3 Steps to successfully playing the wind for mature whitetails

Don breaks down two situations where playing the wind was the key factor in hunting two mature whitetails. Don also shares his thoughts on the best way to approach hunting locations with the wind in mind. Hunting mature whitetails is a completely different situation, using the wind to your advantage will help you become a better hunter for those mature deer.

[@michaelgangadeen8013]

I'm amazed that 30 years ago, you were able to put the pieces together recognizing the significance of the behavior of that 10 pointer. While you were figuring this out, I was sitting in a tree on a couple of 2 x 4s in a monoculture of hardwoods located in the Catskills wondering how the deer could see me when they snorted 50 yards away through the dense canopy. We had no idea about scent, playing the wind and the only time we heard the word "thermals" was what we wore on those cold autumn mornings. You and your contemporaries do a great job in educating the rest of us about the super abilities of these amazing animals. Keep up the good work.

[@logun2543]

Probably the most educational deer hunting video I’ve seen so far, thanks!

[@LukeGittings]

Thanks for the video. You have a real talent for cutting through the bs and explaining things in a simplified manner. Good luck this fall.

[@kapperoutdoors]

Love your diligence. In the USMC they taught us attention to detail... Very much the same with mature bucks!! Love your experience!

[@mattswisher6678]

Personally all my biggest bow bucks are morning hunts in early October where I knew where they bedded and knew where they fed and found access and a stand on the route. Plus I can’t imagine sitting out those beautiful early October mornings where all my scouting pays off and I can add to the puzzle by watching deer go about the morning routines. Great insight on this video

[@jameswright6169]

I put this tactic to use and it paid off. I sat in a stand parallel to the swamp, the buck came out nose to the wind and walked right to me. The wind was blowing the swamp edge and he was more concerned with what was down wind than what was straight across from him. My best buck ever! Thanks for the info!!

[@NOXtrades]

Just found your channel. Very hq video. Subscribed! Keep them coming!

[@whitetailevolution]

Great explanation. I think too many people see the pictures on social media of nice bucks taken in the morning in early October and they want to try it too. What they don't see, like you said, is the hundreds of bucks that were spooked out due to someone hunting their bedding locations too early in the season. I've spooked bucks too many times with that aggressive approach in the past that now I wait until later in October to move in.

[@josephtreadlightly5686]

I have a story of weather change on November 14th a few years ago. Doe bedding across the road & to the east of where i live. I planned to hunt that evening to the north of my location @ my neighbors. He lived on the border of my Grandfathers old tamarac swamp. So the temp dropped 25* from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 pm. When the deer come to my setup they r to the north. There was a SE wind. I approach from the SW with a short walk through great cover. I climb the tree on the south side. By the time the deer hooked west they got the attention of every buck in the swamp. The key is the wind @ 8-12 mph is steady & blows into open water swamp surrounded by cattails. No deer got close to a cattail that evening. But they felt comfortable with that wind. Days b4 thst it was just females trying to avoid very young bucks. When things get serious u have to have a gameplan they feel comfortable with. But the weather to have those deer come out of someone's backyard with hours of daylight left is a once in many months event that gave me the advantage with an 11 yard shot where the recovery was feet & not yards. 😅

[@hunterhess884]

Thank you for explaining with the maps that helped understand it much better, you helped me realize many mistakes I have been making

[@jamescraig8601]

Great advice, just remember, no matter what. You cannot beat your breath.

[@ArmedPatriot]

THE WIND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING..And you cannot beat a white tails nose..Scent killer and sprays are just a marketing gimmick...Learning the animals movement and natural instincts and patterns is the best way to put the odds in your favor.Ive hunted since I was a kid..killed my first mature buck 10 point when i was 13 with no outside help..I'm no pro and never will claim to be,But i do have alot of experience with wild whitetails..always remember when your hunting, that your in his house..And if he were in your house how easy would it be for you to notice him..

[@Friends.19166]

Thanks heap buddy!! That make SO MUCH SENCE!!

[@jasonross2300]

Great video! The lessons we learn where we were so close and the visions of these giant bucks getting away is what haunts me!! Thanks for your efforts to make others better hunters Don!

[@douglasarrington8461]

I agree with you but the wind sometimes is hard to hunt here because of the mountain terrain where I live.

[@stihl_joking570]

This is the first video I have ever watched that I really learned something about wind direction I live in North Ga and the wind is all over the place here but my family has some farm land in northern Illinois I will be bow hunten next month this definitely helped tremendously! Thank you don!! And happy hunten!!

[@bradgordon5912]

very educational video there Don. loved the overviews from up top to help explain what they do. have you ever caught a mature buck using other deer before him to check his bedding area out? had a mature buck a few years ago that bedded in a 500 acre field in what we call a pothole with two other sub bucks. these two sub bucks would circle the pothole before daylight and then he would follow them in. {figured this out when season was over and snow on the ground} they bedded on a small ridge with the wind to their backs and looked out in different directions they could see everything coming a long way away. I'm sure they are all dead by now of old age. always remember him and his buddiess as the one that got away.

[@kingpingpongpow]

John Eberhart says he doesn’t give AF about wind because he’s so good at scent control. Up in his tree looking like a scare crow. It just makes way more sense playing the wind. Because mature bucks play the wind.

[@cugir321]

Your site is wonderful. I have to disagree on this one. I use a drag string and wipe buck urine/estrus on trees about every 10 yards going in during the dark....without a flashlight. I've found with a buck urine/estrus mix I may spook the buck a little but they rarely go far....they're either confused or just too interested in the pee mix. When it starts to get light I blow a breeding grunt. 2 long and 2 short grunts. they can't seem to lay off it.....big ones are a bit more leary but still come within gun range. always coming into the wind. I face with the wind so I don't have to move much to get my gun into position. Movement is the thing that will bust me with a big buck. I like a grunt for the reason that deer can hear it over 300 yds...at least mine...it's very loud. If they don't wind you they hear the grunt and investigate.....then they catch the scent and come in. I blow the grunt as much as I want and it doesn't seem to matter but!!!! They will know exactly where you are after the first grunt.....move and be busted! You better be camo'd well or real high in a tree. I do not use scent elimination. I don't wash my shirt everytime I hunt and I do sweat. To me, I use the wind to determine which direction he's coming from. I get a chance at a couple big ones every year. I usually get one every year.

[@DavidGonzalez-ek3zh]

Chuck Adams says basically same. A deer will move with wind in his favor.

[@2CanTan]

This is one of my fav ones you have done yet! Thanks for the time you put into this!

[@th9539]

Thanks Don! I have been patiently awaiting this video. By the way your video guy did a great job as well. I have submitted four or five questions regarding when to the chasing Giants website but had not been selected in any of the podcast. Since you clearly answered my questions in this video I will step up and order a t-shirt from you!

[@th9539]

Wind....not when, lol

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Thank you Sir! and yes my video guy is top-notch. I am sure you have seen a lot of his work on TV

[@jimmyperez5881]

good info sir how i would love to go on a hunt with you Mr. Higgins great information thank you.

[@TheRaghorn]

Funny that you talk about not hunting Oct mornings. I also never hunt mornings in Oct until Oct 25th when I know the bucks are searching and checking their scrapes as the rut kicks in here sometimes as early as Nov 1 and you will see 2 or 3 bucks chasing a does. And even then, I walk in when it is just light enough that I can see the ground and what I step on and never use a light. And it may seem crazy to some people but in some cases I have 2 or 3 stands around each other within 100 yards so I can go to the stand with the best wind I think for hunting that day. I don't hunt often, but when I do I almost always see deer, where the other guys will go the whole season and see 3 or 4 or none at all.

[@nixonfleming6575]

I always pay attention to which way winds is blowing of it east west or up wind or down wind. I take tall grass or leaf of tree hold it up see which way wind is blowing if it blowing up wind your scent will go up wind if it going down wind scent go backward.but watch out for trolling wind that goes in circles it can confuse hunters.in rain deer will move into pines were thick cover lay down or may move get something to eat so if u find well worn travel lanes made by deer go either way up wind or downwind to or from food source u may want find spot to sit wait it out .try get good shot in.

[@thomashood3748]

Great info. Set your stand whete buck has wind in his favor but you are in the just off wind. Great video. Great voice. Concise. And clear. Ready for more videos

[@lucasmustang66]

You the man!!! I just killed my first mature buck this year and you guessed it . I played the wind. He was south of the bedding east south wind in my face. And his i just happened to be set up down wind of him. Slocked him at 14 yards he ran 100. I don’t use special soaps or sprays i air dry my clothes and will go out directly after work. Loved your independent in-depth video.

[@jimtart4271]

My father taught me to mind my wind direction before the hunt.

[@Brandon-uo1rv]

Those areas seem a lot more obvious than the big timber areas of KY that I happen to hunt. Any insight from you or Terry on how best to figure out deer travel patterns in those areas with buck movement?

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

When I hunt bigger timbered area I try to have my scent blowing down a ravine while hunting a trail cutting across the head on the ravine

[@ronmacdougall9612]

I wish we could play the wind here in the Adirondacks,it goes everywhere,it swirls all the time,I can’t imagine what deer go through some times.

[@toddcorley5053]

I bought a farm in ohio and you designed the property for deer management. He sold it and im a recipient of amazing deer hunting!!!

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Im glad to hear it is producing good results for you

[@danielpifer9222]

Awesome content! Keep it coming! Good luck in the woods.

[@clintnorton8858]

Great video . Looking forward to the whitetail master course giveaway. I would absolutely love to be part of it. I always look forward to the videos, podcast, etc. Thanks.

[@RiverValleyAcres]

Awesome shot placement and awesome looking buck! Thanks for the video 🤙🏼

[@sethrooker5144]

Good info Don! You said it right, even if you were 100% scent free and could drop out of the sky into your stand undetected, a big buck still needs a favorable wind to feel comfortable moving. Another great video.

[@TheRaghorn]

By far the BEST page of information I have ever watched. And I have watch many. Sometimes I feel like I am listening to myself talk. LOL

[@wvoutdoors1524]

Really appreciate all of your videos!

[@boneheadsoutdoors6555]

just stumbled on this video, had to watch it. great stuff!

[@richgran]

That was good! Thanks for your effort. That video took more than 30 years to create.

[@docchey1973]

Great info, but how would you play the wind if you can't access the land anywhere but upwind? I have this problem frequently. Neighbors won't let people on their land even though it butts up to mine. I only have a small plot about 2 acres under a power line.

[@bryanroberts]

What a neck on that buck!!

[@rickdotson9472]

I've been trying out something for the last few years and I would appreciate your thoughts. I have noticed that in a steady light rain it seems like it really knocks my scent down. I have had several deer come out from directly down wind from me. None of them were boomers but just curious if you have ever noticed this.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Yes, I agree but I really dont like hunting in the rain due to possible issues with losing bloodtrails

[@rickdotson9472]

@@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147 I will have to agree with you there. We don't disagree there but I only do it in a lite rain or drizzle and I become even more selective on my shots

[@dmac232000]

Earned a subscriber with this video!! Excellent content!!! Thank you!

[@garyjones5093]

I have heard many great whitetail experts say that a big mature buck doesn’t always travel into the wind. They simply don’t. That said, almost all of them say they always circle downwind of their bedding area. Do you believe this to be true?

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

For sure! A buck might not always have a nose wind but he almost always plays the wind. If they only used a nose wind they would all eventually end up in southern California given that SW winds are most prominent! LOL

[@garyjones5093]

@@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147 . 😂😂😂. Not exactly my question or my point, but I guess it’s something to ponder. I’m personally thinking they’d commit suicide before they had to end up in Southern California. But I guess that’s for another discussion on another day. 😉

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Gary Jones LMAO!!! I don’t think I could blame them for committing suicide before they got to California. LOL!!!

[@yogibear6271]

Thank You Mr Higgins.

[@reggiegoggins]

I love the video’s similar to this!

[@travisbullock2161]

Thanks for taking the time to give some great detail.

[@snipeyounoobzyee2662]

I’ve hunted for 7 years since I was 12 all with my grandpa this year he told me to try and hunt all on my own and get my trophy buck I’ve been documenting in the backyard of our property for the last year he’s a 37 point and he’s been on my camera for the past month just waiting for the right wind to go in to get him thank you for all your videos

[@TenPointTyrone]

You get him

[@JayN4GO]

How do you hunt property with open fields and deep wooded hollows? The wind seems out of the south but when it hit the holler it cuts down to the west. Tough hunting here in Ky.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Its a matter of learning how winds from various directions traverse across your property. Learning to play the wind is a never ending process for all of us. Each new stand requires attention to detail regarding the wind

[@renwhite1809]

I play the wind and Iv learned that those stands with a bad wind to hunt that day will have action by it because just because it’s not in your favor doesn’t mean it’s not in there’s

[@kenebarb5377]

To kill big bucks first you have to have big bucks.

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

Best comment ever 👊🏻

[@b-d3vil16]

Was is just me or was that a pretty small gap he sent that Arrow trough?

[@oubeta]

Great stuff. I’ve been hunting Whitetail for over 25 years and there is still a lot to learn.

[@ChristopherNewman-t9k]

Well I know it made your heart sink that was the learning curve called experience good video

[@TheBuckPsych]

Would this be private or public property? i see this so much more intense on public. Only reason i say is that most private in my areas are all presets and heavily baited so it is kind of easy for the bucks to skirt by or avoid danger > they actually are mostly using private more during daylight hours and most public after dark. Compared to public where they can not really predict where hunters are because presets are not allowed here. Its almost like you have to hug the private lines to be in the game especially on more mature bucks greta Video Bro

[@montemaguire4596]

Do u hunt when there really is no wind ?? As slow as 1-3 mph ? Or is it a waste of time??

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Yes I do but I prefer a steady wind

[@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594]

A good way to wind check is by releasing individual seeds from a dried milk werd pod.

[@gant8408]

Hey just so you know you can't eat antlers my boy where I'm from if it's brown it's down

[@edbaham3344]

Love the videos Don and appreciate the straight talk. I’m curious how you feel about using scents, particularly with decoys. I hunt in KS and love the action I have seen with them in past. I have had a lot of bucks come in with a buck decoy and some Ever Calm on the decoy. Can you give me your thoughts on scents and decoys?

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

I dont ever use decoys and I only use scent on ropes to get photos

[@ChilcoteForestryServices]

my suggestion is to review some property visits and what you suggested to do on the property or not do...especially outside of the midwest. Things are a lot different her in PA

[@stndupforusa8964]

Loved the explanation! Great tips!. Higgins= true pro

[@GOOD_PRACTICE]

Great advice! Thanks!

[@StealthTRD]

Ive been havin all the luck hunting oct mornings seeing all tge bucks..u just gotta set up befor he hooks for the bedroom. I'm about 250 yards from what i believe is the bedding an it's like clockwork

[@jamieshelton3570]

I have a some land and still trying to find out how to hunt it, and really having a hard time

[@lewislighting7776]

You never forget about the one that got away

[@robertporter6641]

I’m getting the impression that playing the wind is even more important than chemical scent control. How long did people hunt successfully before those products even existed? This is my first season and so far, I haven’t seen a single deer in two day-long trips. I’m thinking it may have something to do with not playing the wind well. Admittedly, I have no idea where the deer might be on this property because we have no cams and where we thought deer may have been eating our bait, it turned out to be cows…but I’m going to keep learning and keep trying.

[@Countrylife434]

It takes years and years, I'm still learning. I've learned to use the wind and be very picky about when to hunt your stand. I'll only hint my good stand a few times a year. When everything comes together. Temp, wind, rut, etc.

[@LDJ42069]

If you have cows on the same area that share with deer you will have a hell of a time getting on them.

[@Grizzlife]

I had a great hunter years ago tell me to hunt the bucks wind not yours. It took lots of screw ups to figure out what he meant. As far as morning hunts all my big deer I’ve taken with a bow have been in the morning late October and first of November. I have better chances at matures pre-rut when acorns first start falling. When guns start going off I have to totally change my bow stand locations.

[@glennl9630]

Play the wind with a Crossbow DEADLY

[@weschaffin]

Very informative video. Enjoyed it.

[@montemaguire4596]

I use Sentlock hunting clothing and it does work for me.

[@Shiloh3498]

Excellent content! I'm a new sub!

[@djkilpatrick5256]

All of this sounds good. But how do you apply it to public land? I try to keep the wind in my face as much as I can. It’s where do I find the deer? Here in central ky things are really thick, until mid November when the brush and leaves are falling off.

[@wesleyjackson7499]

Best video on huntiing I have seen in a while

[@JohnJohnson-jt8ti]

Great video Don! Keep them coming!

[@bradleypetersheim1834]

1 thing that works for sure is sent away and doe urine not for bucks but if u are trying to kill does they will come closer and closer i've seen it more times than I can count and I'm only 18 😂 does are the most curious ones in the deer herd but just remember if u play the wind u won't have to worry about them winding u as quick

[@pursuingtheheartland3414]

Quality info 👍🏻👍🏻

[@farmboy7064]

Enjoy your content and your hunts! Just wanted to point out.. The 27 jealous dislikes are haters and love Peta lol. And no matter the wind direction your always gonna smell their bullshit lol.

[@lcjjr.6714]

The hardest area to hunt is mountains due to thermals shifting.

[@millatime62401]

One of the properties I hunt is mostly bottom ground with steep cliffs on each side. It is very difficult to hunt and access the area because the wind swirls so much. Usually only time I attempt it is really cold still mornings. It seems like your scent goes straight up. It’s my best place to hunt though. I have killed many nice mature bucks there.

[@bryhncraft2921]

Great explanation and great video Don!

[@archeryonly5629]

Don! man i really appreciate ya !

[@renwhite1809]

While this is true it’s very very hard to execute this on every sit. Land shapes are different and not always possible to get in with access given if you don’t own all the land around your hunting property it can be mentally draining trying to figure it out because it’s not always possible

[@superpoacher6711]

If the majority of mature bucks use the wind to their favor than how can we consistently play the wind if bucks regularly circle downwind if your calling, watching a mock scrape etc! I'm am OVER the top careful with my clothes, body etc to be as scent free as possible. How many times will mature bucks just walk upwind? Especially hunting big timber as I do. I understand everything your saying but it doesn't always work out when hunting big timber which is 99% of what I hunt.

[@ninjagodzilla6402]

You know.it is very very hard to not be able to hunt oct mornings.espicily when you dont have much time to hunt.man thats going to be hard to swallow.i use to realy look to john eberharts videos.i like yours alot better.

[@ronnyg5877]

So let me get this right: on your second hunt, you sat on the fields edge and the bucks walked roughly 10 yards inside the wood line? With you being on the downwind side obviously ?

[@rogergauthier2769]

But do you sit woth the wind to youre back or to youre face ?

[@capitalistwire]

This is the best wind video I’ve seen on YT. Great job man. Thank you.

[@tyroneprice6560]

Great information Sir

[@ML-ks2lj]

Would you say they have the wind in their face? Or to their back? I have had the wind in my face and have watched the buck come in with wind to their backs too but what do they do the most?

[@stuartwatson8359]

I am seriously digging your shirt in the video.. that probably sounds real creepy but I'm being serious

[@edwinnirschl6707]

I USE THE WIND FOR KILLING BIG BUCKS AND HAVE FOR YEARS. YOU ARE RIGHTWHAT YOU SAY. I LIKE THE WAY YOU HUNT.

[@therelease2495]

Very informational video that every hunter should watch.

[@stanleybuck4195]

Please remove the negative ad which lies about Eric Hovde. The truth is that he is a very caring person.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

I have no idea who Eric Hovde is. We dont place the ads within our videos. thanks

[@Coyote-wm5op]

Bucks in particular are much smarter than people realize. I missed one last year because of placement.

[@robinworkman3621]

You mentioned products for scent control. I think it's funny, my grand dad never wore 400.00 dollars worth of camo or washed his cloths in UV and scent killing soap. He killed big bulls and whitetail. Wonder how he did it without looking like he hopped out of some hunting show?🤔

[@LDJ42069]

He didn’t have to compete with thousands of other people who do wear $400 gear and have all the latest tech. Times are different now.

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

That’s was when I hunted the same way . But before these thousands of new hunters especially bow hunters . They buy up property or Hunt public but it’s all different now . I just started using sent killer . Dose it work idk but it can’t hurt. Anything to increase my chances

[@dougvuillemot8670]

He didnt have half the competition and he had 3 times the amount of big woods.

[@robinworkman3621]

@@dougvuillemot8670 I don't know, I'm not much of a elk hunter. I buy a tag and go out. I've killed 4 elk,I've hunted ever since I could and I'm 51 now. But I have a buddy who loves hunting elk. There was a 10 year stretch where he shot a 5x5 or 6x6 every year on public land.its in North Idaho up on the bunco. It want until they put those wolves in there he started having trouble. He's 1 mile in on a single track trail, he will hike 7 to 13 miles a day.he still gets his elk every year. It just takes him longer to do it and it seems they have gotten smaller.i agree there's a lot more people and more pressure from both man and wolf.im pretty sure the reason many don't fill their tag is, they don't won't to put in the leg work and get back in there like he does.i like the idea of getting a elk.i just don't put in the work like he does

[@dougvuillemot8670]

@@robinworkman3621 . Wolf doesn't help for sure. Pressure and way more developed land makes things harder now. I'm not saying it can't be done. Just a matter of how far you want to push it. We're im at the farmers have went so gready they don't even keep a fence row anymore.

[@caseyeiseler]

13 Scentlok employees didn't like this one. Great video, and information Don!

[@caseyhepler2806]

Hunter pressure on public or private can work for hunting anytime you hunt, or a doe in heat

[@thomasmaciak4687]

Excellent, need to have some good spot to kill a good buck,hard to find those places

[@rickhuff5197]

What is that plate covering your sight?

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

It is part of the sight - Eradicator sights

[@T.H.E-TheHumanExperience]

Awesome video, loving your channel and what a damn good shot between those trees!!