huntingaddiction
FNG
This year has been decent as I tagged an archery buck and muzzy cow elk in WA. With that said, I have spent a ton of time in the field and have observed some other hunters and it really surprises me when I see some of the tactics.
I will say, I grew up muzzleloader hunting and never really thought about the wind until about 10 years ago when I picked up a bow. I really didn't think about then until I was out hunting with a buddy one day and he had wind checker. Hunting changed for me that day and my success rate is much higher.
As an example, this last weekend, a couple buddies and I got on a herd early Sunday morning. The wind was pretty good and we had a spike with 5 cows coming our way right at daylight. This was perfect, we were about 100 yards from the truck and one buddy had a cow tag while the other needed to shoot a spike. They were on a trail that passed about 75 yard up the hill from us and our wind was perfect. At 379 yards I felt the wind hit the back of our neck and the elk stopped, stuck their noses in the air, then turned and ran the other direction. Those elk smelled us from 379 yards away.
Another example, when I killed my cow this year I elected to get the wind in my favor and come up on the elk. I ended up closing the distance even though the elk could see me, because they never smelled me. Another hunter made a comment as they had watched me kill her, he asked how I had got that close. It was simple, I had kept the wind in my favor, the same guy had elected to sit higher in the canyons and when those elk were coming up, they could smell him. They all ended up coming back down to the bottom and going up another canyon.
I have watched guys push elk with the wind blowing the wrong direction. I have had guys cut between a bull and I this year in Montana with the wind blowing the wrong direction. It never works out having the wind at your back.
The reason I bring it up? If you are hunting hard putting in the miles and still having a hard time finding success, check the wind. It might just be that key detail that will bring you success. I don't care how many scent eliminators or cover ups you use. If the wind is blowing towards them, they can smell you!
I will say, I grew up muzzleloader hunting and never really thought about the wind until about 10 years ago when I picked up a bow. I really didn't think about then until I was out hunting with a buddy one day and he had wind checker. Hunting changed for me that day and my success rate is much higher.
As an example, this last weekend, a couple buddies and I got on a herd early Sunday morning. The wind was pretty good and we had a spike with 5 cows coming our way right at daylight. This was perfect, we were about 100 yards from the truck and one buddy had a cow tag while the other needed to shoot a spike. They were on a trail that passed about 75 yard up the hill from us and our wind was perfect. At 379 yards I felt the wind hit the back of our neck and the elk stopped, stuck their noses in the air, then turned and ran the other direction. Those elk smelled us from 379 yards away.
Another example, when I killed my cow this year I elected to get the wind in my favor and come up on the elk. I ended up closing the distance even though the elk could see me, because they never smelled me. Another hunter made a comment as they had watched me kill her, he asked how I had got that close. It was simple, I had kept the wind in my favor, the same guy had elected to sit higher in the canyons and when those elk were coming up, they could smell him. They all ended up coming back down to the bottom and going up another canyon.
I have watched guys push elk with the wind blowing the wrong direction. I have had guys cut between a bull and I this year in Montana with the wind blowing the wrong direction. It never works out having the wind at your back.
The reason I bring it up? If you are hunting hard putting in the miles and still having a hard time finding success, check the wind. It might just be that key detail that will bring you success. I don't care how many scent eliminators or cover ups you use. If the wind is blowing towards them, they can smell you!
