What to use to check wind?

[Fishstix]

I want to get something to help me check wind direction. What should I use, or buy?

[Hunt'nFish]

Unscented talcum powder. Look in the archery section of any store.
W.Tracker

[ehunter]

I think what wallytracker is refering to is Breeze squeese I think? I think I have like 10 bottles around almost any sport good store has it. It works well.

[OR Coast Range]

I'll be interrested in this thread as well.

Last year I tried tying a length of thread to the end of my rifle with mixed results. It kind of worked, but as soon as it got wet it would start to stick to the barrel. I've heard of people tying a feather to their barrel, this might work better.

I don't really like using powder because I like to minimize my movements when I am in the thick stuff. With the wind so swirly in the timber I would like to check it often, and I don't want to have to keep reaching for my pack.

I haven't really come up with a solution that I like.

Slobber on a finger.

[RoscoeP]

Squeeze breeze works OK. So does a Bic lighter in a pinch.

[Kalamity]

It probably wouldn't apply to you guys but, I have long hair and am constantly shedding.... Glance down at your wool pants or coat or anything like that to see if maybe some cat hair or wife or daughter's hair has managed to hitch a ride stuck to your clothes. The longer the better. Grab an end and hold it up.

[retaliate]

Throw dust in the air.

[OR Coast Range]

Dust turns to mud where I hunt. :grin:

[Hunt'nFish]

I agree...I carry a bottle of powder, but rarely take it out. I've always admired the military sniper guy's abilities and have read a fair bit up on them and the shooting tactics they use. The methods they have come up to determine wind direction and speed in the field impress me and I've taken that and used it myself.

They look at the grass, leaves and mirage to determine what the wind is doing. For instance a big maple leaf that barely moves...wind is <5mph. IF it slowley flutters wind is ~5phm if its fluttering pretty fast wind probably >5mph. For long range antelope hunting the mirage would probably be more useful. Their are also rules of thumb for tall grass as well. My point is that looking at your surroundings will probably yeild the info you need to determine what the wind is doing wether it be from a scent control or a bullet drift perspective.
Those snipers were hunters you know, not much differant from us.... just a LOT better! They had to be.
food for thought,
W.Tracker

[in 'em]

I don't think there is any easy way to check the wind. If you can't tell without the use of some "tool", just carry a bottle of powder. I put mine in an easy to reach pocket...works for me!

[nwsoftball]

I break wind and see if my hunting partner notices. If he does, the wind is blowing that way. If he doesn't, it's going somewhere else!!! :grin:

[Beeatease]

"I break wind and see if my hunting partner notices. If he does, the wind is blowing that way. If he doesn't, it's going somewhere else!!! "

I would but I hunt alone......

I've tied a small feather with a tread to my bow.....but that only tells you about the wind around you.....not down range which may be different....

[D3smartie]

smoke in a bottle... or a lighter.

[Ni!]

I don't need to check the wind. It always blows the way I'm facing.

Ni!

[CMallardDrake]

I break wind and see if my hunting partner notices. If he does, the wind is blowing that way. If he doesn't, it's going somewhere else!!! :grin:

Oh...I'm laughing here...I'm laughing here hard.

After an exceptionally spicy meal the night before a hunt and the natural gas is abundant and flown'...a path of curled up and dying vegetation is proof to wind direction...

Seriously...a couple years ago, after seeing those local weather men/women using them while doing reports in the dead of Winter in the CR gorge...I bought a Kestrel 2000. Those little hand held instruments with an impeller/propeller that can let you know how hard the wind is blowing and once mastered can determine the direction too.

Maybe, not the best thing for very light winds that some hunters need to know about. I got mine as a sort of "de-liar" as I was tired of hunting and fishing with people who would tell stories once we got back into town of how rough the hunting or fishing was an proclaiming the winds were at least 50mph. The Kestral 2000 (or 3000 or 4000 or higher end ones) when used many times have proven 50mph winds to actually have been nearer to 25. We all know how that goes.

[Don Becker]

I break wind and see if my hunting partner notices. If he does, the wind is blowing that way. If he doesn't, it's going somewhere else!!! :grin:

Until now, I used a piece of thread tied to the top sling mount ........................... no more! Now, thanks to nwsoftball, I mave a MUCH better way! Jon, look out!

[lor]

Wet Thumb

[canes_venatici]

My partner always breaks wind. So if i smell him, the wind is coming from his direction. If I don't smell him, its coming from another direction... If i smell my partner, i try not to react, that will give things away. Sometimes, though, it is hard not to fall over! The only problem with this scenario is that the wind is never blowing while we are in the truck...

[duckcall]

One wet(slobbered/Keta)index finger held into the air. Really high tech.

[elkhuntr28]

Weed seeds or something similar tossed into the air. The lighter the better. I try not to drool on my hands as that just increase the amount of scent you are putting into the air.

[lastbugle]

I'm a bow hunter I ck the wind religiously get a squeeze bottle with a flip top cap like they use for smoke in a bottle. Fill it with baking powder (not soda)use a very small funnel to fill. Instead of $5.00 a bottle, it cost about .05 cents a bottle. Works great,I fill my bottle about three times in a week of hunting. I've been using this for about 12 years now I wont go hunting without it!

[MORGANCREW]

My vote is for the breeze squeeze