Deer Movement In Wind?

Usualy around here they will move if in ridge bottoms and the no wind side of hills and only in a windy area only to cross from one bottom to another and usualy in a fast hopping trot when crossing. Deer relay on their sence of smell almost too much and it's harder for them to tell what's what in higher wind, so to say they don't move on windy days is unlikely but to say they try to stay in areas of lower air movment on higher windy days would be more what area you would need to set up on. That's why it's important to have a few stand locations in your hunting area so you can a just to their changes in the weather , n your wind placement

It's been my experience that they (deer) will do just about anything except dance and sleep at night.

They'll move in the wind, but they will be more skiddish and cautious.

I'm by far no expert on deer movements, but I do know this about the deer here in central TX - when the wind is blowing hard here, I've learned not to even bother going out since I have yet to see any deer moving around in it.

I do agree with what was said about the deer relying on their sense of smell. Their smell receptors are better than a dog and they use that to stay alive.

X2 with Tator

Deer In Wind

It's been my experience that deer move very little at all under windy conditions. It seems they like to be sheltered from it just like people do. I feel there are two GOOD options in the wind. If you have the manpower you can put on a drive or there's my personal favorite, still hunting. The wind cuts down the deer's ability to hear you moving.:yes:

I still disagree w/most of you. Deer will still move, but they are much more cautious,,, therefore they smell much better and hear much better. That is why you never see them. On windy days, it's best to be in a blind or WAAY up high in a tree (which I don't recommend for obvious reasons). Deer still get up and move around, but the chances of you seeing them is limited.

Wind alone will not stop deer from moving. I've seen deer moving many times in high winds, I used to think the same thing that deer got on their bellies during high winds but over the years I learned it wasn't true BUT when you combine wind with other weather conditions like extreme cold or heavy rainfalls then you've got a different situation, under those conditions Deer will more than likely always be found bedding.

Deer still have to do basic things like getting water, feed. Their movements are less and they are on high alert because the wind disrupts sense of smell. Things are always moving in high winds and again this causes them to be nervous as #2 sense is not great, then hearing is not as good so #3 sense makes for some nervous deer. I seem to always resort to slow stalking when winds are up and seems like I kick them up from beds???

Hunting Man said:

Deer still have to do basic things like getting water, feed. Their movements are less and they are on high alert because the wind disrupts sense of smell. Things are always moving in high winds and again this causes them to be nervous as #2 sense is not great, then hearing is not as good so #3 sense makes for some nervous deer. I seem to always resort to slow stalking when winds are up and seems like I kick them up from beds???

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I agree with this take on deer and wind. In my experience, deer do move less during windy days for the reasons Hunting Man has listed. Basically, ALL of their senses are negatively impacted by wind. Yes, deer have to eat no matter what the weather, but they can hole up during windy days just like they can during big snow storms.
I do agree that they get more cautious as Tator stated: "they are much more cautious,,,", but I don't agree when he says, "therefore they smell much better and hear much better". This sounds like they can dial up their senses in bad conditions - this is not physically possible.

onehorse said:

Tator stated: "they are much more cautious,,,", but I don't agree when he says, "therefore they smell much better and hear much better". This sounds like they can dial up their senses in bad conditions - this is not physically possible.

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Wind= causes smells to travel farther distances

Wind= causes sounds to sometimes travel farther distances

Didn't say anything about deer morphing into super-creatures.

Rewording:
"therefore they smell MORE THINGS and hear MORE THINGS."

hope this helps

WHAT??????
You mean they don't turn into ROBO DEER????
HAHA I knew what you were getting at Tator

i think if a turkey could smell like a deer and a deer see like a turkey. then it would probably be rare to harvest either one of um !!! windy or not we all would be hunting field eges with a 400 yard shot or longer :thumbup: but i have seen many many times deer useing the turkeys sences and fallowing aproxamently 30 mins behind them, in my opinion their useing the turkeys as a first alert.

gfdeputy2 said:

WHAT??????
You mean they don't turn into ROBO DEER????
HAHA I knew what you were getting at Tator

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Well I'm glad! Sort of confused me that someone would think I thought deer gained some sort of special senses.....

on_the_fly said:

i think if a turkey could smell like a deer and a deer see like a turkey. then it would probably be rare to harvest either one of um !!! windy or not we all would be hunting field eges with a 400 yard shot or longer :thumbup: but i have seen many many times deer useing the turkeys sences and fallowing aproxamently 30 mins behind them, in my opinion their useing the turkeys as a first alert.

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I think Deer use all sorts of animals to help them. I have seen Deer watch cows as well. Cows will watch anything moving (me) and if every eye of a cattle herd is looking one direction, deer know that something is going on in that direction. I agree with onthefly as well... in many of my trail cam pics, I have turkeys show up and about 10-45 min later deer show up. I also take a crow call w/me to the field as well b/c deer know that crows are going to crow if there's a predator near by.

Yeah I don't think Onehorse was getting what you meant by that

saw deer moving this year in some heavy winds, but they were very tense. With everything in the woods moving, their sense of sight and hearing are hampered. Also if anyone one remembers, last season i talked about using turkey decoys during deer season, seems to calm deer down prior to entering a foodplot. Used it again this year with great success.

kemster99 said:

saw deer moving this year in some heavy winds, but they were very tense. With everything in the woods moving, their sense of sight and hearing are hampered. Also if anyone one remembers, last season i talked about using turkey decoys during deer season, seems to calm deer down prior to entering a foodplot. Used it again this year with great success.

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turkey decoys hmmph never thought of that. good ideal.

kemster99 said:

With everything in the woods moving, their sense of sight and hearing are hampered.

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also wanted to explain what I meant about deer can sometimes hear better in the wind... that's not ALWAYS true. For example, from my house the nearest train tracks are about 4 miles away. You can not hear a train coming if it's just a regular day. But on a slightly windy day, seems like the sound carries more for some reason. cannot explain it, will not try to explain it... haha :whistling:

Ok thanks for all the opinions.. now i got another Question.. I just bought about 5 acres of land me and my brother scouted it the other day. we found a half a dozen or more rubs(this years).. i'm kinda new to deer hunting but after this years hunt i'm hooked..:biggrin: anyways what i need to know is, what should i consider when finding a spot to place my stand?