thermals and wind speed

[arm]

I will probably have to go with trial and error with this but why not ask. At that speeds will the wind trump thermals? Sat up the other morning with a 6-7 mph wind from the SW only to find my scent heading that way instead. Wind speed of 6-7 is what all 3 of my weather apps told me and seemed correct when noticing the slight leaf movement from the stand. I know for sure my scent was being pulled down into the bottom to the SW because I was getting blown at and finally noticed my breath going that way. No breeze days there is no chance I hunt that stand but I would have thought above 5 mph winds would eliminate compensating for thermals...but I learn something every day

 

[meyeri]

Good question. I'm hunting a lot of hilly country this year so I've been paying extra attention that thermals. My understanding is that the thermals sink until mid morning then rise as the sun warms the terrain. Not sure when they are offset by wind speed though.

 

[Daver]

I don't think there is one answer to that question. I think it would depend quite a bit on surrounding terrain, especially heavy cover that is downwind of your stand location. I do know that the same stand will "behave" differently depending on whether or not there are still leaves on the trees or not.

The leaves essentially "block" the wind from carrying on through and with the leaves off...no sweat, the scent is carried on downwind without the same swirling effect.

 

[Mike311]

I hunted a deep valley last week with virtually no wind on an evening hunt. Thinking it prolly wouldn't work out well as the thermals going down with deer in the valley I would be busted but wanted to give it a shot. I ended up being busted by a doe directly above me on top of the ridge. It was still early evening and possibly downward thermals hadn't started but it just further proved what I learned years ago, hunt the top side.