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Post by michaeladkins on Oct 6, 2012 9:39:06 GMT -5
I am still fairly new to deer hunting, so I have not really formed an opinion yet, but I would love your thoughts on this.
Do deer move more or less when it is raining?
I have asked a few hunters at work and most of them say they move more. The primary reason is because the ground/leaves are wet. So the deer will not be heard. I would imagine that this is the case, however, I rarely see anything while it is raining. I kind of think deer are like us. They tend to take the easy paths through the woods, so why would they want to be up and moving in the rain. I really don't care to be out when it is raining.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Mike
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Post by water63 on Oct 6, 2012 9:47:27 GMT -5
I have seen deer in the drizzle and snow but when it is coming down I really haven't seen much. We have a box blind that we hunt out of in bad weather and I usally just pack it in in heavy rain. The drizzle seems to not bother them much and they move well in it.
Just my 2 cents
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Post by fullrut on Oct 6, 2012 9:50:51 GMT -5
They move great in the rain. I saw a 140" 8pt last night in the drizzle. If its raining I am in the woods. Buy a good rainsuit and enjoy some of the best deer movement there is.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 9:56:49 GMT -5
They move the same, except heavy downpours. If you only hunted rainey days, you better buy a dog with a good nose for smelling dead.
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Post by Russ Koon on Oct 6, 2012 10:13:21 GMT -5
I've always seen more movement on rainy days, especially during middays and in feeding areas. The deer seem more relaxed when feeding in the rain, IMO.
The thing that has stopped me from taking more advantage of it is the likelihood of a blood trail being washed out quickly. MUCH worse to hit one and lose it than to not have seen it in the first place.
I do hunt in the rain, but make even more strict choices on shot selection on rainy days than I do when it's dry, in order to rely less on a blood trail that might not be there long. That also affects the time allowed between the shot and following the trail.
My favorite time is after a rainy day. The deer seem still somewhat relaxed in comparison to the dry days when they are aware that the sounds of their movement are preceding them, but the sound of my movement in getting to the stand is not broadcast all over the woods, and the bucks have a tendency to get busy refreshing scrapes after a rain. That's also the best time to stillhunt. The damp leaves make my movement nearly as quiet as the deer's, so it becomes more a contest of eyes vs. eyes, as long as I play the wind right. And if I can be patient enough to be still when I should be and stay that way long enough, the chances are pretty good for some very exciting stalks, which have always been my favorite hunting tactic. My eyes may not be as good as theirs, but when they're the ones moving and I'm not, it evens things out pretty good.
I stay in when it's coming down harder, when bowhunting. I have hunted in a moderately hard rain with the ML, again altering shot selection to reduce reliance on the blood trail that likely won't last long enough to be of use. Got my last one three years ago under those conditions.
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Post by dbd870 on Oct 6, 2012 10:38:51 GMT -5
Agreed; this am was a good example. Saw 1 buck, 5 does and 2 yearlings at about 125yds. Had 2 more does in closer - 5 more yds on 1 of them and it would have been in range. I will be setting up on that travel corridor they used this morning tonight,.  |
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Post by raporter on Oct 6, 2012 10:56:31 GMT -5
Sat in my favorite NW wind stand this morning and saw one squirrel. Was sure they would be on the move after all that rain. Good to hear someone was seeing deer.
That was a bitter cold this morning.
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Post by boonechaser on Oct 6, 2012 16:05:42 GMT -5
For me rain cause's some major problem's. 1) Medium to heavy rain you must make a perfect shot or you risk losing the deer as blood trailing will be non existant. 2) Comfort. It's hard enough to sit motionless in a tree without rain soaking you to the bone. (So yes good rain gear is a must.) I'm speaking bow hunting as i'm not as concerned with rain as much with firearm. With that said deer live in the element's 24/7 so rain isn't going to effect them much unless it's severe in nature. Best time to be on stand is anytime you have time to go. Rain,wind,sun,hot,cold. You can't kill one sitting in your chair inside your home.
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Post by M4Madness on Oct 6, 2012 20:03:39 GMT -5
The evenings of October 1 and 2 were rainy where I hunt. The first evening out, I didn't take a camcorder because it was raining pretty good. I used one of those umbrellas that hook to a tree and sat in a lock-on stand. I saw 5 bucks that evening. The next evening, the rain was lighter, so I took a camera to the same stand. I saw 6 bucks that evening (3 may have been bucks from the day before.) I got footage of three of them: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb2sJfgIN20 |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 22:13:05 GMT -5
I have taken several Deer in the Rain.
I have actually had some of my best hunts during rainy and cloudy days.
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Post by michaeladkins on Oct 7, 2012 9:20:31 GMT -5
Thank you for the opinions. The only thing that scares me is the blood trail. Like what was said, a great shot will have to be made.
Thanks again.
Mike
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2012 9:40:08 GMT -5
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Post by esshup on Oct 7, 2012 11:12:49 GMT -5
Do they attach near the head and trail back to by the nock or just by the nock? What happens if the arrow is broken off? (I've only had one arrow not break on a deer and that was a complete pass thru.) |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2012 11:24:35 GMT -5
Attaches to the broadhead end with a clip or around the screwin part. You'll generally get 100 to 150 yards of string out before it breaks off from too much drag. Deer should be dead by then or soon after if you hit it right. Shorten your shots to less than 30 yards, it has no effect on your arrow drop under that. Best to mount it above the arrow rest if possible, most times it's not.
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Post by rmc on Oct 7, 2012 12:04:51 GMT -5
Ive taken 9 bucks between 130-178 in and 6 were in the rain, a couple during absolute downpours. so when its raining this cats gonna be in a tree. Ive seen a lot of big deer moving in the rain early in the year when they usually lay low til dark. If you want to try hunting in the rain invest in some good rain gear and a tree umbrella and practice with you bow when its wet and make sure it doesn't shoot differently when wet.
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