Hills & Thermals Whitetail Hunting Web Class

Login  

Use Thermals to Your Advantage!

Did you know that most of the bucks featured at the top of this page on my wall were shot hunting hills and thermals? It's true!

Yet many of the most experienced hunters I know even have trouble with thermals.

Let's face it, 50% of all whitetail hunters hunt in enough hills to experience thermals and to really learn why you would you hunt in one location in the morning or another location in the evening—or vice versa.

There are a lot of tricks and tactics that you can take advantage of and throughout this Web Class, I'll teach you how to "cheat" the wind and how you should use the wind to your advantage.

I'm hoping that the experience that I have with hills and thermals—going back to the early '90s—will guide you to success!

Hills and Thermals Screen Cap

Learn from an innovator in whitetail hunting since 1995

Featuring 16 online video lessons in over 8 hours of video grouped into 3 modules, you’ll learn:

  • Saddle, Bench, Draw and other topographic terms and what they mean during the hunt
  • Morning and Evening Thermal Trends
  • How to "cheat" the wind and "forecast" it
  • How food affects where bucks bed in hill country
  • Determine the right location during the right time of day and how elevation plays a huge role
  • Why your stand location and elevation affects your scent
  • How deer move through hills
  • Using ditches and draws to your advantage
  • How to hunt in an actual valley (very tough!)
  • The quiet "Lee Side" Hunting Advantage

... and much, much more!

Jeff With Buck

Your Instructor

Jeff Sturgis takes decades of pursuing his passion, and then professionally transfers those pursuits into the enhancement of his client’s, reader's and viewer's hunting and habitat experiences, across the entire country. Jeff prides himself in creating the healthiest free-ranging deer herds in the world of whitetails, as well as taking on the challenge of hunting the oldest bucks in the neighborhood. Not only has he been able to create, own and operate a successful business in the whitetail industry since 2005, but he has been able to work along side his wife Diane while doing so.

Jeff received the QDMA's Deer Manager of the Year award in 2004, and hasn't stopped learning since. After studying and creating over 1000 whitetail videos and articles, as well as working on over 1000 client lands across 26 whitetail states, Jeff is in a league of his own when it comes to the ability to design your habitat, herd and hunt - anywhere a whitetail roams!

I have learned so much from you! I never had no one to show me how to hunt, I learned as I went and also by watching your videos! Thank you!
—Lee

Just wanted to drop a note to say how great of a time I had with Dylan
—Carlie - WI

Once you understand habitat and how to manipulate it the hunting part is easy. This guy will open your eyes to making your hunting better and more predictable.
—Brad C

Jeff, Your videos are absolutely awesome, good teacher, great speaker, great filming. Keep up the great content.
—John

I really enjoyed the web class. He has really helped me to become a better deer hunter.
—Eric

By the way Jeff, you are currently my favorite channel on YouTube period. I look forward to your new videos like episodes of a TV show. Keep it up!
—David

As always I enjoy your advice and i try to watch every video.
—Josh

Thank you for being so willing to share the knowledge that has taken you years of hard work to obtain. Cheers from SW Michigan!
—Tom

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their property's food plots, bedding areas and who wants to get that mature buck on the wall.
—Josh K

This isn't your everyday deer hunting B.S. Jeff has very concrete ideas about deer movement that I will be able to implement on my property.
—Bob

Course Curriculum

Section 1: The Advanced Basics of Hills, Thermals and Whitetails
Elevation Advantage Rules (24:43)
Food Positioned Bedding (07:56)
Common Topo Terms (11:16)
Hill Country Scent Control (08:37)
Section 2: Critical Hills and Thermal Hunting Strategies
Where Do Bucks Bed In Hill Country? (27:25)
Forecasting the Wind (13:15)
Using "Clean Air" Above The Soil (09:02)
Lee Side Hunting Advantage (18:01)
How to Cheat the Wind (11:53)
Section 3: Exactly Where To Hunt In Hills and Thermals
Mid & Lower Point Hunting (15:06)
Evening Thermal Trends (26:42)
Morning Thermal Trends (26:48)
How To Hunt In A Valley (17:04)
Hunting the Top of a Draw (16:29)
Risk and Reward of Ditches and Draws (09:02)
"Plan B" Thermal Attack (21:06)

Hills

PLUS: Exclusive bonuses...

Exclusive WHS Hat

Most deer hunters love hats, and we know you will enjoy this exclusive, high quality hat made exclusively for this web class! Hopefully you will want to collect them all!
$30 Value

Workbook

Make sure to follow along with your web class workbook that will be personally signed by Jeff and mailed to your shortly after your purchase. For this second class, there is room for notes on each page, as well as pages to begin designing your program towards the end of the book.
a $30 Value

3ebooksincluded

... worth over $120!

Free eBook Collection

Along with the “How To Design Your Deer Hunting Parcel” web class, enjoy our first 3 eBooks as further foundations of content to assist you in more accurately designing your hunt, habitat and herd.
—$60 Value

Future Discounts For Upcoming Web Classes

After you purchase this web class, we're giving you a 20% Off savings code for a substantial savings on any other web class series that is in our library in the future. (This offer extends to retail price only, and your savings code can be used at any time after the initial 30 day introductory price for each web series.)

Membership In WHS Private Facebook Group

This is a private, “Members Only” Facebook page that is only available by invitation to web class purchasers and site visit clients. Are you tired of wading through the plethora of poor online advice? Then you can take advantage of high-quality discussions with passionate hunters and habitat managers who share a common goal of getting it done right the first time.
Priceless!

Learn from my decades of experience hunting in hill country

From the first time I hunted 700 foot elevations in Pennsylvania back in the early '80s and then moving to Wisconsin and Minnesota in 2002 and beyond, I took those decades of experience and have narrowed all that knowledge down to the best content you'll find in this web class.

I talk to hunters all the time about hills/thermals. And I even have clients where I'll come to their property—clients who've paid pay me a lot of money for me come check it out—and even though they've hunted hills for decades, they're really not experienced when it comes to making good decisions throughout the hunt guided by hills and thermals.

These concepts work, and have been originated by me personally and have been proven over decades of work by tens of thousands of viewers, readers and clients. While these are the concepts that flood my books and over 1000 articles and videos that can be found on my website and YouTube channel, this is the most comprehensive set of content that can be used to effectively hunt hills – within the steps that you should work to complete them in.

My WHS Web Classes are the next best thing to having me come teach you about thermals on your land in person, and I am excited to open the availability of these classes to a far greater number of folks than the number I personally work with per year – at a much more affordable price!

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the course start and finish?

The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.

How long do I have access to the course?

After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

What do I need to access the course?

If you have an Internet connection and a modern web browser, you'll be able to view the content.

Can I download the course for offline use?

Not at this time but please let us know if this is something you need. We might be able to make accommodations due to your circumstances (eg spotty/slow Internet, plane trip, etc.).

Is the course available on other formats (eg DVD, audio only).

Not at this time. However, please let us know if this is something you would find useful.

Are there closed-captions / transcript available?

Not yet, but please let us know so we can make accommodations.

What if I am unhappy with the course? Is there any refunds?

If you are unsatisfied, please let us know so we can address your concern.

I purchased the class—how do I login?

After you purchase the class, you will be prompted to create a password to this website and setup your account. If you forgot your password please try resetting it.

What Others Are Saying


I've been a fanatic whitetail hunter for 26 years and counting. Over the years I've read just about every whitetail magazine, book, & blog to increase my odds of success. The 2nd year after reading Jeffs book and implementing his tactics, improvements, proper balance of food and habitat, etc... an increase of herd to around 70 deer by the end of season (not kidding your sightings will increase as the season progresses including bucks!). I harvested 2 awesome 8pts, passed on 18 immature bucks, and harvested 4 does to help balance the herd. My results may seem too good to be true...something like a fad diet....but trust me once you start to read this you won't be able to put it down and once you implement Jeff's concepts and design strategies....you will be able to take your hunting success to the next level you so desire!!! I promise;)

Anthony G

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the information you provide on this site and on YouTube. Your information on weather, deer behavior, dos/don'ts, rut activity and more has been so helpful to me. Last week, I put down a small 9-point buck; it's what my friends are calling a damn good "you've got two young kids at home" buck lol.

WHS information helped me every step of the way. When I scouted my property, I heard Jeff's voice reminding me of what to look for. I found a nice cruising funnel (a crossroads, really), and multiple bucks came by last Friday. By prioritizing high-value mornings, I took the deer in under 7 hours in the ground blind. Next year, I can't wait to make improvements (food, water source, mock scrapes) that I've seen you all use and explain.

I've been blessed with a lot of great friends who helped me in person every step of the way as well. But your stuff has been wonderful -- easy to understand, presented with a humble authority and not too long.

John, Ohio

I just wanted to reach out to thank you for the wealth of knowledge you share. I believe it has helped me become a better hunter. I was on of those guys that’s say you can’t get them from the couch. But now I’m a firm believer in hunting the weather. I shot my biggest buck to date on 11/2/24. That day the high temp had dropped over 30 degrees from two days prior. My deer weighed 212 pounds. Green scored 135”. I got him over a mock scrape with a vine. In my area that is a giant. Thanks again!

Patrick, NY

Good Day. I am not sure where the best place to express my thanks for you sharing the information on YouTube so I picked your website. I enjoy watching you and occasionally Dylan almost everyday sharing your knowledge. Long story short my dad, sister, nephew, and myself lost our shotgun hunting spot after the 2021 season. It was a great spot on a farm where all we had to do was show up and we would see deer. Been like that for 20 years. Easy really LOL! Now for over 10 years my my dad has had 27 acres of mature timber that straddles a rather deep creek with no field edges. He tried to bow hunt on it a few times with no success at seeing daylight deer despite having a small food plot. Since it was really our best opportunity to hunt outside of public land, I started researching deer information and came across your YouTube videos. I never knew there was so much to learn about deer hunting and habitat. I put together a design for 18 acres on one side of the creek (the other 9 acres is a 2024 project due to bridge issues) and we worked as much as we could to implement the design (there is more than enough to still do this coming year). The plan did work as we saw many daylight deer on the trail cams. Mostly does consistently with bucks sprinkled in starting late September. We had no idea what the deer herd was like here. Turned out to be pretty good by our standards as our shooter board had two 10 pointers and three 8 pointers. In the end my dad and my sister took does and my nephew got one of the 8 pointers off our board. My nephew also got a 6 pointer with a bow while my dad passed on number of yearlings with his bow. I didn't get any as first season I went to a wedding in San Diego (could not pass up the warm weather) and by second season all the cover was mostly gone (hence more work still to be done for late season hunting as it was straight up mature woods we started with). I am very happy overall with the results and could not have done without your information and willingness to share.

My dad was a bit old school and not quite on board with the plan I put together from your information however he is now. With the season over and the only green food being the winter rye our cameras did have 12 does and yearlings on the main food plot which is only 20yds by 90 yds. He said he has never seen that many deer total over the 10 years let alone during the day at the same time. We are so grateful for your expertise and that we can continue to deer hunt and create memories. Definitely a new chapter for us in the deer hunting space. I even got my first bow for this year! :) I look forward to your future videos and podcasts. Thank you again!

Mike

Mike F

I am writing to thank Whitetail Habitat Solutions and Kevan Smith, my habitat consultant, for the outstanding analysis and plan he developed on 01 March 2025. I am a retired Naval officer and recently took the leap from public land hunting to buying my 30-acre parcel in late 2023 and luckily purchased the adjacent 30-acre parcel the week before Kevan’s visit. I was initially hesitant not being able to book Jeff (as my property is in western Maryland), but Kevan exceeded all expectations. He skillfully assessed my property as we walked around and upon completion provided me with a masterful strategy and map of how to hunt the property, stand locations, as well as where and what to plant in my food plots. He took the time to explain everything in great detail to ensure my understanding as well as defining the order of the tasks necessary to improve my hunting property. I’ve had to miss many hunting seasons throughout my 22-year Naval career and want to take full advantage of the seasons I have left. Kevan’s advice will enable me to maximize this opportunity. Not only has his guidance prevented wasted years in trial and error by having the wrong stand locations, access routes or incorrect food plots, it will save money by not undertaking unnecessary tree cutting or wasted time on erroneous habitat improvements. It truly was a master class – and specifically tailored to my hunting property. I strongly encourage anyone on the fence about hiring Kevan for your habitat consultant to get off that fence right now and book him today!

Brian - MD

Hills & Thermals Whitetail Hunting Web Class

Sign Up Now for
Just $599 $499

Help us celebrate the launch of our NEW web class with a special introductory offersave $100 for a limited time!

Purchased another web class?
Make sure you're logged into your dashboard then come back here and we'll automatically apply a 20% off discount based on your past purchase.

Haven't bought one of our other classes yet?
Purchase 2 more now and save!