Thermals questions

[doublebow]

How long does it take for the thermals to switch after the morning sun starts to hit an east facing slope?

I assume it will be considerably later in the morning for a west facing slope. How much?

 

[Nickofthewoods]

The ground has to warm up enough to cause the shift in air movement, so about mid morning when you first start to think about dropping a layer should be about right. A lot of variables due to daily conditions make thermals difficult to predict like that.

 

[ElkNut1]

No set time or rule. Some mountains are taller than others so sun will take longer to clear tops & hit the mountainside.

Do you have a more specific thought in mind that concerns you?

Personally I don't worry about wind direction much until I locate elk, once located I position & use it religiously as I close the distance. As I do this I have my wind checker in my hand pretty much until an arrow flies!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[BrentLaBere]

Good answers above and you really wont know until you spend some time in there. Not to mention the time of year and the different weather patterns, they can change from day to day. Each area, even on a given face of the mountain, will warm up or cool down differently. The type of vegetation or cover is a factor.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

use your wind check, but rule of thumb is around 11am things tend to switch, swirling before then., but hours of sunlight and starting temp and windy weather can change things.

If your hunting slow enough, you will feel the wind change on your face

 

[doublebow]

No set time or rule. Some mountains are taller than others so sun will take longer to clear tops & hit the mountainside.

Do you have a more specific thought in mind that concerns you?

Personally I don't worry about wind direction much until I locate elk, once located I position & use it religiously as I close the distance. As I do this I have my wind checker in my hand pretty much until an arrow flies!

ElkNut/Paul

I was wondering if this phenomenon had a predictable time frame for the switch after the sun lights up the mountain. For example, you are following elk up the mountain in the morning and the sun just started hitting the mountain, how much time do you have before you need to move horizontally to avoid being winded.

 

[*zap*]

As the sun heats the valley floor the thermal starts to shift, not sure that it needs to actually hit the whole slope itself....I would think that as the bottom areas heat up and start thermal updrafts the upper areas of thermal downdraft would intensify for a bit.

 

[ElkNut1]

To be upfront here, don't worry about it, too much emphasis on the wind. Of course once you know you are getting close to elk you need to monitor wind direction but prior to that it's not a big deal.

Once on the mountain & if wind is heading up somewhat it's pretty easy to move left or right if elk are seen or heard above you to get the wind in your favor as you approach them closing the distance.

I hunt mainly dark timber with a few openings here & there, I locate most elk through bugling so I can get their position well before they could wind me, once located I proceed into the wind, before that I call & move, Run & Gun! Your scent in most conditions doesn't travel that far. If on flat ground like the Wallmart parking lot then yes ones scent can travel a good distance. With up & down mountainous terrain it's not such a problem, I generally have plenty of time when 200 yards or further from where I've heard or seen elk to re-position & make my play.

ElkNut/Paul