Daver
PMA Member
I have a question for the knowledgeable IW'ers here...
We all know that deer will scent you when they are downwind of you, etc. But how far downwind do you concern yourself with "protecting" your flank?
Based upon some MRI, I am considering doing a hang and hunt in an area that I would describe like this...
10 yards directly in front of me, to my north, would be a farm lane that the deer have been using to get to a food plot that lies about 100 yards to my left, to the west. The deer are traveling east to west down this lane. Assuming a wind direction from the east...If I hang a set, to the south, off that lane I know the deer will go right on by the stand no problem.
BUT, once they pass on by they will eventually work out into a food plot that is directly west of me, or downwind assuming an east wind. Between this set and the open food plot though would be fairly heavy brush/timber and this area is pretty close to level, no real peaks or valleys. Probably 75-100 yards of brush/timber in between the set and the field then.
Assuming my scent is traveling east to west, will deer spook once they reach the field and start milling around feeding and get into my scent stream? (I know the answer is yes, but what is the distance that you feel like you could get away with? 100 yards, 1/4 mile, 2 miles?
)
The problem with this spot is that the does and small bucks come out first and then 20-30 minutes later the bigger bucks make their appearance. In that time frame, the first deer are well past the stand and out to the field. I know we can hunt this on a north wind, but I am trying to make it work in my mind for an east wind too.
We all know that deer will scent you when they are downwind of you, etc. But how far downwind do you concern yourself with "protecting" your flank?
Based upon some MRI, I am considering doing a hang and hunt in an area that I would describe like this...
10 yards directly in front of me, to my north, would be a farm lane that the deer have been using to get to a food plot that lies about 100 yards to my left, to the west. The deer are traveling east to west down this lane. Assuming a wind direction from the east...If I hang a set, to the south, off that lane I know the deer will go right on by the stand no problem.
BUT, once they pass on by they will eventually work out into a food plot that is directly west of me, or downwind assuming an east wind. Between this set and the open food plot though would be fairly heavy brush/timber and this area is pretty close to level, no real peaks or valleys. Probably 75-100 yards of brush/timber in between the set and the field then.
Assuming my scent is traveling east to west, will deer spook once they reach the field and start milling around feeding and get into my scent stream? (I know the answer is yes, but what is the distance that you feel like you could get away with? 100 yards, 1/4 mile, 2 miles?
)The problem with this spot is that the does and small bucks come out first and then 20-30 minutes later the bigger bucks make their appearance. In that time frame, the first deer are well past the stand and out to the field. I know we can hunt this on a north wind, but I am trying to make it work in my mind for an east wind too.
