As most hunters are all too aware, a whitetail’s sense of smell is quite keen, to say the least. Deer use this strength to their advantage when attempting to detect the presence of danger at a distance. The average whitetail deer can detect human odor or the odor of other predators at distances of up to ¼-mile under ideal circumstances.
However, it is also worth mentioning that a deer’s sense of smell can be impaired whenever the wind direction is less than optimal.
Deer are pretty adept at avoiding such scenarios whenever possible in a bid to mitigate any unnecessary danger. Yet, many hunters still find themselves questioning whether deer will walk with or against the wind and to what extent.
The Truth About Whitetails And Wind
Simply put, most deer will attempt to take full advantage of the prevailing wind direction whenever possible. This means most whitetails will walk into an oncoming headwind, assuming the situation permits.
At the very least, most deer will attempt to direct their travels at an angle that casts the prevailing wind to them head-on.
One will seldom witness a deer traveling for extensive distances with the wind at its back. This is because a deer’s sense of smell is significantly hampered while traveling, as less scent is detected directly by the nose.
Bucks also rely upon favoring wind currents to assist in scent-checking does during the pre-rut and rut. By circling downwind of food sources and popular bedding areas, bucks can check for the first hints of estrous without individual scent-checking each particular doe.
Generally speaking, as deer mature, they become more reliant upon wind currents and thermals for security.
That being said, one might notice that older maternal does and bucks of a higher age class tend to mind the wind much more regularly when choosing a path of travel.
When Exceptions Apply
As with any rule or generalized consensus, some exceptions apply to the rule above; perhaps most readily observed is that deer of a younger age class do not always base their travel patterns as heavily upon the prevailing wind direction.
Deer only tend to wisen up with age, taking fewer gambles with each passing year, thereby naturally making younger members of the herd more susceptible to danger.
This is easily illustrated when watching as deer filter into a food plot. Younger deer often enter wherever easy access is granted, while more mature whitetails typically circle downwind before stepping into the open.
Of course, the latter example represents deer more focused on avoiding danger whenever possible.
Additionally, deer of every age class seem to pay less attention to the prevailing wind direction when traveling through low-pressure areas, where they face little chance of human interaction or threat of danger.
Simply put, when deer are not on edge, they do occasionally let their guard down, if only to a minor extent.
Putting A Plan Into Motion
Hunters, keen on the information above, can use such knowledge to their advantage. This is done primarily through thoughtful stand placement.
Knowing that most deer will vary their route of travel depending upon the prevailing wind direction, a hunter can hang stands to align with anticipated movements for the most common wind direction in a given area.
If the dominant wind direction within the vicinity of a food plot tends to dictate the point at which deer enter a field, you can position a stand along the route that deer use when circling downwind to this common point of entry.
This allows a hunter to intercept deer as they move with the wind at their face. However, it is also important to hang a backup stand suitable for use on days when the wind is blowing from an opposing direction.
During the rut, a hunter can use this information to leverage their chance at a shot opportunity. Knowing that bucks will be scent-checking doe bedding areas, it stands to reason that the highest area of buck movement will be along trails downwind of such sites.
This can be an especially deadly tactic when attempting to hunt mature whitetails during this period.
Penn State University had a study on how deer respond differently when there is wind and rain together.
“Deer respond differently when there is wind and rain together rather than just wind or just rain. Rain alone causes a decrease in buck movement. But a little rain has no effect on buck activity if there is a strong wind blowing. Strong winds will increase buck movement no matter what!“
Source: https://www.deer.psu.edu/blown-away/
The Wind Equation
While knowing how deer react to various winds will not guarantee a punched tag, referencing such information when determining how best to hunt a specific area is undoubtedly a worthy start.
Even more importantly, one must remember that a whitetail’s nose is their number one defense against danger, and is not easily beaten, no matter a hunter’s course of action.
Summary
Understanding how deer react to different winds can help hunters place themselves in the best position to take a shot. Knowing that deer will vary their travel route depending upon the prevailing wind direction, a hunter can place stands to align with anticipated movements for the most common wind direction in a given area.
If the dominant wind direction within the vicinity of a food plot tends to dictate the point at which deer enter a field, you can position a stand along the route that deer use when circling downwind to this common point of entry.
