Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

Just wondering who does and who doesn't. I personally hunt no matter what the weather is doing. I know I haven't had any experience in hunting extremely cold weather, so that could change one day. If you do hunt in the rain, what rainwear do you prefer? I've been debating over some stuff from Cabela's, I'm just not sure how well DRY-PLUS compares to Gore-tex. Does ASAT have any plans for some quiet rainwear?

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I usually hunt in the rain. But I don't use any rain wear, I just get soaked which can be a bit miserable at times [&o] This part of Australia doesn't get that cold that becomes unsafe to hunt without the proper gear, you just get frozen through. We don't ever get snow here just a bit of frost in winter.

I like hunting in the drizzly weather coz the game tend to stay out longer and the ground is great for stalking.:D

As for the rain wear, I wouldn't have a clue which is better or worse :)

Catchya round da ridges mate
Stalkin Steve;)

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I hunted for 5 solid days in the rain in Texas this year. I think Tx gets about 10 rainny days annually and 5 of them happened to be the week I was down there hog hunting.

In any case. I had the Cabelas Dry Plus, and was very pleased with the performance. I was able to stay out all day and stayed plenty dry. While GoreTex is nice stuff it is quite costly. The Dry Plus is a good alternative.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

My issue with hunting in the rain has never been about getting wet. I have heard that you should not bow hunt in the rain because if you do stick one the blood trail will wash away quickly. I used to bow hunt quite a bit and then got out of it because I lost hunting rights to my old spot. I have now bought my own property and been back into it for 2 seasons and will never stop again. Maybe not hunting in the rain because of the blood trail is old school. Does anyone think that should be a concern with todays bows and broadheads? I know the hit is still important and I am a fairly good shot out to about 30 yards (4 to 5 inch groups). I won't go over that.

txmarshmonkey - To answer the question I do not at this time hunt in the rain and I have told my 16 year old son not to as well. Should I do some rethinking about this? I have always felt that the deer do move more in a light rain.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

That is not old school and it should absolutely be a concern to any responsible bowhunter. Personally, I do hunt in the rain, BUT, I limit my shot to 15yds, an absolute slam dunk that I know I will double lung. Taking 30yd shots on a rainy day IMO is a bad idea, to mainy variable to screw things up.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I will go if its a light drizzle. I have even gone with the hopes the rain will stop, only to turn around and come home. I'm from the old school also when it comes to the blood trail. I'm self employed so to me there's usually always tomorrow.:)

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I prefer to limit myself to hunting in light rain only for big game. Rain can make trailing too tricky to be worth it to me. For gear if it is crappy out I wear my gore tex waterfowl gear.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

:) My son, Joe and me hunt in the rain quite frequently, living in Rochester, NY. We have never had any luck in a downpour situation and normally call it a day if it develops beyond a steady drizzle or light rain. I don't often wear any special rain gear because I am normally pretty heavily layered to start. I do have an ol' trusty Army poncho that I take with me faithfully. I do not don it too often but it sure makes for a nice game wrap. Once a deer has been field dressed we lie it on top of our poncho, do some wrapping and then proceed to do our hauling out. Our game is hoisted onto the truck and off to our butcher. Game arrives clean and truck bed stays clean, all I do is run the poncho thru the wash and it's ready to go. HUNT THE LIGHT RAIN DEER LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

Thanks Double Creek. I didn't think I was that out of date. I never really considered just limiting shot distance on a rainy day. That seems to be a good way to handle the problem. Thanks for the info.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

MY DEER GET FRISKY IN THE RAIN, OR ATLEAST IT SEEMS THAT WAY.
I MADE A COVER FOR MY BLIND IN MY TREE SO I CAN HUNT ANYTIME. FOR THE MOST PART WHEN YOUR IN A TREE THERE ISNT MUCH RAIN COMING DOWN ON YOUR UNLESS THE LEAVES ARE GONE.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I hunt in the rain. If your hunting whitetails during the rut, your crazy if you don't try. I have Mad Dog Growler rain gear I wear to the stand. Once there I use a Port-a-Roof for even more protection.

One point to consider: A great time to hunt is after a rain (bucks refreshening scrapes). Lots of people will go out and hunt. The forest floor is still wet usually for hours after the rain. Blood trailing is just as tricky!!!

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I have personally felt that deer are more relaxed in a light rain.IMO

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I don't let Rain ,snow or wind stop me from hunting. I just find the proper cover and get comfortable ,I've seen animal's in all sort's of weather so nothing stop's me anymore.
I use Gore -Tex ,and Simpi-Tex and I have some other's as well ,I'm very well prepared for wet weather.

P.S. I definetly agree with Double Creek on keeping your shot's to a minimum of 15 to 20yrds .I've found that directly after a rain deer will move.I've harvested many deer this way .I don't think anyone want's to hunt during a downpour,but I'll go out hoping for a slowing or a stoppage in the rain.

nubo

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I spent $300 on a Gore Tex packable rainsuit a few years ago and I carry it with me in my pack every time I go to the woods. Down here, the weather is just too unpredictable. I like hunting in a light drizzle or even a light steady rain. The deer live in it every day, as long as it doesn't get too bad, they will just go about their daily routines. I actually like sitting in a stand and hearing the rain fall around me, it's very relaxing. I am considering trying one of the Porta Roof umbrellas this year though. If it get too bad or starts lightning, I'll get down otherwise I'm there.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I always hunt in light rain or snow because the deer usually move in it. On the other hand, deer are like people in that if it is a thunderstorm or downpour they won't come out. They will just hunker down in a thicket somewhereand wait it out. A reasonfor this is that their senses are hindered in a really heavy rain. Their hearing is lessened because of all the noise, visibility is less, and heavy rain/ swirling winds make it difficult to pinpoint danger. I have Cabelas rainsuit and I find it works pretty well, just be careful not to overheat. I usually hunt in a light drizzle that can usually be taken care of with a suit made of saddle cloth, at least until I get where I am hunting at. This prevents me from overheating on the walk, but keeps me from getting soaked on a long sit. Breathabilty would by my primary concern in buying a rainsuit.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I've hunted in the rain, but have never shot one in the rain. I've shot alot of 3D tournaments in the rain, the bow shoots just fine, but arrow flight is affected slightly! My wife shot her first dear in a wintery mix. finding blood was impossible! We found the dear after alot of grid searching! Just remember exactly wear you last saw it and know the terrain.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

Just some things to think about in the rain, the blood trail can wash away fast if it is really raining hard, and I'ts just like when it gets cold outside your bow will not shot the same in the rain. Practice in the rain and you will see what I'm talking about.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I have hunted in the rain but the big ones seem to be skitish in the rain. I have a 4in1 outfit that I bought from Dicks at 1/3 the price after gun season.

I only do it now because my rut days are limited. I can shot deer every time out but that dam 160 is being impossible to get.:(

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I will hunt in a light rain but also will not take a shot thats not slam dunk inside 25 yrds. I have a browning pac-light goretex rain suit that is one of the best investments I ever made it's light weight enough to wear in warm weather and I bought it big enough to wear over several layers if it's cold

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

I hunt in the rain. But then again, half of the time I am hunting in tknee deep water anyway. just make good shots and it doesn't make any difference. You'll watch'em fall. You guys that don't hunt in the rain because of a lack of blood trail, would you hunt flooded timber?

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

Sure, I hun tin the rain, no problem. Just have to dress for it. But heavy rain with wind I'd rather not hunt in.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

Well, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only fella that hunts the rain. My first deer was killed in a pretty heavy downpour. Since I've been hunting my lease, I've seen more deer on rainy days than dry days. (both heavy and light rain)
Since I'm just going into my second year of bowhuntin, I haven't gotten a chance to bowhunt the rain much. I just know I want QUIET rainwear.
Now, for the bloodtrailing issue,...............I'm colorblind!!!!!! So it doesn't matter what the weather is doing, I can barely see the stuff anyway! I have a VERY difficult time trailing game. I went help a buddy haul his deer out this past season, and he was pointing to this huge amount of blood spray all over these pines. I had to get within a foot or less from the blood to see it. It just doesn't stand out to me. I hope this does mean that I should stop hunting.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

Liked your post Mike--I use the same rain gear, it's light and easily packable.
Last year we were up North for 10 days on a Moose hunting trip, 6 out of the ten days it rained, 2 days it snowed and 2 days of sunshine.
We had no choice, we hunted in the rain every day.
I like when it rains, the animals tend to move in open fields & trails/roads right after the rain and even when it drizzles.
Mike the Porta Roof is great, I use one myself--but if there's blowing wind then it doesn't help that much because the umbrella has to have enough distance from you so you could stand & shoot the bow. However if you sit and shoot you could of course bring the umbrella closer to your head and that will work alot better.
Just 'don't' leave it out when you're out of the stand, I did once--and the heavy winds altered the shape in short order :(.

RE: Bowhuntin' in the rain???
 

Killed my first deer(after being away from bowhunting for 27 years)during a rainstorm in which I sat though 1 1/2 inches for 3 hours. It was worth every minute!...Bob