Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

[Guest HANKFAN]

Tomorrow we are getting our first cold spell for several weeks here in WV. The pre-rut has really began here with new scrapes and rubs appearing daily. Tomorrow we are supposed to have highs in the 40's which should have the deer on the move however we are going to have high winds 20-30 mph gusts. I was wondering from your past experience does high winds slow buck movement during the rut?

[RyanH]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

I dont think so! Watch some of the Milk River hUnts on realtree! Kinda show they still move to me! 60 moh winds! GEEEZ thats alot of wind!

[Guest Jeff Atchley]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

I hunt some in Illinois on public land and the wind doesn't seem to affect them near as much there as it does in Alabama. I think it has to do with how much wind they are used to.

[brad dryden]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

I dont think it will effect it much it might just a tad bit butim not sure.

[Guest deadeye270]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

Its different out in the mid-west cause the wind blows everyday. Here in the east, the wind will supress the movement a good bit, however you should be able to find any deer that are moving to be all down in the wind-protected hollows and should there all day.

[EIGHTPOINT]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

Deadeye is right. The animals out west are accustomed to high winds on a regular basis.

High winds will deminish a deer's sense of smell and sound wich are two out of three things that deer count on to avoid danger. I would find a deep hollow or the protected side of the mountain where the winds are blocked and that is where the deer will go. HOWEVER, the rut is kicking in so plan on staying in your stand all day and see what happens. Older bucks will often lower their guard to chase a hot doe at a time when they normally would not chance being in danger.

Let us know how you make out.

[horst]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

Yesterday we had winds between 25-40 mph all day.Last night I didnt make it to my stand but went for a drive to see what I could see running around.There was hardly any deer out and the ones that were out were in big wide open areas where nothing could get near them without being seen.

The wind really puts deer on alert IMO, it screws with all thier senses, everythings moving, making noise, and it makes it harder to smell things.Plus the wind will usually die down shortly after dark, the deer know this and I think will often wait till it does to start moving around.

[Tominator]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

it did last night.

i actually sat in the blowing rain and didn't see squat. winds were gusting to over 30 mph i'd say.

but, hey, i was out there.

[buckbuster11]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

I'd say it does. It's been blowing pretty good since last night and there didnt seem to be squat moving last night. Wind ranks right up there with high temperatures for killing the deer movement in my opinion.

[Doc]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

Here in western NY, deer don't like wind. That's not to say that I haven't seen deer moving on windy days. In fact, during the rut, I quite often will see a buck wandering around. The only thing is that they are generally wilder than a kootie when the wind is blowing and generally are walking around in a spring-loaded condition, paying attention to every detail around them.

Doc

[Sam16]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

I personally have a stand that i hunt when its windy. My dad's has always told me to hunt deep down in gullies on windy or rainy days where the deer can get away from the elements. not sure if this is actually true, but it makes sense. Although i actually havent seen many deer in the high winds. Last weekend was 35 mph and i only saw a little 6 pt at dusk.

[maddhunter]

Re: Will High Wind Effect Buck Movement During The Rut

Last year we had high winds during rifle season and I didn't expect to see many deer. But I saw the same buck moving 3 different days with the wind out of the south, but when the wind was out of the north I didn't see anything. I ended up taking him on the third day.

I usually don't see deer when it is that windy except for during the rut, especially bucks.

[Ravin R10 man]

WILLIAM I KNOW POST IS VERY OLD, but, I sat Sat a.m. in winds that gusted near 50 mph at times. I heard two trees crash, and although I was in a very good  strong Spruce, it was rockin!  Deer movement? Nadda! Sat from 6.30 till 9.30   So, Sat eve, wind was howling all night, I woke up at 5.30, heard the wind, and rolled over and slept in. Pulled cards, and they told me I did not miss a thing.