Deer hunting in the rain.

[SRTMO]

Here's the situation. It's been raining and will continue to rain. Yesterday I went out for the evening hunt even though it was steadily raining. I used my ground blind so I could stay dry. As expected, I saw absolutely no deer.

This mouring I wake up and there's a 4 pointer standing outside the kitchen window. Oh, it's still steadily raining.

Now, do you think that the deer were forced out this morning to feed since they didn't feed yesterday evening or do you think they will come out tonight?

[archerjg]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

When I went to work last night there was close to a dozen deer on a field that I pass standing in the pouring rain grazing. They were a little out of bow range, but were well within muzzleloader and shotgun range. Whoever hunts that area could have a deer anytime they wanted as the deer are there in rain or sunshine.

Archerjg

[Doc]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

Deer are pretty waterproof and they know it. They actually move pretty darn good during the rain, and I have found it to be pretty good hunting conditions in terms of deer movement. Following up a difficult bloodtrail during a downpour can be an entirely different matter. Just something to keep in mind.

Doc

[wtnhunt]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

Have had pretty good luck during a light drizzle. Have not had any luck during heavy rains.

[double_drop]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

I have hunted alot in the rain but don't really care to do it because I have lost one deer in the rain because it washed the blood trail away when i didn't make a ideal kill shot on it. I know where i hit it that it was going to be a kill shot but would take some time. From then on it really shyed me away from hunting deer in the rain.

[Doc]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

Almost every source I have ever read assigns different times to wait after a bowshot depending on the location of the hit. I'm not sure I have ever heard anyone recommend that you jump down from your treestand right after the shot and start running after the deer. These recommended waiting periods go all the way up to a minimum of 6 to 8 hours for a gutshot deer. How in the heck are you going to do that in the driving rain?

Doc

[spineshot]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

we hunted in the rain all sat. The deer seemed a lot more nervous with all the rain drops hitting leaves and the ground they were very alert and cautious. On top of that i couldnt hear a thing. I got one in the spine so tracking in the rain was very easy. It also helped because im color blind and cant see the blood on the ground.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

Don't have many opportunities to hunt in the rain in West Texas. Too close to the desert.

[SaskMan]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

I've shot my 2 biggest bucks in the rain.

[rossman]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

The deer are always out. It's not like they can go indoors like we can. Thay have to eat and drink to stay alive. Although I have not had much luck in the rainm I have seen just as many deer. Especially on the fields. Unless it is a downpour or windy.

I like to hunt just before a front moves in and the second the front leaves the area. I have killed many deer the day after a front has moved on. At my work I have the option of working "flexible" hours. So if I put 8 hours in on saturday, I can take a monday off. If it is raining hard on the weekend, I work then I go to the woods when the weather man says the front will lift. But I heard many stories of huge bucks being killedin the rain. So, I don't know.

The only thing I do know is, you cant kill a deer while sitting on the couch!!!!

[Tominator]

Re: Deer hunting in the rain.

I see deer all the time in the rain. This past Saturday is one of the only times I've been skunked in the rain. I don't blame it on the rain as much as I do the wind, and I think I was about 80 yards from where I should have been.

Kind of funny, but 1/2 hour after I got down and helped Tom move a stand Tom noticed 2 deer standing out in the middle of a picked bean field munching in the rain.