Hunting in the rain

[ThePushArchery]

I hunt in rain. Must, steady, pouring (within reason).

I've seen some crazy deer movement during inclement weather. I had a doe I almost got a shot on when it was almost hailing with 18 mph winds. She was feeding in a cut corn field.

My philosophy is this: if the weather does not affect the potential to put a good shot on an animal, I'm getting in the woods. I've had great luck sitting in a stand all morning or evening during pouring rain and being there when the rain stops. No better time to be on stand.

I find my deer by blood trailing first. But I've never let the absence of a blood trail prevent me from finding a dead deer.

A liver or gut shot deer gives little useful blood trail to begin with. So the weather conditions don't change the scenario. A heart or lung shot deer will however, but if your arrow is placed there, a 100 yard radius is really not that big of an area to search to find a deer shot during rainy conditions. If you don't find it in the first 100 yard radius sweep, then extend to 150 yd, and so on until you find your deer.

Dead is dead, and I will find a dead deer.

Just my thoughts

Good luck out there guys!

[Bowwild]

I'm not trying to convince anyone to do anything they do differently or that they believe in. Like others, I'm providing my experience and reasoning. I always have the learning (very welcome newbies) bowhunter in mind as I write and read posts such as these.

I've blood-trailed liver shot deer to their death beds in 80 yards. Gut shot a different matter.

Of course the absence of a blood-trail doesn't mean one should abandon the search. Quite the opposite.

I've used the radial sweep method of blind trailing several times, for myself a couple and for friends and family more. It works of course...sometimes.

But in terrain and cover that is thick and varied it is easy (probable) to walk right by a deer only feet away without seeing it. Deer can do strange things. It is very rare for someone who is radially sweeping to do complete 360 circles. In fact, most such searches are logically quarter or half circles in the direction the deer was going when the trail or visual was lost.

But, if that deer makes a 180 or stronger turn it can get outside your search radius and never be found. The further from the starting point of the sweep one goes the larger the area being searched and the more likely it is to overlook the deer. It takes a very patient and determined tracker to maintain the intensity of the search once beyond a reasonable distance from the point of the shot which means that hidey hole drop dead spot is easier to miss.

I know many people who are much more liberal in their shot selection and decisions than I am. I admit I'm too conservative and I have visions of a couple of monsters that have come and gone from my life as a result -- but they didn't leave with a lousy mark.  Many of these less conservative shooters have greater success than I've enjoyed as a result of or in spite of those decisions.

However, I put this decision about rain in the same category as too-long shots, running shots, risky angles, etc. I pass first because I don't want to lose a deer and 2nd because I don't want to spend a day or more stinking up my hunting area looking for an animal I shot.

A light drizzle won't send me home but I won't start a hunt in it.

[ThePushArchery]

Bowwild,

A very eloquently and intelligent response. Nice post.

You make very good points, that brings more thoughts to mind.

Regardless of how the scenario plays out for archers that have lost a blood trail. (Raining, poor shot, bounced the deer by searching too soon) the three most important tools the archer has in his toolbag to recover that deer are:

1. Persistence (above all else, unwavering persistence)
2. Honesty (with others helping in the search and with themselves about what they saw, what they think they saw, and the details of the moment of truth. Being honest with yourself about the shot details very well may guide you to recover your animal)
3. A good understanding of the land and terrain you are hunting.

So, back to the original subject, if you are unable to check the box in all three of those, hunting in the rain is probably not a good idea.

But I also don't want to offend anyone that can check all three boxes, but just simply chooses not to hunt in the rain. I know in my case, if I have a busy morning the next morning at work, and the forecast is calling for steady rain for the evening hunt, I think very hard about whether or not I want to be on the deer search in the morning missing work or not. Granted I will surely find that deer, (assuming a fatal shot) my schedule sometimes makes me think twice about perusing in inclement weather.

Deciding whether to hunt in inclement weather or not is a decision that weighs heavily on responsibility. The hunter has a responsibility to not jeopardize the ability or probability of placing a lethal arrow for a quick humane kill. In addition, the hunter has to be willing to dedicate time and energy into recovering that animal, unwavering persistence.

Good thread going here.

[Fritz]

A light mist is all the "rain" I will hunt in anymore. Must be getting old.

[Hummer3T]

I love it, usually calm quite, and seems success rate improves.

spending money on the right gear is essential.

[JohnV]

Heavy rain I stay at home and watch football.  Wet fletching, wet arrow rest, and a wet shooting glove does not make for good shooting accuracy.  In addition, blood trails get washed out pretty fast.

Unless I have an enclosed blind to sit in where I don't get wet, I just stay home when it is raining. I guess I am just a Fair Weather Hunter any more!

Tell Manolito that Bisch said Hello, and good luck to both of y'all!

Bisch

[DaveT1963]

not a good practice for bowhunting

[Sam McMichael]

I don't do rain.