Ask any seasoned hunter and he or she will agree: wind speed and direction play a critical role in hunting. When you’re 30+ feet up in a tree stand, a strong gust of wind can make the air feel cooler. But wind speed and direction affect other elements of hunting, as well.
Slows Deer Movement
Ever notice how there are fewer deer moving on windy days? This is because wind speed affects their movement. Tim Walmsley, an Illinois hunter and whitetail expert, says strong winds are the “kiss of death.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t see a single whitetail when it’s windy. Rather, the wind makes deer less active, minimizing your chances of scoring a trophy buck.
Moves Your Scent
Of course, the wind can carry your scent, raising the alarm to nearby deer. To overcome this problem, some hunters choose hunting areas with natural protection from the wind, such as a ridge. Hunting from an elevated position like a tree stand may also mask your scent.
Alters Bullet Trajectory
Wind speed and direction can also affect bullet trajectories. If you’re facing north and the wind is blowing east, you’ll need to aim west of the target to compensate.
So, just how far will wind “blow” your bullet off course? There’s no easy answer to this question, as it varies depending on many factors. In a typical shooting scenario, however, 10 mph winds will alter a bullet’s trajectory by roughly one inch for every 100 meters the bullet travels. When shooting at a target 200 meters away in 10 mph crosswinds traveling from east to west, for instance, you should aim about two inches east of the target.
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