This reminds me of a saying that goes something like this, “Wind out of the East, fish bite the least! Wind from the West, fish bite the best! Well, first of all, let me be quick to tell you that the direction of the wind doesn’t directly affect duck hunting. I’ve killed ducks in wind from all directions except when it was blowing so hard I wouldn’t go out, or perhaps when it was too strong to duck hunt a certain hole. However, there is some truth about the effects of wind direction which actually has its roots in barometric pressure. In other words, it deals with fronts.
A strong north or east wind will generally indicate a fast weather change, therefore, a drastic change in barometric pressure. I will say, when weather conditions are changing fast this way, I usually kill a lot of ducks. They are up and moving around. They are looking for food and shelter to get away from the rapidly changing weather conditions.
Gusty south or west winds usually indicate a changing weather condition; thus, minor changes in the pressure until the front nears and then a quick fall in pressure. So it’s not really that the east wind affects a duck’s behavior. Instead, it’s the barometric pressure that affects the wind, and this, in turn, affects a duck’s behavior.
The worst day to duck hunt in a normal weather pattern is the day I call the “The Third Day Lull.” Let me break down a normal winter pattern cycle in the south and how duck hunting is affected:
- Day 1- Cold front came through the night before. New ducks are arriving. Good Duck Hunting all day!
- Day2- Wind is still blowing lightly from north to northeast in the morning. Usually, this is the morning you break ice. Then, the wind shifts to mainly an east to southeast wind to no wind in the afternoon and overnight. Good Duck Hunting in the morning of this day!
- Day 3- Wind is varying lightly from east to mainly southeast. A lot of times this morning is foggy. This day usually starts with no wind at all or is very light. This day usually sucks in duck hunting. Stay Home!!!!!!
- Day 4- Wind is blowing hard from South, Southwest, or Southeast, before next cold front approaches. Good Day Duck Hunting! Hunt as close to the front coming through as you can!
I hope this answer helps in understanding how wind affects duck hunting. I will leave you with this final piece of information. The days I do above average in the field are the days the wind is blowing 5-15 mph from any direction. Above 15 mph and a duck like to sit down and same goes for a day the wind is not blowing at all.
