Deer Hunting Thermals 101

Hi Jeff, great topic and interesting video. What advantage do the deer have in the bench scenario you explained? They tend to take every advantage available. What you are showing is a breakdown in their defenses.

Great video . But if it’s dark when you get to the top of the hill in the morning . Your thermals will be dropping until the forest floor heats up . Would it be best to Waite till sun comes out ? Or just hunt from bottom of the hill up till sun heats floor of forest ?

Thanks Jeff. If you wrote a book on hunting thermals with multiple scenarios and illustrations, I'd buy it!

I'd be interested in learning how to hunt the wind in flat land with conifers. Thanks.

Hey Jeff, I can’t find historical wind direction on that site what am I missing? It’s just wind speed and what not

What about hunting in south Carolina in a 8 year old clear cut

Definitely need more of this!!!

Great video have you noticed thermals still dropping on shaded side of ridge even after day break. Looking forward to a thermals 202 and 300 video as always thanks for all your help

Great video again, thanks Jeff, explains thermals well. I always hunt the thermals and have great success. Our area are smaller rolling hills and valleys but this works great. I think everyone should listen to these video and realize how different their hunting experience could be. I'll pass this video on to all my hunting buddies. I find I have better success when I'm solo hunting because sometimes all it takes is one guy in a group to make a mistake and spook the deer. One of my long time buddies, this year, decided to light up and smoke in the stand, I was about 400 yards away and thought I could smoke a cigarette. All of a sudden all hell breaks lose and 3 does come flying out from his direction past me so fast, I had no chance to draw my bow. When I asked him about it, he says " yea, when I lit up, I didn't notice the doe and fawn, 20 yards to my right. The does that ran past me were mature, so he spooked 5 deer with a smoke. 😥😥. I learned a huge lesson there. I should have been on the neighboring property.

You have great discussions about thermals and wind. I think there are a lot of people like me that have very flat land. I have my biggest issue with a ridge just off my property that creates swirling evening winds. Also, do you have tips for people like me that have a small and narrow access to property? The back part of my property is much larger than front.

I've been hunting since I was a kid I've always used the wind only didn't know what thermals were until I listened to a podcast from Dan Infalt then subscribed to Chanel great info

In your explanation you say you can hunt east wind in the evening with stronger winds. From what I read using your example on a east wind deer would prefer the other side of the hill the leeward side. So with more of an advantage on the other side of the hill for the deer why would you even want to set up on the east side in your example?

Awesome videos! I live in North Carolina. Heading to Ohio this year, last year was my first time hunting the hills. Your videos are solid gold. Thanks a lot!

If the sun isn’t hitting a certain part of the hill in the morning you will still get dropping thermals correct ?

Thanks 👍

Great explanation! 🤙

Awesome information I swear I'm following this stuff to the t and next year I will be a better hunter because of you. Hunting public property big hills right down to a big river in michigan called the black river. I WILL get the deer everyone else wanted because of this information. FREE information man can't thank you enough so many hunters I talk to locally don't want to help glad you are.

Awsome video ive learned alot to b a better hunter

Awesome info Jeff. I’m not the best at figuring all of this out pre hunt, more of a trial and error guy, but I do take detailed notes for the next time I hit that area, has helped me out alot

Good video. Answers a lot of questions about my morning success ratio. Sub'd. And now binging on the rest of this playlist.

Ty

Write this book

great info! thanks so much

Great video,
Exactly what I was looking for!

Another great video, thanks. I'm hunting a new property this year, 46 acres mainly wooded.. I have a long North South running Valley with food plot.. I've hunted a few cold fronts with a Northwest wind yet in Valley it feels like the wind is from the South. When I hunt the top ridge with Northwest wind still feels like wind is coming from South or even East. Is this thermal's? Ridges are 250ft elevation change in both sides.

I have a question about thermals. I hunt land where a creek cuts through the northern half of the property and the land there slopes down to the creek. The slopes are primarily north facing with a bit that faces northwest with very nice benches along many of them. Does the thermal rule of rising as temp rise still stand with north facing slopes or will the air tend to sink toward the creek?

Better understanding thermals has changed the game for me in WV. These mountain bucks on public are smart!

Come hunt Alabama they have some good ones in these northern mountains I have an air bnb a cabin on a pond and it’s a late season rut as well once your northern rut ends!

Wow, this is exactly how my hunting set up looks like. I hunt top of the ridge looking down over the side of the ridge looking at 2 bench's and they never know I'm there. Shot many deer here.

This is the best video I've watched about describing thermals and how they manipulate your scent.

Found a steep hill with some amazing bucks in NC! I am using this knowledge to walk in without getting blown. Thanks man

Is there anyway to purchase of set up a hunt with this guy?

When the temp drops can I hunt the bottom of the hill?

How about a North and South hill. North being going up the hill and south being going down the hill?

Are you trying to give me a bow or is this a scam using your name and logo

Love this video…. Now I understand thermals… you have taught me so much as a new deer hunter…watch everyone

What do you think your sent would do if you were about 30 or so yards to the west from the first drop off? With a main trail at the top of the drop off?

So what if you can only hunt from bottom of that draw

I hunt in bottom with hills like that to my left and right prime deer country but I only have about 12 acres at the bottom

Hey bro i luv watching you 💯💪. You have taught me a great deal 👍

What about thermals off a 25 ft ridge?

What about in the morning in your stand before the temps start rising. Your gonna get blown out in that position by deer below you. The thermals dont start until its too late and the sun has risen

Jeff I've been binge watching all your videos for last weeks getting rdy for Sept thanks man

Thanks a lot! This will definitely be a game changer for me this archery season.

I’ve got my best spot this year so thick and those deer run N & S can only hunt east and west and the last hour I spend 20min slowly working down. I go in park away from where I’m hunting and normally walk at least half a mile up the road. Just taking my time walking down the road timing my travel speed to be getting to where I walk into the woods and just starting to be grey light. Above my stand. It makes for a long walk back to the truck 1.5mi but I want on the ground so my gear is light.

Good stuff I’m gonna watch it twice

Very helpful thank you Sir!

I've been trying to understand thermals. This video was the best to help me understand then. You explained it very well. I hunt the hills in the Ozarks. Have my whole life. But always just hunter the wind. Sometimes i score. Other times id get busted and could not figure out why. Now i know. Thank you for showing this. I'm actuly going to use this tomorrow morning. I have a spot identical to the illustration you just showed.i will defintly be walking in after daylight.i got busted this morning sitting in my stand a half hr before daylight and i was so pissed. The whole woods was alerted. I just ruined my morning hunt. Time for a change tomorrow.

Watching this as a new deer hunter. Last year was my first year and I got a doe now I’m really trying for a buck. I’ve been seeing some but I’m always just out of range. Trying to put the pieces together before the ruts over.