Deer Hunting Thermals 101

If you are deer hunting hills this season, you need to understand the basics of both morning and evening thermals. Deer hunting thermals isn't hard, it just takes experience. Let my success and failures from nearly 30 years of hunting thermals in several states, create a foundation of thermal movement patterns that you can use for decades to come. These are the basics of evening and morning thermal hunting that you need to know, this deer season...

[@LonePinePursuit]

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

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome...I hope it makes sense!

[@algratton512]

Ty

[@NastyN8thegreat2]

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

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks a lot for doing that! I hope you really enjoy today's 😊 Happy 4th!

[@NastyN8thegreat2]

@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 hey Jeff one video I'd like to see you do and I'm sure everyone else would too is your gear I mean we know what stand but I thinking what bow your bow setup what type of rest you use and thumb or wrist release maybe the type brand of cloths you recommend I've been through a ton of your videos by now and have learned a ton I'm getting ready to buy a bow so maybe on a bow recommendation maybe do one that's entry price then middle and up but there's 2 idea I'm sure we would all like to see love the content man can't wait for more

[@damianmorrill9685]

great info! thanks so much

[@ec9697]

I’ve seen it take Until 11 am For Thermals To Start to rise and last year it was 12:30 before thermals made a Change in the way my scent went

[@sonboogie]

Thanks 👍

[@lukestambaugh5238]

Awsome video ive learned alot to b a better hunter

[@billydsoutdoorstv5411]

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

[@voiceforthevoicelesstruth5480]

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!

[@JohnDoe-jk8yy]

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

[@tomgray256]

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

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

That's awesome Tom I hope that it really helps you out!

[@seanlong7505]

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

[@rickparsley4365]

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

[@ML-ks2lj]

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.

[@JohnDoe-jk8yy]

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

[@BenjaminBakker-kh6sw]

What about thermals off a 25 ft ridge?

[@kevinjessel8809]

Good morning. Love a good Whiteboard for breakfast!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Good morning 😁 Ha, pretty funny...I think worked well for this one!

[@tomp9036]

Jeff, thank you for passing along all this knowledge. There are not many experienced hunters who are willing to share their tips and experience with adults learning to deer hunt. I have been watching your videos religiously during quarantine. I've used your scouting tips to scout some public state forest land and I was amazed with the results. I'm hoping to harvest my first mature buck this year following your tips and advice. Thank you again, you are a valuable resource!

[@dennybirchfield]

Write this book

[@KatelynArmstr0ng]

Great and easy explanation to follow along. Thank you so much for breaking it down!

[@xtremehunter8597]

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.

[@paulwakefield5255]

This is such a valuable video. Awesome job Jeff. Don’t forget to have that milkweed with you to confirm / learn as you go.

[@jonathanpittman9210]

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

[@weswilson3758]

Jeff, this is exactly what I needed. You refer to thermals in other strategy videos and I was actually going to comment on today’s video about them. You answered my question and much more. Thank you.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

That's awesome to hear Wes...thank you and you are very welcome!

[@chadwilliams9826]

Wow. This is the best explanation of thermals and benches that I’ve heard/read. Thanks, Jeff!

[@topnotchstudio9234]

Great explanation! 🤙

[@austininman7716]

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?

[@tonyshull8029]

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!

[@fabiomejia2260]

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

[@dinoavdic32990]

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

[@WHITETAILKINGS]

I killed a great PA public land buck this fall due to a lot of the factors you talk about here Jeff. Also watching weather underground & that 10+ degree temperature change you preach. Excellent!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Great to hear Adam...same here on the PA public land buck last year ☺️ I first began experiencing thermals anywhere...back in 93, in PA. BTW...wait til you see the weather app that is using my formula that is coming out in a couple of months 🙂 Can't wait to reveal that!!

[@underdogoutdoors]

I'm sure you've heard this before, I have not had great luck playing the wind due to swirls. Seems the wind never does what it's supposed to do. Like the old saying, about sitting around a campfire. You're information has made a huge difference in my success, (I used to hunt until I burned out) this season I picked my high percentage days and only went out 7 times & passed up a few borderline shooters, & did shoot 2 & got them on video, in the high pressured NJ & MD. I'm going to watch your other video's on wind & thermals. Instead of depending on wind direction alone, I hunt over 25 feet & always use a fresh washed set of clothes then treat them in a scent crusher ozone bag. I also spray hydrogen peroxide & water mix into my mouth every 30 minutes or so for my breath, no matter how scent free- you still gotta breathe. Thanks for all you do,the video's & info, I'm going to check out some from your archives.

[@aaronbeverly5783]

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

[@takemeoutdoors6939]

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?

[@stevocamo4017]

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

[@derrickmartin688]

Thanks so much for your videos I have learned so much.

[@myronlaidler8034]

Jeff ,your diagram is nearly the same as where i had a stand on my former lease,lots of Buck movement at that stand area.Only got busted 1 time when wind changed from N to E . A 1& 1/2 yr old approaching from the west got a snoot full of my scent and came unglued ,he jumped into adjacent pond sinking in muck.a total struggle for him to get to the other side.Thought i might have to get a rope to get hlm out.He did make it and i never saw him again! Good info on this one again and important to know for hill hunting...

[@randydunmire]

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.

[@mitchellshirk2533]

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

[@2CanTan]

Thanks for this! That drawing is exactly how my set up is. I have a flat area at my peak on the other side of drop off. Could explain in the future about both sides of the stand for Diff am or pm movements on each side? I’m at 467’ with a acre or two flat area on a ridge with steep drop with bench exactly as you drew. Also flat top area is planted and each side is draw to a saddle to cross ridge to get to the steep side as the ridge runs East to west. Major movement across ridge top in the two draws with saddles. Also have movement on the bench as it is approx 200-300 yards of straight East to west. Another bedding on other side of flat area that the draws lead to so that area will come feed and leave back. So hunting it all and some are am or pm dominate movements.

[@danielww9022]

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

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks Daniel...enjoy the playlist!

[@suzmell1]

Kinda thought it would just checking thanks teach

[@ohiooutdoors8646]

Definitely need more of this!!!

[@manvsdeer]

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

[@vincent2662]

Great video, Exactly what I was looking for!

[@jakesnake4107]

Great video full of info Jeff! I have a 200yd ridge just like the drawing but with no bench, I've tried hunting out of a blind but the angle wasn't right at all, but I just get nervous setting up a stand on it 😅 but may try it this year now lol

[@sethjagow2018]

Have you done a video on stand height?

[@trellbradley4506]

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

[@marklehman1119]

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.

[@wadesoutdoors1914]

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

[@smallfishbigpond5047]

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

[@fattroutlounge]

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.

[@redskin4040]

I'm in an area in NC where it's not really hilly. Thearmals kind of explains why I see more deer in the mornings. I usually sit a little higher than I think that the deer will be at. @whitetail habitat solutions does this seem right to you? Thermals is something that I've tried to understand for years now.

[@samhuston08]

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.

[@Deatheater91]

Hello Jeff, could you tell me where you get your buckwheat seed?

[@danperrault2954]

Write the book Please.

[@TradgerFarms]

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

[@kelvindurr9257]

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

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen...thermals are so critical!

[@wadesoutdoors1914]

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 ?

[@MexicanMovie]

I guess he doesn't know the answer...... ask Dan Infalt on his channel The Hunting Beast, he is the thermals King !!!!

[@seanbarrett657]

How effective is this on a 30' drop? Also what might a drop to a lake play on this?

[@seanbarrett657]

Theres a spot on the corner of the hunting property thats a natural choke point between field high and lake low. Always looks amazing but hard spot to hunt

[@344cabin]

Jeff, Is there any truth that creeks can create small thermals? I have heard that a creek will pull the air in the direction of the water flow. If this is true would that help with pulling your scent away from you and down the creek as long as it was not being pulled to a bedding area?

[@Scofari]

It doesn't pull the air in the direction of the flow, the cold water cools the air and cold air sinks. This is very noticeable at night. I camp a lot on public lands, and I WILL NOT camp near a creek when it's cold out. But, during the summer, it's the place to be!

[@seanbarrett657]

It would make sense but maybe not 100% reliable as far as following flow. However fact is water flows to the lowest point much like cold air. Also water takes longer to heat and cool which could play some noticable factors. For example a large water hole thats warmed up in the sun all day would cause a rising thermal as air around it cools

[@suzmell1]

Curious to know if hunting in a boxblind does all this apply

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

It absolutely does ☺️ Treestand, blind, no blind...all the same.

[@ianthompson7190]

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?

[@Gendronk]

Big deer on cam in one zone every year but can't find where they bed. Usually night pass throughs and hardly ever get more then one Pic of them. come rifle season tons of hunting pressure any thoughts on tracking down the fall bed area?

[@ikerapt6702]

Jeff, If I'm hunting a bottom during a calm evening near a creek or river, can I count on my scent gravitating toward the creek during the last hour of light? or can it vary?

[@shawnmartin6434]

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

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Definitely a scam... Just for anyone...you never should give money for something you win.

[@shawnmartin6434]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 so you known they were using your pic and all