Hunting Stand Positioning - Why place one in the wind?

[Filokwarq]

Hi,

I just started playing again and never really thought about using em in the past. Now that I am digging a bit more into the game I am a bit confused by the fact that in almost every Stand I built I end up being right in the wind direction blowing my nice smelling of sweat and chips right to the open spots that are supposed to feed the animals right in front of my gun.

If there is a spot with animals in a specific timeframe, why is there a stand standing in a position where its always useless at those specific times? Using a Tripod close to those Stands is somehow silly, but looks like its "works as designed". So what am I missing here? What am I doing wrong?

Cheers.

Edit: I could understand this if the Wind would change its direction randomly, but thats not the case.

[DopaTrain]

The wind tends to blow in general direction but will change sometimes. Also I believe using hunting structures reduces the amount of scent. You can also mitigate being "got wind of" by using scent eliminator. It wont actually eliminate your scent fully but it will help. Also scent eliminator lasts quite a while and applying it multiple times wont make it more effective as such it will just make it last a bit longer.

[MAGE]

I agree the Permanent stands are usually in wrong place given wind direction. However they do have three to 4 sides to look out of. Use scent eliminator helps some. The ground blinds just suck unless on big hill. In layton There is one that is just west of the eastern river branch. I believe it is Nordin area . its situated in a spot that has offshoot of main river. Has multible crossing areas around it. Regardless of wind I always see something. I do think tho tripods are best bet or portable tree stands.

[Striker]

Before you build one of those pay to build stands or blinds It is in your best interest to inspect the area surrounding them and observe the general wind direction at the time you intend to use them. Most of those on the LL and Hirsch reserves have a fatal flaw. It might be an absence of need zones anywhere within your field of view should you choose to build them, wind direction making it impossible to get those near need zones without alerting the animals headed into or using the need zone, animal pathways that only take them past the back of the stands/blinds where you cannot shoot, there's a ground blind I found in Hirsch located in a spot where the weeds and shrubs are so high directly in front of blind that you cannot see anything more than a few feet in front of you once you get into it so let's call that a sterling example of the wrong type of structure being placed for that location. Best bet is to save your money instead of wasting it by paying to build elevated stands or ground blinds on those 2 reserves (especially now what with the bug some of the elevated stands on some maps have a bug that makes them unusable). Tripods, Tree stands, the blinds from the Duck and Cover DLC can be used to hunt anything else besides ducks or near water and all can relocated at will. You can own both DLCs for less than 10 USD which, for some, might sound like a lot, but in the long run you'll be glad you bought them.

[Filokwarq]

Thx for the answers. I have all DLCs (except one Lodge). Thats not the point here.

To respond to the replies all together: I am aware of some of the mechanics. I tried to eliminate the scent, did not work (yes, the things you can buy in the game). And no, the Wind does not change sometimes, it changes at specific times. So it will always go into the same direction at a given time on all maps, at least as far as I know and experienced myself as well in the game. That is the reason for this post: If the wind goes south at 9 a.m., why placing a stand north of a need zone if those animals are there only at 9 a.m. ?

If need zones would change it may make sense, but most often, at least in most cases I found so far, the stand is located with a clear direction in mind which is most often not optimal.

I would really love to have random wind directions, that would make so many things way more interesting.

[batteran]

You could try scents, then?

[Filokwarq]

I did, did not work.

[DopaTrain]

I think IRL there's always a prevailing wind.

[MarktheMuffin]

Another 2 cents worth, partial agreement on some of the game currency structures, some are in some strange places that offer limited viewing of open spaces or are placed where there is more tree/brush, there's one in Leyton that I know of where Bears walk past close by almost all day, including Deer at odd times going between need zones just like the Bears and this is in heavy brush with limited long shots.

This structure just mentioned is at the bottom of a small hill which is not wind friendly and often as not the wind is blowing in an unfavoured direction but changes slowly, (*on all maps), right from the start of playing I started using the scent eliminator spray and at first just sprayed away when needed too, sometimes it worked but other times I got smelt even after spraying and alerting the animal, during this time of playing, learning the best way to use the mechanics of the game came across a streamer doing a hunt, (I think it was a diamond) along with other animals as well, during the stream they used the eliminator spray and every time would turn to face the wind and then spray turning left and right slightly while doing it, this is one thing I never did but do all the time now, face the wind and spray.

As for need zones I found these to be a bit of a mystery at first, all need zones can be destroyed, some take longer than others, (herd animals, Deer, Elk, etc), that's map icon need zones, these need zones have a radios with some structures in them, (hides) but!, it could be just outside of max limit from nearest need zone and the animal feeding/resting area is within it's max limit inside that need zone, some of these zones are quite big depending on species, when finding a need zone another small icon appears on the map when zoomed in showing where that need is within that need zone, if it is only for one animal as said when cursing over main need zone, Bears for instance will vanish from the map until you find it again but it may not be in that area, it will be in that section of the map, that's all need zones, you just have to find it again.

*When it comes to the wind any cover close to actual feeding/resting area's where the wind is in favour will get the result you wanted unless it's water Buffalo then you could be the hunted.