BAS4109 wrote:Here is what I have for this year from my log.
Wore SL every sit but the 1st sit. My SL is 4 seasons old and I only have the light version. So when it gets cold I wear it under warmer clothes and that is normally rifle season so I don't care as much. Probably not as effective and I sure a big no no for John E.
Keep in mind that NY has 2 zones so rifle is open in the Northern Zone while it is still bow season in the southern zone.
18 sits, 12 on the ground and 6 from a treestand. 68 deer seen, 18 buck sightings, most 1.5 years old, 3 that appeared to be 2.5 years old, and 2 the appeared to be 3.5. Shot a doe with the bow and a 3.5 year old 9 point with the rifle, both deer were upwind.
Very 1st sit was with no SL because I was in a blind with my 5 year old son. Had 3 bucks come by upwind 50 yards no issues. Had a doe come downwind at 20 yards, she spooked (winded) and went back.
3rd sit - on the ground, in a blind with the rifle. Had a doe come through upwind 50 yards no reaction, had a different doe feed for 20 minutes at 60 yards downwind no reaction, she fed off.
4th sit - In a tree with the bow. 2 doe upwind at 20 yards, killed one. Had a 2.5 year old buck upwind feeding at 60 yards. 2 doe downwind at 20 yards, no reaction, they fed away downwind.
5th sit - In a different spot in a tree with the bow. a bunch of bucks and doe upwind no issues. A 1.5 year old buck downwind at 15 yards no response, but he was full rut so I doubt it would matter. A 1.5 and 2.5 year old directly downwind at 20 yards at different times both bucks put their noses in the air and changed directions, neither of them blew out, they just kept going in a different direction.
7th sit - In a different spot in a tree with the bow. Bunch of doe and a small bucks upwind. 1 doe downwind at 60 yards, no reaction.
8th sit - on the ground, in a blind with the rifle. Had a 6 point pass at 20 yards downwind. Nose in the air for a few seconds and kept going the same direction at the same pace. SL underneath.
9th sit - on the ground, in a blind with the rifle. 3 doe and 2 spikes 40 yards, all slightly downwind, 1 spike went directly downwind, no reaction, they kept going the same direction. SL underneath.
10th sit- In a treestand with the rifle. Same spike from above, 40 yards downwind, Stopped and stood for a couple minutes and kept going. SL underneath.
13th sit - In a treesand with the rifle (Southern zone opening day). Had 6 does downwind multiple times at 40 - 60 yards, no response. SL underneath.
14th sit - On the ground still hunting with the rifle. Walked up on 3 doe, deer passed 30 yards downwind, no response. SL underneath rain clothes.
Last sit - On the ground, last day of muzzleloader. 2 does and fawns downwind at 50 yards. Deer winded me for sure and blew out. First deer all season that blew at me! SL underneath.
So I got totally busted 2 times, once without SL. 24 out of 68 deer went downwind, 9 deer showed some reaction, 5 of them blew out (4 in 1 group), the rest kept going.
When I first saw the number of deer (~1/3) that Dan had go downwind it seemed high for playing the wind. However after going through my log I actually have a slightly worse percentage of deer going downwind and I play the wind every sit too.