In the morning, if the sun is out and warming up the ground, the air will rise (hot air is less dense than cold air). In the evening as the sun dips behind the trees, the higher air starts to cool and sink. During both events, the thermal carries your scent.
How is scent carried in hunting?
Scent is carried by either the wind or what hunters refer to as thermals. Wind is the perceivable natural movement of air. Why thermals can be both seen and unseen. A useful way hunters view thermals, is through spraying chalk into the air. This is commonly referred to as “windicator.”
How do thermals work?
So to start, thermals begin with two ingredients: the sun, and the ground. As the sun warms the ground, the ground warms the air directly above it. And that's where the thermal starts.
What are thermals made out of?
The trees tilt and sway with the wind and change with time, and sometimes they let go of their roots and drift." So to start, thermals begin with two ingredients: the sun, and the ground. As the sun warms the ground, the ground warms the air directly above it.
How do hunters view thermals?
A useful way hunters view thermals, is through spraying chalk into the air. This is commonly referred to as “windicator.” The chalk is light enough to be moved by the unseen air flows and allows hunters to see which way their scent is being carried. Carrying windicator is extremely useful when hunting and recommended, but not necessary.
How do thermals affect scent?
They do this because cooling, late-afternoon thermals push the air downward to the lowest points. When deer travel through these lower areas, they smell everything that wafts down into the bottoms.
How do wind thermals work when hunting?
10:1514:29Deer Hunting Thermals 101 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipActs like water even in this situation. If water is coming from this direction you're just slammingMoreActs like water even in this situation. If water is coming from this direction you're just slamming into that hill it'll.
How do thermals work in creek bottoms?
5:2810:26HOW TO HUNT CREEK BOTTOMS IN THE RUT | Mountain Buck Scouting ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo throughout the day the thermals are gonna pull down with that Creek that cold air and the coldMoreSo throughout the day the thermals are gonna pull down with that Creek that cold air and the cold water is rushing down the mountain. Right next to that stream is pulling the air down.
How do thermals work on flat ground?
1:376:02Thermals Explained Using Video from Our Past Hunts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's going to warm up a south-facing slope or a ridge top much faster than a north-facing slope orMoreIt's going to warm up a south-facing slope or a ridge top much faster than a north-facing slope or valley in mixed topography. Air is almost like it's in a blender.
How far can deer smell your scent?
1/4 mile awayANSWER: Under normal conditions, a deer can smell a human that is not making any attempt to hide its odor at least 1/4 mile away. If the scenting conditions are perfect (humid with a light breeze), it can even be farther. So they are pretty impressive.
Can deer smell you from a tree stand?
More often than not, a deer will smell you before seeing or hearing you when you're in the tree stand. One of the most tried and true hunting tips is to play the wind when you hunt. If you're always downwind, they can't smell you. But sometimes you can't avoid it.
Do thermals rise or fall in the morning?
Thermals occur when the ambient temperature starts to change, typically in the morning and the evening. In the morning, if the sun is out and warming up the ground, the air will rise (hot air is less dense than cold air). In the evening as the sun dips behind the trees, the higher air starts to cool and sink.
Should I hunt high or low in the morning?
The general rule of thumb to avoid trouble with thermals is to hunt high in the mornings and low in the evenings, as shown in the graphic on the right.
How do you hunt evening thermals?
In the evening, hunt on the downhill side of the trail so that thermal drafts will dump your scent into the valley or river drainage below. To air on the side of caution, if you can avoid hunting lower terrain, do it. The lower you drop into a valley or drainage, the more unpredictable currents will become.
What do thermals do in the morning?
In basic terms, morning thermals are created by cool temperatures that spur air to descend down a mountain, carrying scent with it. As the sun and daytime temperatures warm surrounding surfaces, thermals begin an upslope journey that continues much of the day. Toward nightfall, cooling once again causes air to plunge.
Should you hunt fields in the morning?
While deer hunting during the morning can be extremely effective, this proven practice is not without risk. Timing is everything! If you hunt to early and too often, you risk spooking out the deer herd in your favorite locations. If you hunt in the morning in the wrong locations, you risk over-pressuring your land.
How high will a thermal rise?
Eventually, as they leave the surface layer (100-200 meters AGL, or roughly 300-600 feet), they're a full-blown thermal. As the thermals rise, they twist and flow with the wind. They typically rise at 1-3 meters per second - which computes to about 200-600 feet per minute. But they don't keep rising forever.
How do thermals work in hills?
In basic terms, morning thermals are created by cool temperatures that spur air to descend down a mountain, carrying scent with it. As the sun and daytime temperatures warm surrounding surfaces, thermals begin an upslope journey that continues much of the day. Toward nightfall, cooling once again causes air to plunge.
How do you measure wind direction when hunting?
0:351:34How To Monitor The Wind Direction While Hunting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut the easiest way to do it is to attach just a little piece of ragged sock or a poly yarn on yourMoreBut the easiest way to do it is to attach just a little piece of ragged sock or a poly yarn on your bow because a quick glance you can tell the wind direction.
How do you predict wind direction for hunting?
All you'll need is your finger and some spit. Remove your glove, lick your finger of choice, and put it to the wind. The cold side tells you which direction the wind is coming from.
Do thermals rise or fall in the morning?
Thermals occur when the ambient temperature starts to change, typically in the morning and the evening. In the morning, if the sun is out and warming up the ground, the air will rise (hot air is less dense than cold air). In the evening as the sun dips behind the trees, the higher air starts to cool and sink.
What dictates the direction of scent?
WIND. Wind obviously dictates the direction scent is carried, but wind speed can greatly impact the amount that scent disperses and how far from the source it carries. Many hunters will say they prefer calm and gentle wind conditions when hunting.
How does elevation affect scent?
Elevation changes on their own can impact the way scent is carried through the air. Add in atmospheric variations such as wind and temperature, and you have a complex system of eddies, swirls and scent valleys. Cool air settles. Warm air rises. This is true no matter the air temperature or your location.
Why is snow cold?
It’s simply too cold for the condensation that’s required for rain or snow to develop. So, when snow is falling, the air temperature is generally “warmer” (that’s a relative term) and the sense of smell is enhanced. —Tony Hansen.
Does rain make your lawn smell better?
Ever cut your lawn just before a good rain? If so, you know that the air following a rain seems to be more fragrant. Technically it’s not, but your ability to smell that air is enhanced because damp, heavy air conveys scent more readily (as long as it’s not bitter cold and the moisture in the air isn’t freezing).
Do high winds move scent?
On the other hand, high winds will move scent very quickly in a direction, but the width of dispersal will be limited. Scent molecules simply aren’t given much opportunity to “wander” when they’re being forced quickly in a single direction by a stiff wind.
How do thermals start?
So to start, thermals begin with two ingredients: the sun, and the ground. As the sun warms the ground, the ground warms the air directly above it. And that's where the thermal starts.
What is thermals in science?
NOAA research scientist Wayne Angevine sums up thermals by saying that "thermals are like fat trees, with small, chaotic roots near the surface and large trunks above. The trees tilt and sway with the wind and change with time, and sometimes they let go of their roots and drift."
Why do thermals flatten?
When a thermal hits the boundary layer , it typically flattens and spread out. And the boundary layer is usually pretty identifiable, because the dust that the thermals are carrying up with them stop rising, which is why you see the recognizable dust/haze layer from the air.
How long do thermals last?
But they don't keep rising forever. Some thermals only last for a matter of seconds, while others can last up to 10-20 minutes. As thermals continue to rise, they cool, and eventually, they reach the same (or slightly cooler) temperature as the surrounding air.
Why do mountain ridges have thermals?
And that's mountain ridges. Ridges create strong thermals early in the day, because they have a more direct angle to the sun than the ground does. Boulder, CO, is a perfect example of this. When the sun rises, it shines directly on the Flatirons ridge line, quickly warming it, and creating incredible amounts of lift.
What happens when air above hot spots starts to rise?
As the air above these spots starts to heat, small plumes of warm air begin to rise. Think of it like bubbles rising up from the bottom of a champagne glass (cheers!). As the small plumes rise, they spin around randomly, and eventually, they start bumping into each other.
Where are thermals bad?
One of the worst places for thermals is in something called a 'blue hole'. They aren't exactly like black holes in space, sucking up everything in their path, but they're pretty close. Blue holes exist above lakes and other large bodies of water. Above blue holes, the air is cool, which means it's sinking.
The wind is a fickle critter, especially when thermals enter the mix
The hunt begins, and the wind is perfect — right in your face. Then, out of nowhere, it changes and starts racing straight downhill toward a deer bedding area. You want to cuss, but find the willpower to hold it in. Instead, you sigh and realize thermals weren’t considered…again. And deer busted you…again.
Thermals Defined
By definition, a thermal is a column of air particles that rises or falls. Warmer air is less dense than cooler air, and changing temperatures cause a distinct displacement of air, effectively creating thermal wind currents. The entire process is controlled by the sun, or lack thereof. The atmosphere warms and cools, causing air to rise and fall.
Terrain & Topography
As mentioned, higher elevations and steeper terrain can experience swifter thermals. This is most evident in the mountains and foothills. Still, it impacts properties along bluffs, bottoms, ridges, valleys, and other changes in topography, too.
Whitetails Love Thermals
Deer are prey animals, and they’re constantly being targeted by Mother Nature’s fiercest warriors. Because of this, they become very familiar with their home ranges, which are approximately 640 acres, and especially their core areas, which are 30–75 acres — habitat and location depending.
Use It Against Them
Deer use areas when the wind is good for them, or at least when they think it’s in their favor. As hunters, we can turn that around on them. While it can certainly work, don’t just hunt when the wind and thermals are seemingly perfect for you, and thus, the exact opposite of what a deer would want.
App Masters
Those who want to master thermals will find some aid with certain hunting apps, such as HuntStand. This app offers an abundance of useful tools, but one of them is monitoring, recording, and tracking wind currents. This app has numerous layers that show terrain and topography.
How do thermals change?
As the earth rotates causing the sun to shine from different angles , shadows will be cast causing the ground to change temperatures. As shadows move with the daylight, thermals will move as well. Thermals are consistent based off of the sunrise and sunset and switch directions once the sun is completely out. Causing thermals to constantly shift as they move from hot to cold. In the hunting world this is known as swirling. When you are in thick timber, wind has a tendency to swirl more than normal.
How does rain affect scent?
Rain can act as scent control. As precipitation passes through the air, it bumps into scent particles pulling them to the ground and diluting them.
Why do thermals shift?
Shadows from the sun can cause thermals to shift throughout the day.
When do thermals flow uphill?
Using the rule of thumb that thermals flow uphill in the morning and downhill in the evening, use the elevation lines to get an understanding of how your scent will be carried.
Why does a cold beverage become room temperature?
Also why a cold beverage becomes room temperature when exposed to the hot air it contacts. Nature is constantly working on balancing itself to an equilibrium. And the reason why your scent is constantly being carried away from you when you are hunting.
Why can you warm someone up through body heat?
Back to the basics. Before diving all the way in, you need to have an understanding of the natural flow of heat energy. Heat will always flow from hot to cold. This is why you can warm someone up through body heat if you make contact with them when they are cold.
When to hunt thermals?
One rule of thumb is to hunt high in the morning and low in the evenings. Simply put, thermals will go up in the morning and down in the evening carrying your scent as they move. As the sun rises in the morning, it heats the highest points of elevation first pulling the thermals upward.
What is thermal air?
A thermal is a column or stream of rising air created by temperature differences between air at ground level and air higher in the atmosphere. In the morning, as the sun heats the ground, air at ground level rises. The opposite occurs when the sun is setting and the earth starts to cool down.
When to hunt thermals?
The general rule of thumb to avoid trouble with thermals is to hunt high in the mornings and low in the evenings, as shown in the graphic on the right. Of course, as with anything there are always a few exceptions.
When do thermals occur?
Thermals are typically created when temperatures are either increasing (thermals rise) or decreasing (thermals fall). Unless there is a major cold front blasting thru, the daily afternoon temperature change does not take place until just before dark.
When do thermals fall for deer hunting?
What that means is that while temperatures can continue to increase and lift thermals for several hours after daybreak, evening temperatures and thermals typically only fall during the last hour of daylight.
Can thermals be used to carry scent?
As long as the temperature is increasing, rising thermals can sometimes be counted on to carry your scent above a deer's nose, into the afternoon hours. However, if you rely on afternoon and evening thermals to fall for your entire sit, you will be in big trouble when it comes to fooling a wise old whitetail's nose. YouTube.
Is it safe to use morning thermals for bucks?
Morning thermals can be an outstanding asset to a mature buck hunter, and I have relied on rising morning thermals for busting mature bucks since the early 90s. Morning thermals are also very easy, because most often if you are above the line of potential deer movement, you are safe. As long as the temperature is increasing, ...
Can you use thermals on a buck?
Using thermals to fool a reclusive old buck's nose, goes much deeper than the basic tip of morning thermals rise and evening thermals fall. While you are much safer planning your morning hunt as long as you are above the deer to take advantage of rising thermals, simply relying on falling evening thermals can spell disaster.
Do afternoon thermals fall?
Do afternoon thermals eventually fall? Sure, but if you count on that fact for an entire afternoon sit, you will be burned nearly 100% of the time. By timing the evening thermals during your next sit, you can strategize exactly where your scent can safely be placed, for your entire sit. Hills and thermals give whitetail hunters a huge advantage over folks hunting in flatlands, but just make sure that you dig a bit deeper than merely banking on falling thermals and scent, for an entire afternoon sit.
