Best Places to Hunt Game When Wind Is Present?

Calling in the Wind

When wind is blowing, game animals like deer and turkeys rely on their keen senses to navigate and find food, making them more sensitive to human scent and noise. To increase your chances of a shot, focus on terrain features that funnel the wind, such as ridges, hills, and valleys, which can help to dissipate human scent and create a more natural environment. For deer hunting, consider using a wind call like a grunt tube or a mouth call to mimic the sounds of a buck in rut, which can draw deer into your area.

Wind Direction and Stand Placement

When setting up a stand, consider the wind direction and how it will affect the game’s movement and your scent. Ideally, you want the wind to be blowing from behind you, so that your scent is carried away from the game, rather than towards it. If you can’t set up with the wind at your back, try to position yourself so that the wind is blowing perpendicular to your stand, which can help to reduce the impact of your scent on the game. For example, if you’re hunting in a valley with a gentle breeze blowing from the west, consider setting up your stand on the eastern side of a ridge, where the wind will be blowing from behind you and carrying your scent away from the game.

Game-Specific Strategies

When hunting specific species, such as turkeys, consider using a different approach to calling in the wind. For example, turkeys are highly sensitive to the sound of a gobble, so you may want to use a more subtle call to start with, such as a soft “keek-keek-keek” sound, and gradually increase the volume and intensity of your calling as the turkeys get closer. By being aware of the wind direction and using the right calling strategy, you can increase your chances of getting close to your target and taking a shot.