|
Author
|
Topic: Barometric Pressure
|
booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
|
posted December 10, 2014 06:36 AM
Was watching ‘Furtakers’ on the Outdoor Channel the other day over lunch. One thing stuck out was that something was said that the best hunting occurs at a 28 barometric pressure reading. It obviously means a low front is coming through or about to. Makes more sense that the critters would be moving ahead of bad weather.
I am a ‘default’ hunter…with my job, I can only usually hunt on the weekends, not when it is the most opportune time to do so.
What say you all? Do you watch the barometer when planning your hunts?
--------------------
If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
|
posted December 10, 2014 06:52 AM
I'm default too - hunt when I can, not when I necessarily want or according to conditions.
And I don't watch the barometer very closely either. So, maybe I shouldn't even share an opinion.
But... My experience, the most predictable, consistent calling, in my areas, is under a steady high pressure.
The old thing about right before and after a storm being good, I'm not saying it's false. I've done great in those conditions. But my thought is that those conditions have not been as consistent as a good old boring steady high pressure.
When the weather is predictably decent, the calling seems to be predictably decent as well. For me.
Storm coming, less predictably decent. For me. Conditions are just so variable out on that high desert with a low pressure and falling barometer. Wind can really turn it into a suck city day. Or the flip side, that preternatural creepy stillness you sometimes get before a storm seems not conducive to good calling, in my experience? Other conditions, aside from the barometer, seem more important factors and those things just aren't as predictable or steady when the barometer is falling.
Right after a storm, again, conditions are just so highly variable, in the country I hunt, calling just naturally seems highly variable too. A common theme with "right after a storm" in my country, is a blue bird, calm, bright sunny day on fresh snow. Kind of day you'll go snow blind if you don't take precautions. Calling usually sucks on days like that - "right after a storm".
Anyway... Don't know why I'm commenting so much. As I said to begin, I hunt when I can and don't pay that much attention to the barometer. But, my simple minded opinion, based on my experience in the kind of terrain and conditions I normally get to hunt, given a choice, I'll take plain old boring good weather with a steady high pressure system.
- DAA
--------------------
"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
booger
TOO BIG TO FAIL
Member # 3602
|
posted December 10, 2014 07:12 AM
Thanks, Dave...your opinion does mean much!
--------------------
If we ever forget we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under--Ronald Reagan
Posts: 911 | From: Bob Dole Country | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted December 10, 2014 07:37 AM
I always favor high pressure, since it means cold and that usually gets the animals moving.
As far as before or after a front: forget before, animals seem to anticipate and find other interests, but right after a front should be good hunting, whenever it occurs, seven A.M. or seven P.M. Don't wait 'til next morning, they all hunted and are probably snoozing by then?
Hell, I don't know? But, I vastly prefer a high barometric to a low one....except on nights with a full moon, then cloud cover is beneficial. That's if you are night hunting.
Good hunting. El Bee
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31450 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
CrossJ
SECOND PLACE: PAUL RYAN Look-a-like contest
Member # 884
|
posted December 10, 2014 07:52 AM
I have to agree with Dave. Right after a fresh snow is always heralded as ideal conditions here also. Never really found that to be the case....now 2 to 3 days after with a lingering snow cover....good times. Those eerily still days are awful...almost creepy. My ideal day is high pressure, temps around low 30's(personal preference) and northern winds between 5 to 12 mph.
--------------------
A friend will help you move. A good friend will help you move a body.
Posts: 1025 | From: on a water tower | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted December 10, 2014 08:16 AM
$.02..............YMMV
If you do or don't believe in barometric pressure, moon phases, before or after storms, or voodoo rituals, you are probably correct.
If you believe that hunting during meteor showers will improve success, you will likely hunt harder, longer, and more alertly during meteor showers........proving the theory. If you think that it's non-sense, your success rate will not likely change much.
Try this; what-ever theory you want to hang your hat on, make note of the details AFTER the hunt. Pay no attention BEFORE the hunt. See what kind of pattern (if any) develops.
I would hate to pass up a hunting trip because the moon wasn't `right` or the pressure wasn't the `right number`.
>>>>>>>..........> And if you don't have a good day (or night) remember the words of Murry Burnham; "Sometimes this shit just don't work".
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 7576 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Moe
Knows what it's all about
Member # 4494
|
posted December 10, 2014 10:56 AM
It's been a long time since I was a hard charger when it came to calling critters but other than moon phase I haven't been able to predict when the calling would be best. We mostly hunted at night and nights with a full moon were pretty much losers. Of course, wind is a good time killer, too.
I once tried paying attention to the solunar tables and even the Farmer's Almanac but they never seemed to be correct.
I've heard guys say that cold weather makes for better calling but I can tell you I've had some spectacular calling during September. I spent a New Years day down in Arizona a few years ago with daytime temps in the 80's calling in 11 coyotes and gray fox and a bobcat. I killed 8 of the coyotes and the fox and quit early because I promised to take my daughter to dinner and I had a long drive back in to Phoenix.
I lived in Alaska for 15 years and learned this about fishing. The fishing was best when the fish were there. In waters where the fish were land locked the fishing was always good and in the waters where the fish were sea run if the fish were there we always caught them. Animals, domestic or wild, have to eat whether the barometer is low or high. Maybe they try to get a full belly before a storm but I remember calling in intermittent rain squalls in the desert a lot of years ago. Between the showers the coyotes came in hard and fast.
If there's a way to get a lock on this stuff I'd like to know but when I can go calling I go. Sometimes it's good and other times it isn't. Either way I have a good time especially since recently my wife has decided she wants to go calling with me so she can take pictures.
--------------------
I snatch kisses. And vice versa.
Posts: 593 | From: Oregon | Registered: Nov 2013
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted December 10, 2014 11:39 AM
Hmm? I have made exactly one stand with my wife and it was a long time ago. It was middle of the night and one of those deals where you just decide to pull off the road and make a stand on the way to Colorado Springs.
She was on the light and I killed a double within the first five minutes, probably less than that? So, fairly happy about it but she started telling me what I did wrong, and she may have had a point? She might have had good instincts but retired undefeated; guess it was too easy?
I know one team that is husband and wife and they are beyond good, state champions one year, in fact. Can't argue with those kind of results.
I know a couple others that are (appear to be) pussy whipped and the wife bosses the husband around, both of which killed more animals than their mate. However, neither were world beaters.
Generally, a wife is a negative if your intent is to kill a pile of animals. They won't go balls to the walls, from a competitive standpoint. Too smart for that shit.
Good hunting. El Bee
PS I took my girlfriend dove hunting and because of puttering around we missed all of the morning shooting. Then, after lunch she was ready to go home....not a shot fired. THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31450 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
|
posted December 10, 2014 05:45 PM
One dog wagon hunter in this area has been keeping barometric pressure data for nearly thirty years for hunting in the fall and winter and is convinced that a rising barometer under 30 but going up, is the best day to hunt. As for day before a storm, my granddad told me long ago that coyotes won't move for shit the day before a big storm and, in my experience, he has been correct. Like Geordie, people talk about how great the calling is the day after a big storm and God knows I've wasted many a cold day out trying to prove that right. Give them 2-3 days to burn off some fat and they'll get used to the new conditions and resume normal activities. Same thing with wind. If the wind blows for several days, eventually they will get out. Maybe not in the first two days, but sooner or later, they have to eat.
Last month, we had a spell of records cold - lows in the single digits. Our coyotes do okay with that in January, but in November, it comes as a real shock to them. I just happened to be on vacation to hunt that week and can tell you it was tough calling. Nothing was moving. I think they were still fat enough to just hole up and wait for warmer days.
As to wind, I seriously hate a calm day. So much of my method depends upon being able to anticipate the coyotes' movements coming to the call and planning for them to circle is as good a bet as any, most times. When you get that 5-10 mph breeze, it's enough of a breeze to steer the coyotes, but not enough to disrupt their hearing or their other senses.
Today was a great day. Nearly full moon last night, up all night, too. Made nine stands between sunrise and 2 pm. First stand, killed a big male coyote coming in hard enough and headed downwind and wouldn't stop for me so I let him go past to one of my gunners. Second stand, called a cat I never saw but my gunners did. I was doing the calling so it was my screw up when I quit too soon. Third stand was a blank. Fourth stand brought in three coyotes and a whitetail doe. One coyote evacked, and the other two circled and took the shortest route to the caller, shoulder to shoulder. Got them both at forty yards. Fifth stand had a hard charger come in and go by us so fast none of the three of us could hit him at fifty yards. LOL Sixth and seventh stands were blanks. Eighth stand brought a slow moving mature female who died unceremoniously overlooking a hog pile and nine was a blank. Great day considering then winds were E and SSE-SE, uncommon around here and setups I don't have many of. Most times when the wind will screw me, I just say screw the coyotes and try for cats. They don't give a shit anyway.
[ December 10, 2014, 05:47 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
--------------------
I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5438 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
