Thread: Wind reading accuracy while hunting

Originally Posted by Tentman

I'd say if you're worried about wind you are too far away away and should get closer - its called "stalking" and its a very underated skill that is way easier to learn than making wind calls!

Wind is a standard calculation in any shot. Wind can affect a shot at small distances too.
Though i agree stalking is a most useful skill to have, so is knowing where your gun shoots in the wind. Exchanging the abilty to compensate for wind by stalking is not always an option.
Both are skills hunters should have and be used to best advantage.
I totally disagree that stalking is easier to learn than windage.
Stalking requires much more learning, from how to read the bush your in, observation of what animals ( birds particually) that are going to alert other animals as you move closer. Changes in wind as you pass through eddies and uplifts/ down draft( crossing thru gullies, coming over ridges To get closer to your target etc) that redistribute your scent. Moving quietly, moving slowly enough not to spook in close, restablishing where your taking your shot from that doesnt have obsticals in the way etc as oppossed to say shooting across a gully in a wind ( assuming you know how your projectile behaves in the wind)
I think as your stalking skills improve you forget how much your actually doing automaticaly and how much learned and practiced knowledge your appling.
But just my view.