Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Deer Hunting in Steady Rain?

This is my first thread here on 24HrCF. I've read a lot of good posts and there seems to be a wealth of knowledge on this forum. Looking forward to contributing where possible.

I decided at the last minute to head to the deer woods this afternoon despite a steady rain, fully expecting it to lighten up towards late afternoon. Nevertheless, I went in full rain gear and brought the stainless Mini-30 with Hogue stock along. I have to say I've never hunted in a steady rain and after 45 minutes I was thinking twice about whether to stay. Stood another 1/2 hour and started to get packed up when out of the corner of my eye appears a medium size doe. I froze, she froze, and we watched each other for a bit. After about five minutes I looked away to see if any others were joining her and brushed against the tree... off she went through the heavy brush like it wasn't even there.

Even though I would typically not hunt in steady rain, just wondering how many here have seen and killed decent bucks during bad weather?

I have killed a couple bucks in the rain

I think personally why don't people kill deer in the rain because they don't hunt the rain

Hank

Thanks Wreck. You're welcome.

If one stays with it it can pay off.

Some just don't like to get wet.

Its been tough hunting for me...but i still try. Your a hunter...what else are you going to do? Stay in camp?

I’ve killed a few good deer in the rain. The only time I dont hunt the heavy rain is archery. I hunt hard just before and just after the storm system. Killed a real good archery buck after a 3 day storm a few years back. Oct 23 I got in my stand around 10am. Somewhere around 11 am the rain tapered off. Between 11a -1p, I passed up 2 does and 12 little bucks when he came thru. Arrow thru the lungs and he ranked #98 on the all time list for my state. HEAVILY pressured public land deer.

Yeah, a light rain for sure can have good hunting. A bad early cold spell before they have adapted to it can lay the deer and squirrels low. After getting used to the cold it seems to get them moving to stay warm. At times. It seems. (For the biitches, you know).

Good job, hunter.

I'd like to see a pic of that hoss.

Passed on three bucks during the opener monsoon two yrs ago.
Not worth it IMHO.
Friggin Ruger #1 RSI too.

Bought me a synth bolt rig for weather only half as crappy.

Light rain has been good hunting for me. Heavy rain blows.

If I waited for good weather here I’d not hunt much.

Deer don't care much about rain unless it's a storm. They'll still move and if you happen to be there after the rain, you'll really see a lot of deer.

It's funny watching them shake the water off.

archery i don`t like to hunt in the rain blood trails get washed away by a arrow hit deer,but rifle hunting if you use a bigger cartridge that will drop the deer its no problem,deer do move in the rain especially bucks.

160ish inch buck in an area that a decent buck is about 120, pouring rain, thunderstorm going through with a front. I left camp early that morning so Tiger and I got across the creek before it flooded. We sat in the Suzuki a bit as it poured, let up just a bit and climbed up in the stand and as we did there were a LOT of deer out, in steady rain. Got wet climbing up in the stand. Had to find a box of ammo in the backpack, get the mutt muffs on tiger etc... before I could shoot the deer.

We hunt in the rain. We hunt archery in the rain. No different than gun.

You won't kill em on the couch.

Now sometimes they dont' move in rain once its set in until after a day or three.

They almost ALWAYS move right as it quits or lets up so why not be out there. We used to sit tight and then try to get into a tree before they came out... Nope, lost that so learned to go out and sit. If archery we'd wear good rain gear. As it let up, take the top off so we were quiet on the draw.

That said there are times we just prefer not to hunt in rain or sleet or snow etc.... or even heat.

And you dont' always see or kill deer in rain. And for sure not always big bucks, big bucks are were they are when they are. I don't think the weather makes em much difference.

The only weather we usually don't see a lot of movement in is wind. Higher the less we see. Not really talking a norther blowing in but sustained wind storms. Ugh.

And as AK Duck notes in AK if you wait for good weather you might not hunt at all. Especially the area he is from in AK.

wreckster84, welcome to the campfire. A light rain will get deer moving. A heavy rain will usually get them holed up because they can't hear or smell threats. If a storm is coming you want to be out before it passes and the deer start moving. I've killed a few deer in rain.

I grew up in Louisiana, and killed a few bucks, though none big. If you hunt in Louisiana, you hunt in the rain....a lot! memtb

Best weather for hunting blacktail bucks outside the rut and in the woods, heavy downpour. Your best chance to see them before they hear you. And after it quits, they're on the move, maybe.

A 10'x10' silnylon tarp and your trekking poles make long days in the mountains a lot more fun.

A wise man once said "there is no bad weather, only bad gear"


mike r

Isn't that why they make blinds?

[align:center][/align]The harsher the weather the more predictable deer become...

Be in rain, wind, heat or cold....

Half of the big deer I've killed have been playing the percentages on weather and where stuff should be at the time....

Cannot kill them sitting on the couch. They are still out there in the wind and rain. Put your mind to what they, or you, would do with the conditions ...