Deer in the Rain?

[The Baron]

I hope this question is not too basic.  I lost a couple of hunting days of my vacation to rain and high winds and I realized I really don't know what deer do in bad weather.  Is a day of steady rain even worth hunting?  I am hunting whitetails in mixed woods/agricultural areas.

[vermonster13]

Problem with steady rains is they destroy blood trails and make recovering animals very difficult if they don't fall in sight.

[Brian Krebs]

it is hard to bloodtrail in a rain; and high winds can effect arrow flight dramatically.

AFTER - immediately after it stops raining; the deer seem to pop out of everywhere..

Perfect time to hunt  

[bentpole]

Check out pines ,cedars, etc etc. They hate the wind and rain. Thick pines offer shelter.   .Try to keep the wind in your face. Watch out for blow downs and expect a deer to be bedded in one. You have to hit them good though. Blood trails disapear real quick in rain.Days like these you can probably get kickin' close to squirrels too.

[dino]

Depends on the rain, depends on the wind.  Steady all day rains, light rains, sleet and such deer will move in.  We had an all day'r here the other day.  Seen deer moving all day long.  Hard strong winds and driving rains will usually keep deer down.  I hunt in the rain a fair amount and deer will definately move alot more once the rain stops and it pays to be there.  My dad told me a long time ago "deer live in that crap all of the time".  It is really worth going out and watching what is going on. dino

[bawana bowman]

They definitely move a lot as soon as the rain stops. It does pay to be there.
In an all day rain without a lot of wind it has been my experience that they will continue to follow their usual routine. As long as the rain isn't to hard I don't let it deter me from being out there.
Remember, they live with the weather every day of their life, They are a lot hardier than humans; what you may consider as bad weather may just be another damp day in the living room to them.
Don't let a little weather stop you from being out there. Just remember to shoot straight, and pay extra close attention to their reaction and movement after the shot. This will hopefully make for an easier recovery.  

[longbowben]

At this time of the year it does not matter what the weather is,deer are going to move its pre rut get some rain gear and HUNT.Use a string tracker.

[AndyTheCornbread]

If I didn't hunt in the rain and snow I'd never get to hunt here. The deer here move all day on dark rainy days.

[Ben Woodring]

tough call...I'll set in the rain, then you have to decide if it's raining enough to ruin a blood trail..then you just have to let them walk.

[The Baron]

Thanks for all the input.  I had thought about the blood trail issue.  My biggest fear is hitting a deer and not being able to find it.  So, the chance of the rain erasing a blood trail is reason #1 I will pass on hunting in heavy rain.  Reason #2 is that I don't like being wet and since I have limited time to hunt, I'll save it for the better weather.  I have the ability to pick and choose my days off (for the most part) but they are limited, so I'd rather sit at my desk on a rainy day and hunt the sunny ones, rather than vice-versa.  

I've had just about enough rain.  I got up this morning to 15 mph N. winds and rain.  The forecast wind switched from S. to N - I only have one setup for a N. wind and I just put it out yesterday in the late afternoon so I figured it's too early to hunt it (its a ground blind).  The forecast is N. wind all day, rain changing to snow and about 25 degrees overnight (possibly 2" of snow).  It's supposed to clear off by morning and winds shift to the west.  I am definitely going out tomorrow!

[Frenchymanny]

Good luck Rob, you are just plain lucky to be able to pick your days off!  

Let us know how it's going

F-Manny

[vermonster13]

Snow is a whole different animal. I love fresh snow for hunting.

[allanburden]

I dream of getting to hunt in the snow one day.  So if ya'll get tired of it feel free to send some down here.      

[JamesMac]

Biggest 8 pointer I ever saw in my life was on a cold rainy October day in NE Pennsylvania. After 5 hours on stand in the pouring rain this ol’ bruiser and 7 or 8 other deer popped out. He never did give me a shoot. But he made a believer out of me. I figure someone or something (possibly a black bear, as there are many in this area) pushed them toward me.

[Kid's Pastor]

I agree with Andy - Here in Oregon on the west side if we did not hunt in the rain we would not hunt a lot.
I have had some of my best days in the rain, and I mean RAIN and WIND, but that is what late season Blacktail hunting brings.
I will say that I do not like getting wet, but it is better than sitting at home watching t.v.

[John Scifres]

Shoot 'em in the right spot and they won't go far.  Blood is only one of the several ways to track an animal.  Hunt when you can.  Shorten your shots if necessary but don't miss a day because it's raining.

I love stillhunting in a drizzle.  Moving slow through the woods.  Slow and quiet like the mist.

[dino]

That is right on John, I'll shorten' up my shots in the rain but it is not reason to miss a day huntin'.  I have a definate advantage over most that I can hunt just about every day of season (I love being retired!!) and wouldn't skip a day because of rain.  Whole different mood in the woods in a light rain.

[mcgroundstalker]

As stated above, keep your shots short and be in the woods hunting. That's why we have gore-tex clothing and rubber boots. I've seen more deer in the rain then on clear/dry days. Guess they have their guard down when the weather is (bad).

... mike ...