Even if you have checked the wind before you went to your spot, you should always be prepared to check while you are hunting. The weather networks are not always right, so you will want to be prepared if the wind changes. There are a few things that you can use for this, but the two I always carry with me are a puffer with non-scented powder, and milkweed or the dried inside of a thistle. The puffer works great for seeing what the wind is doing close to you, but it does not show you how your scent will travel in your area. If you use milkweed or thistle, you can throw it out there and watch it travel in the wind, and see exactly where your scent is going. The other great thing about the milkweed or thistle is you can see what the thermals are doing.

When you are deciding on what tree stand to sit, you need to always remember to have the wind blowing to a dead area. You never want the wind going to the area deer will be coming to or going from. Having multiple stands for different winds is always a great idea, but if a stand is not good for a wind, don’t be afraid to set up on the ground, where the wind is good.

Travel routes are another important thing to remember. When you are walking into your spot, you do not want your wind to be blowing into the area you expect your game to be in. The same should be thought of when you are leaving. The more often the animals know you are in their living environment, the harder they will be to hunt.

Learning to hunt the wind is an essential skill for a big game hunter to learn. You beat the animal’s nose and you increase your chances of filling your tag!