if I was upwind to the deer. what does that mean in relation to which way the wind is blowing?

Upwind is where the wind is coming from. If you are upwind, the scent of YOU is blowing toward the DEER, so the deer will smell you and run away.

If you are downwind, the wind is blowing toward you from the deer. So the deer can't smell you, but you can smell the deer if he hasn't had a bath recently!

I know wikipedia isn't 100% trustworthy, but here's a quote:

"If the trackers are in close proximity to the animal, it is important that they remain downwind of it, that is, in a position where the wind is blowing away from the animal in the direction of the tracker. They must never be in a position where their scent could be carried in the wind towards the animal and thereby alert it. "

It means the wind is blowing towards you from the position of the deer.

edit: Yeah, I have it wrong. If you are standing upwind from the deer then that means the deer is standing downwind from you. That means the wind is blowing at the deer from the direction you are standing. That's the way you should think of it when trying to remember what the two mean. So the deer would have your scent if you are standing upwind from it.

edit: This site should thoroughly explain it for you:

http://www.mywindpowersystem.com/2011/03/upwind-do...

If you are upwind from the deer you are away from the direction that the wind is blowing. So, the deer wont pick up your scent and run. However, if you are downwind you are in the path of the wind. Therefore, the wind will carry your scent straight to the deer.

Upwind: Deer - you - wind.

Downwind: Wind - you - deer.

Means the wind is going from you to the deer. Down wing means the wind hit the deer then you

I can never remember which is which either.

As you say, the first two answers conflict - so you are still none the wiser. They can't both be right.

Your best bet would be to google.

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