constantly. Steps at a time because no wind to hide the noise. Would get swirls on the way in but I made a choice with limited days to hunt I would chance it. Got all set up and about 20 mins later the only gust of the night heads straight to the beds. As I release some milkweed, a deer crashes off from bedding. I knew there was the chance I could get busted but I made a calculated decision to just go ahead. In my mind you have to balance the risk and reward. The spot I was hunting is a bed to alfalfa feed pattern that Is going to go away soon so I felt benefit outweighed risk. Different situation I might have made a different decision

[camelcluch]

It a situational choice for me. Am I hunting last day, traveling or something that would limit my hunting? With these I usually push. If I have time and knowledge I would hold back.

[Rich M]

I grew up hunting a farm that had very reliable thermals.

The bucks rarely walked straight upwind (uphill) in the evenings or straight downhill in the mornings after the thermals changed - they used to wait at the top of the hill for the thermals to change before heading to bedding.

The deer would angle up and down the hills and that, I'm sure most do. So, there has to be a spot where a guy can set up and be off wind.