Originally Posted by
MudderChuck
Usually, the only time I still hunt is in light rain or early when the dew settles. It knocks down your scent somewhat and helps keep the noise down.
Hunting in heavy rain is no fun at all.
I hunted with some Czech hunters and they have a tactic I've never really seen before, They rush a hedgerow or a stand of timber at nearly a full run. I've been with multiple guides who do this or lead me on a hunt using this tactic. It was never really successful. I always wondered if I could even get off a clean shot huffing and puffing from the rush (run). Maybe it is something that only works on Roe Deer, Roe deer are as apt to hide as there are to run. Maybe the rush (run) is to flush the hiders?
Somehow I thought that light, misty rain and dew would enhance a deer's sense of smell, almost having the effect of licking their nose by activating otherwise dry sources of scent (think of how well you can smell the earth right after a rain)---whereas sustained or heavy rain washes scent away.
As for the Czechs, it seems to me deer would be more likely to let you storm by them if you were at a dead run, unless you were liable to run into them. I've seen deer in neighborhoods staring at me from thick cover when I was walking, bolting only when I stopped at looked right back at them. Just a dumb idea trying to imitate dogs---the only difference being that the dogs are picking up a scent trail and tracking the deer, heading straight for them. We hunters seldom manage that.