Which way the wind blows.

[ozstriker22]

You're sitting high up on a bluff overlooking your hunting area, when you spot the Hog of a lifetime. This is YOUR pig. He's feeding with a couple of sows down in the brush. You grab your bow or rifle because you've got a stalk to start! The biggest problem now is making sure your scent doesn't reach that boar!

When the wind isn't obvious, what methods do you use to tell what direction the wind is flowing, way over there where the hog is?

And as you're making your final stalk on approached the hogs, what methods do you use to monitor the winds changes?

Do you use a butane lighter? A handfull of dry leavs and grass? Some dirt or sand? Do you carry some type of powder with you? Do you have some other piece of equipment with wind sensing qualities?

Well, How do you do it?

 

[hicntry]

The easiest and most convenient method I have used is a downey feather tied to a length of thread. the other end is attached to my hat band. When not needed the feather is pinned to the hat(not tucked into the hatband because of moisture). When I need to keep track of the wind, I unpin the feather and let it hang about 6" off the brim of the hat. All I have to do is stop for a second and watch it to see if the wind has shifted. No scratching for dirt, dried grass, or powder. When done, I just pin it back up out of the way.

 

[dreaminhogs]

Good idea hicntry. I will give it a try.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

I use a tiny little bottle of "Baby Powder". A small squirt is silent and will blow in the direction of the wind...Seems to work for me...

 

[BDB]

I carry a small bottle with baby powder also. I also have about a 6" piece of unwaxes unscented dental floss tied to my stabalizer. I have frayed the dental floss as much as possible at the end and it flows with the wind freely. Same idea as hicntry but it's always on the front of the bow and always visible during a stalk. Not as durable as hicntry's idea though as I have to replace it every few months. I have seen alot of archers use this type of method.

 

[SDHNTR]

I use both the dental floss and the talcum powder method. The dental floss will pick up a breeze but it wont pick up thermals and ever-so-very-slight whisps that can blow your stalk. The white talcum powder does do this. You can actually watch it swirl up a thermal. Even when you would swear there is no wind or breeze at all, the powder will make you realize that your scent still carries.

 

[Bishop]

Another baby powder user. Take a empty nasal spray bottle, fill with baby powder, enlarge hole a little. Nice and flat and fits in the pocket for quick use.

 

[FForF]

Watch the fauna around the target...leaves, and grasses bend with the wind, also...use your face...you can feel it and the strength of the wind...soft and variable hit both sides of your face at different times. Leaves will blow toward your prey if you are on the wrong side...and by that time it's probably too late.

 

[BLASTMASTER]

I've noticed that calm wind tends to rise uphill as temperature rises, and falls to the valley as temperature drops.

As far as a wind indicator, I guess I'm behind the times, because I just lick my finger like a hillbilly.

 

[F350]

Oz,
I usually rely on what I can see and feel but if uncertain, Take your cool new binos and look around the feet and snouts of the game. If they're moving any dust, you'll be able to see what the wind is doing at your game's location.

Have also heard from many a good hunters bout the baby powder but isn't that stuff scented?

Trial and error man. That's why this site is so awesome.
"Nuff Said"

 

[pigdream]

Blastmaster,

I just wanted to let you know that you are right on the money. Wind "usually" will go from cool air down to the heat so where ever the cool air is is the direction of the wind. This is what cause's such things as a strong breeze here in the valley during the summer when the coast is so much cooler. The real tricky part comes in when you have valleys that are below you and cool faster then mountains because of this little thing called a inversion. Well I will save that lesson for later.

 

[DILPRXO]

A bic Lighter works good..just watch which way the flame is going...Just try not to spark it too much if your close...to much noise.

Take Care

 

[Live2hunt]

Hunting with a rifle I don't care which direction wind blows. Before the pig could figure where that weird smell came from, my 150 grain already splatted his shoulder. Hunting with a bow, I either use dust on the ground or lick my finger and see which side of the finger feels the wind.



L2H

 

[spectr17]

We now carry the Smoke In A Bottle in the online store.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/osCommerce/pr...products_id/186

 

[hicntry]

AAuggghh, a marketing thread for smoke in a bottle. It all becoming clear now.

 

[sdbowyer]

I've allways used my face, hands or objects I could find around me. Now that I shave my head bald, it's fantastic at picking up subtle changes in wind direction. Only when you have shaven your head bald like me will you truly show that you are dedicated to becoming a master hunter.