Dealing with Thermals

FamilyMan

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Okay. I will admit it. I am confused by mountain thermals.

I sware that in have the things I have read about thermals they say thermals move up the mountain in the morning in down in the afternoon, while the other half say just the opposite, down in the morning and up in the afternoon. Which is the truth?

Also, does porperly dealing with thermals mean that during the time of the day that they are moving down (whenever that is) you should not be high on the hill glassing below you, but rather have to be in the bottom of the draw glassing up to avoid being sented?

Also, is it safe to assume that on a windy day you can ignore the effect of thermals all together?

Please help me understand these crazy mountain zephers!

Thanks
Mark
 
Warm air rises, cool air falls. Always wait till they are steady, keep them in your face and good luck...


Stop Global Whining
 
As night time approaches (along with cooler temperatures) the air gets "heavier" and will sink from the ridgetops down to the lower elevations. There will be a downhill flow until mid morning. As the day progresses and the air heats up the air becomes "lighter" and will rise from the lower elevations to the rigdetops.

The exact times will vary and thermal wind strength will vary depending on how high and low the temperature varies each day.

So if you're hunting an area influenced by thermals, hunt uphill in the mornings and downhill in the afternoons.

Thermals can be negated to a greater or lesser degree by a wind blowing in from another direction. It's always good to have a few hunts pre planned so you can work the wind to your favor.

Thermals are a very big factor where I hunt. I've been "busted" far too many times.

Steve
 
I was as confused as you as to how they really work. Here is what I have found to be true for me.

Morning:
First shooting light: Thermals are moving DOWN
Sunup: when sunlight starts hitting the area, air moves uphill

Midday: Thermals are moving up usually, However, if clouds move in, the air can cool and start going downhill.

Evening:
Until sundown: thermals generally move uphill
After sundown until dark: thermals generally move downhill

The first 30 minutes and last 30 minutes of shooting light each day, the thermals generally move opposite what they will be doing or have been doing! That alone makes it hard to figure

If you are more confused now, join the club! The only rule that you can remember for sure is that warm air rises and cool air settles. Easy, right?

that is why I pray for a prevailing wind. Otherwise, I try and hunt sidehill. I try and hike to the level I think the animals are that time of day and move across the mountain instead of up or down. That way the thermals won't affect me.

All that said, they are going to bust you again and again. Last bowseason I was set up over a pond and had a decent 6x6 bull come in. He was at 47 yards and my personal limit was 40. Felt like he would come closer because the thermals were in my favor, but the wind "swirled" and he was gone.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Lets make it even more confusing. The thermals don't change directions immediately. When the air starts to heat, thats when you get a tremendous amount of swirling. When archery hunting during these conditions, I speed up, I can't say it really works though. My advice is if you spot a bedded buck in the AM, wait until the thermals really kick in before beginning the stalk. I think this helps in 2 ways. The longer the animal is bedded, I believe the less alert he is.
 
Thanks guys for the help. And I'm glad to see I'm not the only one confused.

So when stalking a buck that you watched bed in the morning you should approach from above because the thermals are moving uphill during most daylight hours. That is good because it is generally easier to see downhill then up and it seems deer are more alert to what is happening below them than above them. So at least this all works together.

Thanks again.

Mark
 
Thats my theory. The problem is finding that buck before he beds down and not having any other deer in the way to blow the stalk.

Perfect scenario. You see the buck of your dreams at first light, you watch him bed and there is a decent landmark near him that gives you a reference. You watch him for an hour and a 1/2 or so to make sure he's not moving. By then the uphill thermals have kicked in. You take a 2 mile route to get around and above him when he's only 1200 yds. away. You get to 100 yds. and take off your boots. You sneak up to within 40 yds and you see him move an ear. You readjust your stalk and get within 20 yds and double lung him. I've lived that dream once. The only problem is he wasn't the buck of my dreams but I'll always remember the hunt because everything went perfect. If he had been a HOG, I'm sure something would have gone wrong, probably me.
 

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