Deer and Rain
 

I dont care what the experts say, I want to know what people on here have seen with thier own eyes, How do deer move in the rain?


Thanks, its been raining for almost 24 hours here.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

from what ive seen it doesnt really effect there movement.

it might be alittle slower during the rain, but not much.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I think it definitely slows them down some. I don't see near the amount of deer out in the fields when its raining pretty steady. As soon as the rain quits or slows it seems they all fly on out there then.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

Last year I had a great hunt in the rain... I like to head to thick parts to hunt in the rain, the deer like to stay in shelter and the congregate there. Not to mention its best to be near their cover as soon as the rain stops...

Simply: The deer still move, you just have to change your tactics.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

A heavy, heavy rain I found will shut deer movement down, but in most rains I've seen a pile of deer. They don't have the option to go inside.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I think a heavy rainkeeps them bedded, but a light rain doesn't bother them. Like Steve said, after a heavy rain they come out of the woodwork. I love huntingon a misty daybecause they will move almost any time, it seems.;)

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I always see the same deer in the fields rain or shine

RE: Deer and Rain
 

Im my areas I have rarely seen deer in the rain. It just seems to shut them down.. Once it stops they are up and moving.. I use those days to take a break and catch up on chores around the house.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I like when it rains. Shot a real good buck in NY just before a good thunder storm. Actually heard the thunder in the distance and was working to get out of the tree when the buck was behind me about 15 yards. Not the brightest thing ! I like to get in my stand prior to the rain moving out. Noticed that deer tend to jump from their beds and get on the move. If your a scrape hunter, this is the best time to catch those bucks freshing them up.

We get a few good showers during the pre-rut, as this has been a good strategy for me

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I have seen just as much if not more deer movement in light to moderate rain as I have when it was not raining. When it pours buckets I tend to find them in their beds.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

These are my observations
1) Heavy rain shuts down movement
2) Light rain in the earyly season seems to make them move more.
3) After heavy rain, more activity
4) If it rains at night and lets up in the morning, great movement in the morning.

Just what I have seen where I hunt.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I dont mind hunting in the rain, i would prefer a cold misty morning!

RE: Deer and Rain
 

+1

RE: Deer and Rain
 

x2

RE: Deer and Rain
 

my best day of hunting last year was on nov.28......................it was spitting rain and about 35 degrees with a 15 mph wind...........i hunted all day and seen at least 3 deer an hour..........with 2 of them being shooter bucks that were 10 yards out of my effective killing range

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I LOVE a light to moderate rain, I see tons of deer where I am.... love it. I hate downpours ...... they bed down

RE: Deer and Rain
 

i havent had much luck but i only tried it a few times.

snow didnt bother them though ;)

rick

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I say "just think like a deer."

Deer do not like it when they cannot naturally use their senses to detect danger. Typically when the storm is getting with it, downpour, thunder, and lightning, the deer will tend to be mostly immobile. They can't hear as well cause of the rain and the thunder. Same with visibility. If it's raining really hard or it's extrememly foggy, I find that deer are less mobile in these conditions. A heavy rainfall can also mask the odor of some potential dangers.

A light rainfall or a mist? Has very little to no impact on deer movement that I can detect.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

Never had any luck during a moderate to heavy rain but light rain and just after any rain I see alot of deer.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I have observed a lot of the same things already mentioned but I will add this. Heavy rain sucks but it is not a deal breaker, I will never not go hunting because of the rain, good rain gear and a change of clothes and I'm going(I do live in Va so fall/winter are pretty mild). The main reason I say thisis rain is so variable, light rain here, down pours there, thunderstorms somewhere else. I want to be set up and hunting and if it starts to rain or is rainingthen I get wet but an hour later when it gradually starts to let up or stops for 30 minutes I am there waiting and they will be moving. Where as if I wait at the house until it "lets up" I could miss some very good action.

Also if it is late October/early November and bucks are actively scraping they will be freshening up scrapes shortly after the rain stops, from what I've seen.

From last season, many of you guys have already seen this but it goes along with the thread.

Raindrops Were Fallin' On My Head......

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I wonder how the lack of deer sightings and the lack of hunters actually being in the woods during a raincorrelates?;)

RE: Deer and Rain
 

Have to be in it to win it.

RE: Deer and Rain
 

I see plenty of deer in light to moderate rain. I've shot a few in this situation. I'm the guy that will sit in the rain for hours on end, it really doesn't bother me a bit. Now that I have have rain specific gear as well, I'll sit out all day.

I have 2x specific stands of young hemlock on my property that are all 5-10" in diameter and super super thick. The deer flock to these areas and bed down nearly every time it has started raining while I was on stand there. I plan for that now.