Strong winds (over 15mph) will make the deer either lay up to wait it out or move them to areas they know are protected. I've seen some big bucks in strong winds, either checking for does or moving to a bottom area. I hunt accordingly. See picture of my daughter a few posts before for the results. The DAY AFTER a windy day/night can be super.
My dad and I haven't been out hunting together for over 8 years. This year was our year back at it and we had a very good year at that! First pic is Dad with his 9pt buck. He shot it at 50 yards with his 44 mag revolver. Deer dropped after 10 yards, perfect shot. Next pic is me with my 6pt. I shot him at 75 yards. I saw how wide the rack was and got excited and took the shot. I could have probably waited another year on him but regardless 2 deer in the freezer!
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How does wind this strong affect movement?
After sitting with me a couple times, my wife is going out to hunt for her first time tomorrow morning
How does wind this strong affect movement?
I toughed it out for 3 hours this morning, first chance to hunt this year (work commitments). The bottoms I hunt flooded, I over-topped my boots walking in so it was destined to be a short morning and I was too chilled to continue by 9:30. No deer in the open harvested soybean fields I was hunting. Despite the wind, there was a herd of does across the over-the-banks creek in standing corn stubble, the only real food source nearby.
Long and short, deer still need to eat. Wind may keep some action down but not stop it in core areas. Only problem for me was I hunt on permission I am grateful to have, and the deer were over where the property owner had reserved for himself on this day. No complaints, I'm glad to have the opportunity where I was.
But I will be out again tomorrow, hoping there is more movement as a result of today's nasty conditions....and that the water has gone down somewhat.