How far do you stay upwind of elk?

[Paul in Idaho]

When you're circling to get the wind in your favor before stalking in on elk, how much distance do you want before crossing upwind of them?

I have a late-season cow tag this year. I spotted a herd on an open hill ahead of me at about 600 yards, with the wind coming from my right. There was no cover to close the distance so I dropped back and down to circle the hill and approach with the wind in my face. Most of them were bedded when I stepped out of view. When I was partway around, the spooked herd ran out in front of me, then I watched them run 2 miles across the flats. When I checked my GPS track, it showed my route across the upwind area was 950 to 1,100 yards from their beds.

Have any of you been busted by scent from more than a half mile? Or, do you think something else spooked the herd?

 

[Schaaf]

All wind is different in how it carries across a landscape and next to impossible to predict but I’ve watched critters catch my scent from a lot farther away than 600 yards. Especially if you’re dealing with a herd.

The only downside to erring on the side of caution is a few more steps.

 

[Doublecluck]

Seen em wind us at +1 mile on the flats. Like nothing between us and the elk but a mile of dirt and grass and the lead cow crosses our wind, looks right at us, and flips the whole herd.

 

[brymoore]

I had the wind shift on me last week on a huge herd (300) cows I was stalking. I was 900-1200 from the herd. I waited for about 20 minutes to see if the wind would change. It didn’t, so I pulled out not to spook the herd. As I was sneaking out, the herd had gotten up to graze on the hillside and were visible to me. I had at least 5 cows staring hard in my direction. They hadn’t seen me. I figured they were getting waifs of me but not enough to blow out of the country. Morning wind direction was perfect.

 

[MTLabrador]

I watched a black bear pick his nose up, sniff the air, and run over the top of a ridge and into the next drainage at well over 1000 yards. I’ve had elk do the same at similar distances.

 

[El Jason]

I’ve been winded a longways anyway. I give a very wide berth.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I think the speed of the wind is something to consider. More and more I'm convinced that if the wind is strong enough it "breaks" up your scent, making it difficult or nearly impossible for elk (or other animals) to smell you. I've had a herd of elk feed within shooting distance of me and I was directly upwind of them sitting in my truck. Got out when they were 200 yards away and shot one. Wind was probably over 30mph that day. This year my son and I approached a herd of antelope nearly directly unwind. Again, close to 30mph that day. He killed a buck at 170 yards.

 

[DFS]

I think the speed of the wind is something to consider. More and more I'm convinced that if the wind is strong enough it "breaks" up your scent, making it difficult or nearly impossible for elk (or other animals) to smell you. I've had a herd of elk feed within shooting distance of me and I was directly upwind of them sitting in my truck. Got out when they were 200 yards away and shot one. Wind was probably over 30mph that day. This year my son and I approached a herd of antelope nearly directly unwind. Again, close to 30mph that day. He killed a buck at 170 yards.

I don’t miss that Wyoming wind.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I don’t miss that Wyoming wind.

I hate it. But I must admit I like a good strong wind for elk hunting.

 

[Bullshot]

So how does one explain when an elk or a deer comes within 30 yards, or closer, with wind swirling or in their face and they act like, "oh well". Pressured vs unpressured? Darwin award? Animals can be very inconsistent in their reaction to human scent I've found.

 

[El Jason]

I’m guessing they didn’t get a good nose full because of weird air currents. Can’t say I have ever had an animal ignore my scent. Air currents do funny things. I’ve seen some odd things dog training and the only explanation is the air is doing things to the scent you can’t see and don’t understand.

 

[DFS]

So how does one explain when an elk or a deer comes within 30 yards, or closer, with wind swirling or in their face and they act like, "oh well". Pressured vs unpressured? Darwin award? Animals can be very inconsistent in their reaction to human scent I've found.

That I’ve not EVER seen. Animals sometimes put up with a lot but wind is never one of them.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I’m convinced that not all wind is equal. Humidity, temperature, how hard it’s blowing whether it’s shady or sunny make a huge difference.

The absolute worst wind to have go towards animals in my opinion is a cloudy day with high humidity and 40-50 degrees with about 5-10 mph drifting towards a herd.

The humidity allows for scent molecules to attach to the moisture and the cloud cover tends to keep scent closer to the ground and the wind isn’t strong enough to diffuse scent.

On the other hand, I’ve gotten closer than I ever guessed that I could with gusty shifting winds on bright sunny days.

 

[Bullshot]

I have seen some pretty dumb elk on occasion. Shot 1 or two (cows) that ignored my wind.

 

[DFS]

I have seen some pretty dumb elk on occasion. Shot 1 or two that ignored my wind.

Thermals maybe?

 

[Bullshot]

Thermals maybe?

Hard to say but killed close (archery 11yards, and under 30) with consistent bad wind, had two like that that came in unabated.

That said, no telling how many I spooked near and far, vast majority of encounters end that way it seems!

 

[DFS]

Hard to say but killed close (archery 11yards, and under 30) with consistent bad wind, had two like that that came in unabated.

If the terrain and temperature is right you can get away with things. I have to think your wind was going above or below.

 

[gouch]

I've had elk bust me from over 1/4 mile away with just the slightest hint of a down draft. Then I've been within ten feet of elk that never knew I existed.

 

[JM77]

No matter the conditions, distance or wind speed, if you have to up wind of elk count on them spooking.