One of the other nice things that happens is we finally start getting some "cool" fronts that move through the state. These fronts do alot of things for us including make hunting a little more dependable on occasion. Now, hunting will always be hunting and that is why they don't call it "killing" (I know- we've all heard that one). But it is true, if you can time your hunts around weather changes you will be a very happy hunter. Just sitting in your deer stand all morning, or evening and not seeing a single animal (including squirrels) will frustrate anyone. Time your hunts around weather changes and this could change big time for you.
I typically watch the weather very close because of my profession, but I have learned to watch it just as closely for my hunts too. When I can, I time my hunts around the time that fronts are moving through the area. I don't know why, but I have noticed in my area that is usually towards the end of the week. In your area it might be on Tuesdays. Just keep an eye on the next few cool fronts that move through and note the timing. Then hunt directly in front of them.
Hunting just before a cool front will help you to get more opportunities for a shot on your game. Animals will be more active before a front moves through because they can tell the weather is going to "change", but they don't know to what extent. The animals don't know how much "change" is coming when a front moves through so they go into preparation mode. Some fronts are very nasty and produce very stormy conditions and this is what they want to be prepared for. In general, your game will be more active before a front moves through just like people. Weather changes feel good, and the animals are no exception.
Weather changes are not restricted to cool fronts either. Hunting any type of weather change, or event that will change the envrionment your game is in will reap rewards. Sometimes I will hunt when I know a line of thunderstorms is moving through later that evening, or it will start raining non stop the following day. Atmospheric pressures change and the animals can tell. That's when you need to be in your stand.
Timing this with a lunar event will GREATLY increase your chances for taking that trophy deer or hog that you have been hunting. This week for example we just had a small front move through on the same night that there was a full moon. Now, the full moon just happen to rise at almost the same time the sun was setting. This makes for some really good activity in the woods when you can be in your stand when these events are happening. This week just happened to fall on a Wednesday evening. I encouraged everyone I knew to be in their stands last night.
Hunting these weather changes won't guarantee you a shot, though. There's still alot of preparation that goes into your hunt before you ever get in the stand. IF you make a effort to hunt these weather changes more consistently though, you will see more game. Alot of the time its not about taking the shot for me. It has more to do with verifying that my timing was right and my preparation before, and time spent in the stand were not wasted. Try to be more consistent hunting weather changes and your efforts will reap their own rewards I assure you.
By: Steven Wiley
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