Author Topic: hunting and barometer pressure (Read 1435 times)

rickyp · « **on:** March 24, 2003, 03:32:38 PM »

Not sure if this is the right place for this question.
How does the barometer pressure affect animals? While I am at it, what does it mean when it rises and falls. I know it has something to do with approaching storms or if it will be clear or not but that is about it

PaulS · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2003, 02:01:54 PM »

rickyp,
I am no vet but I know that the barometric pressure measures the density of the air. Lower pressures mean that the air is less dense and higher pressures are caused by more density. I believe that animals can "feel" these changes but I don't have any idea how it affects their behavior if at all. Temperature extremes from day to night seem to have an affect on their movements with the more extreme the less likely they are to move but I haven't spent enough time watching animals with pressures in mind. Maybe we have an animal behaviorist around to give some insight?

PaulS

Crayfish · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2003, 01:45:20 AM »

I'm no vet / animal behaviorist either, but one of the theories I've read about is that animals are more likely to move during a "moving" barometer than they are when it is constant. In other words, they are feeding / moving as storms are approaching and then again after they leave. But they will move less during the storm and during the "nice" weather later on.

My own experiences back this up to some extent. Nearly every buck (as well as several of the does) I've shot have been either just before or just after some sort of weather system. In one year, I shot a doe during bow season as the black clouds were just starting to roll in for a big thunderstorm ; I shot a buck during rifle season first thing in the morning after it had snowed the night before ; then I shot another doe during muzzleloader season as the first big snow flakes were starting to fall from an incoming snow storm. This was just 1 year ... there have been several other instances like this as well.

So yes, I believe in it, but I don't necessarily plan my hunting around the barometer / weather systems. I hunt as much as I can either way!!

... Crayfish

rickyp · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2003, 02:23:10 AM »

I dont plain my hunts around it ether, but I have seen more deer moving about 24 hours before storms comes in. Game movement is not the only reason I want to know what the readings mean. I like to know how to pack for the day.

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2003, 04:31:53 AM »

To animals the change in barometric pressure is a weather forcast and they react accordingly just as we humans do. When bad weather is forcast do we not stock up on food and seek shelter? Animals react the same with the exception that they are more tolerant of the weather.

Crayfish · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2003, 09:25:39 AM »

Ricky - Typically, when the barometric pressure is dropping, bad weather is coming. When the pressure is rising, nicer weather is coming. When the forecast on the nightly news calls for High Pressure, there will typically be clear skies on that day (and not usually the best hunting conditions!).

Have fun ... Crayfish

S.B. · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2003, 04:24:26 AM »

I'm far from being an expert, but I am sure that the pressure affects animals just like it does humans(as far as the weather affecting your bum knee or what ever). Also know that animals gather food more just before a storm, they know the weather is coming and want to store up on calories. I watch the trails for spider webs accross them, this generally means weather is coming in. Hope this helps.