Thermals

[DirtTime]

I honestly never paid much attention to thermals. "Keep the wind in my face" and "know wind direction- set up accordingly" was my way of thinking. Not just me, I think many people still go by those two theories.

But, after reading so much about thermals on here, I decided to do some reading up on the topic. From what I read it started making more and more sense, and decided to play the thermals a bit more this season to try and increase my odds a little. If you look around you can find a ton of information. From the basic, to some more highly scientific data.

Here's where I started my reading from last Spring, you can use this or take things as far as you feel the need to in your researching ( make sure to read his follow up article as well ):

https://www.qdma.com/beat-bucks-nose-remember-thermals/

 

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by ....rob

[Nomad]

Moog gave me some milkweed, I've watched it float up and down as well as turn 90 degrees as its sailed off . It's amazing  how far you can watch it at times .

Ya you can toss some grass or tie a string to your bow or a squeeze bottle of powder, but that shows what's happening with in a couple feet, I've watched milkweed go 75 yards or so at times .

Give it  a try !

[BizCT]

Still too warm for thermal underwear.

But in all serious, as someone who hunts from the ground. My Dad and I killed 30+ something bucks combined during gun season in less than 20 years from 1 spot sitting against a tree watching a valley beneath us. Shots were 20-70yds with the shotgun. We note the time on every deer killed and there was no correlation to morning or afternoon or midday. More than half of the bucks my dad killed over the years were 3.5's or older, some at first light, some at sunset, and several midday around noon. Point is, I guess our spot isn't a good example of "thermals" but rather a case of putting in the time (he would hunt dark-dark for like 18 out of 21 days in a row).

[turkeyfeathers]

Yup. Moog turned me on to the milkweed idea as well. Have some drying right now. As stated , the powder is great for immediate wind direction but milkweed gives you the whole picture. Lots of thermals up on our hill. Can't avoid them but frequently will have to change which way I'm / we're looking after checking the wind. I can vaguely see the windmills but that's only a general wind direction in most cases 

[Doc]

Sometimes understanding thermals can save a hunt. Back in my younger days, I had a lot of hunts that had a good wind blowing up from a trail to my face only to have them reverse when the sun went down behind the hill on the other side of the valley, and the cooling air turned the wind right down the hill from me to the trail. Traditionally, that time toward the end of the day when the sun went behind the trail was always the most productive time of day for me, and when the wind betrays you like that, the whole afternoon's hunt is screwed because it is too late to change stands.

[NFA-ADK]

I think it really depends on the area.  On LI the prevailing winds can put your scent away from the direction you are hunting if set up properly.  Plus LI is flat.  Due to LI sound and the primarily dominant NW winds it is usually predictable.  Not the same as hunting high mountains or hills or even high canopy in some area's next to open fields or valleys like Doc explained.  

I guess it really depends on your terrain more than anything.  

[grampy]

I've hunted hills and ridges my whole life. And to kill deer year after year in these areas, you need to be able to read thermals. I call it seeing the air. Just remember warm air rises and cool air sinks and you are halfway there! But terrain features can effect thermals too,  like outcroppings, gullies, or even a line of conifer trees will effect the ebb and flow of thermals, and where your scent drifts. And the prevailing wind can enhance or negate a thermal. I have a couple spots where a strong NW wind will blow down, over the top of the ridge. But where I am on a bench mid way down, the wind is blowing UP hill. Knowing the areas and how wind and thermals effect them is so important on choosing where and when to set up.

[growalot]

It's usually very breezy here...My best deer were on little windand early morning hunts.I have sat in a stand hours with a slight breeze in my face to have the sun dip behind the trees and the breeze pick up to a blender rotation around me..I'll tell you...it's where the deer hang out..but I do get winded often...ya never know when a breeze will arrive on this hill or lots of times what direction..

[Doc]

1 hour ago, turkeyfeathers said:

Yup. Moog turned me on to the milkweed idea as well. Have some drying right now. As stated , the powder is great for immediate wind direction but milkweed gives you the whole picture. Lots of thermals up on our hill. Can't avoid them but frequently will have to change which way I'm / we're looking after checking the wind. I can vaguely see the windmills but that's only a general wind direction in most cases 

I always have a milkweed pod or two in a zip-loc bag. I have used them for decades. It is fascinating to watch them go out and start turning and sometimes even reverse. It is a great tool for reading and studying thermals and understanding some of the movements of your scent after it leaves your stand.

[moog5050]

13 minutes ago, grampy said:

I've hunted hills and ridges my whole life. And to kill deer year after year in these areas, you need to be able to read thermals. I call it seeing the air. Just remember warm air rises and cool air sinks and you are halfway there! But terrain features can effect thermals too,  like outcroppings, gullies, or even a line of conifer trees will effect the ebb and flow of thermals, and where your scent drifts. And the prevailing wind can enhance or negate a thermal. I have a couple spots where a strong NW wind will blow down, over the top of the ridge. But where I am on a bench mid way down, the wind is blowing UP hill. Knowing the areas and how wind and thermals effect them is so important on choosing where and when to set up.

X2.   At times thermals and feature currents will confirm you can sit areas that you would not think based on predominate wind and vice versa.   Milkweed is great for seeing it in action.  

Edited September 29, 2017 by moog5050

[DirtTime]

Interesting data for sure. Just want to start learning more about how to study elements and deer behavior.
Most of the land I hunt or have hunted was hilly, with ridges and saddles. Trying to re-think my way of thinking.

Sent from my XT830C using Tapatalk

[grampy]

19 minutes ago, ....rob said:

Interesting data for sure. Just want to start learning more about how to study elements and deer behavior.
Most of the land I hunt or have hunted was hilly, with ridges and saddles. Trying to re-think my way of thinking.

Sent from my XT830C using Tapatalk
 

It's the wise hunter, who never stops thinking and learning. For no one ever learns and knows it all.

[DirtTime]

So, from what I have read, if I understand this correctly,  those of us who hunt hilly or mountain terrain have to worry about thermals more then those who flat even ground, as the thermals will rise up with heating in the morning, and lower in the evening, and on flatter land it will more or less just disperse along the level ground without creeping up or down.

 

On sunny days it's more important as the sun will heat the ground faster, and then once the sun gets behind the mtn. or high tree lines it will cool the ground a bit faster.

On cloudy over cast days thermals will move, but not as much as sunny days. Due to the air temps will not raise and lower as on sunny days.

Rainy or snowy days, thermals will barely be relevant if at all.

 

Any of that sound accurate?

 

 

Also wondering how thermals will affect heavy canopy areas like I hunt up north in. 

[biggamefish]

I have carried milk weed in a film canister with an x cut in the top for years!  It amazes me what the wind does. You can sit in you favorite stand with a bad wind on the ground get up in the tree and the wind is doing something totally different.