hot/cold vs. sense of smell

[Guest mossyoak]

Just wanted to know from anyone out there who knows,

does a deers sense of smell change with hot/cold climate change?

I'm from Canada bow-hunting deer in sub zero tempuratures right now and wanted to know if the deers sense of smell is 100% as it would be on a hot summer day?

I know rain and wind can change its ability but what about minus -0 vs +20?

thanks everyone.

[fly]

Never hunted deer in subzero weather.

It is rare for temps to dip below zero in IL during deer season.

I wouldn't think temps alone would increase or decrease their ability to smell.

[ruttinbuc]

He'll smell you...period. It don't much matter.... IMO! They keep their nose wet to help in picking you off...

[nhbowhunter]

A deer's sense of smell (and their ability to smell) does not change with the temperatures. What does change is the behavior of scent molecules. Extremely low temeratures do slow down molecules but in the outdoors this is pretty much negligble since there is always wind or at the very least air flow pushing those molecules along.

[huntermq32]

I was once told buy a dog trainer that if you over heat your dog while hunting ect you are also over heating his nose and wich hampers his abolity to pick up scents.He also told me that my dog,wich was a short hair has what is pretty close to the same nose as a whitetail.I don't know if it is true or not. I don't think extream cold would hamper their smell.

[buckshot_09]

A deer's sense of smell (and their ability to smell) does not change with the temperatures. What does change is the behavior of scent molecules. Extremely low temeratures do slow down molecules but in the outdoors this is pretty much negligble since there is always wind or at the very least air flow pushing those molecules along.

just to add, the humidity is a big factor, and the colder air is, the less water molecules it can hold, but yet still be saturated...it gets complicated, but yes, deer do have a harder time smelling in cold dry air, your scent does 'linger' as it would in moist air...none the less, hunt with the same precautions you would regardless temp...good luck!