Is it worth hunting in the rain?
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 31
Is it worth hunting in the rain?
Do deers move around in the rain? It is opening day here and I have about an hour to make up my mind if I will be going out to hunt in it. I never have hunted in it before but, I have the fever really bad and need to know from more experienced hunters if it is worth going out in. Please give me some input.
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
Posts: 26,274
Ive shot loads in an easy to moderate rain. The only issue is the lack of blood trail. One of the best times to be out in the field is right after a storm. Some of my best days have been just on the heals of a thunderstorm. During a storm, its no good, stay home.
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,445
In my experience deer are not really affected by light to moderate rain. An extended, driving rain combined with wind may keep them hunkered down. I really like to still hunt during nasty weather, you can sneak right up to bedded deer, but that's usually with a gun.
Your ability to bloodtrail can be affected by rain.
Your ability to bloodtrail can be affected by rain.
#4
i bow hunt in the rain, and see deer, but not if it is a nice day and then the rain comes, but when its been raining fer a few days, i never had any luck if it just started rainin that i can recall. but definatly if it had been rain more than a day.pourin rain, dont i sit in it, i will find cover and wait it out, til dark cause the best luk is after the big rain and its starting to head out, i find the deer celebrating
#6
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: IOWA/25' UP
Posts: 7,145
I lost a doe several years back because it started raining right after I shot her. I am self employed, bow deer season lasts a long time, and I can't see the point in possibly losing a buck of a lifetime due to rain. In reality, after a shot, a deer should be allowed several hours, if not overnight to lie down and not be pressured after a bow shot. The only deer I have not found in my life have been a couple of deer that I pursued way too soon after the shot. They went and layed down, blood was everywhere in their bed, but my over eagerness to get my deer, caused them to jump up and run, and I lost the blood trail. I have no doubt in my mind, that if I had just left them lay, I would have recovered them both. You can't let an animal lay for several hours or over night when it is raining. So to answer your question, No, I will not hunt in the rain on purpose.
#7
I agree 100 %
#8
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: VA
Posts: 687
I lost a doe several years back because it started raining right after I shot her. I am self employed, bow deer season lasts a long time, and I can't see the point in possibly losing a buck of a lifetime due to rain. In reality, after a shot, a deer should be allowed several hours, if not overnight to lie down and not be pressured after a bow shot. The only deer I have not found in my life have been a couple of deer that I pursued way too soon after the shot. They went and layed down, blood was everywhere in their bed, but my over eagerness to get my deer, caused them to jump up and run, and I lost the blood trail. I have no doubt in my mind, that if I had just left them lay, I would have recovered them both. You can't let an animal lay for several hours or over night when it is raining. So to answer your question, No, I will not hunt in the rain on purpose.
Only deer that get left overnight for me are questionable hits. If I hear it go down, I slowly pack my stuff and take up the trail.
That said, I am not going out in a pouring or steady rain. I killed one on opening day a few years ago just as it started to rain. Personally, I like it.
#9
Kent pretty much summed it up!
#10