Hunt Strong Winds and Wrong Winds on Purpose

That windy storm system we have been talking about is blowing in, and winds sure can be a pain! It's a hassle to fight the gusts, you can't hear the game as well and can you say; w-w-w-wind chill? An even bigger problem; swirling winds! It happens to all of us, you go to your favorite valley and the wind is backwards, busting the game and re-inforcing your desire for couch-hunting on VS. But even swirly winds in the hollows happen predictably, so here's how to hunt the wrong wind on purpose! Remember three key factors; overall wind direction (what the forecast calls for), direction of the valley your hunting, and stand placement on the hillside. When the forecast calls for strong winds in a direction oriented the same as your valley, hunt ridge tops and the side of the hills facing the wind and you will be fine. The winds really get squirrly when strong winds cut across your valley. On windy days, hunt the ridgetops if your a glutton for gusty punishment - your reward will be a true wind direction. But if you want to get out of the wind, hunt anywhere from a bench just below the top of the ridge to the middle of the hill on the side of the valley the wind is coming from (west side of valley and a west wind), and then plan for the wind to actually be backwards from what is forecasted. It works best with valleys 100-500 yards wide, at least 100 feet deep from ridgetop to valley floor and homogenous cover around your stand either all pasture, all hedge thicket, all oak trees etc... I also try not to hunt the very bottoms or halfway up the windy side since the flow is usually inconsistent. This trick will put you out of the wind and give you a shot at a big buck doing the same thing! Check out the diagram on the right and give it at try. It works!