In the Rain

[LongStick64]

I plan on heading out this weekend and the weather looks like it might be a little wet. Any tips on bringing a trad bow in the rain.

[David Mitchell]

Not for the bow but blood trails can be bare to non-existent in the rain. Easy to lose and animal that way.

[Randy Koleno]

I used to have a "rain" bow years ago. Elevated rest, aluminum arrows, vanes and cat whiskers. I never shot at anything with it but after helping a guy track one and losing the trail (rifle)in the rain, I will sit out consistant rainy weather.

[southernarcher]

Rain is a no go for me too.

[reddogge]

Lost a nice 8 pt buck many years ago when it started pouring after I shot it. I don't hunt in heavy rain anymore.

[dan d]

This post has perfect timing !

I was trying to decide if I was going out this afternoon, it looks  like it's going to rain any minute and I was wondering about blood training in the rain.

I guess I go out & fling some arrows instead !

Dan

[bigbadjon]

If the weather isn't going to be dangerous and it'll just be some rain I would still go.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You guys are so funny.... If you lived in Oregon and didn't hunt when it rained, you wouldn't get much hunting in....but most of us out here don't set in trees all day to hunt deer either. i don't think I'd care for that much in the rain either....

Cat whiskers on the string, and some kind of protection on your feathers is good in the rain.

But having another bow set up with an elevated rest and vanes is an excellent idea       .... kirk

[LongStick64]

Well I guess I should explain further, got myself a nice promotion at work, so longer hours and greater expectations mean I don't get to take off when I want to, so if it's raining I'm heading out, will I shoot and put myself into a situation of a lost animal, no, but I will be out there, just don't want to damage the bow.

[mcgroundstalker]

Most of the action I get stalking is in poor weather... Not a down pour mined you but a light rain is great if you like to cat around... Feather water-proofing is a must!

I'm a fortunate fellow... Just look out the window and when a storm stops, it's out the door! First we not there, then: We Are! Big suprise for VC Deer!  :D

... mike ...

[Bjorn]

Well I hunt in the rain and I don't think rain-short of a deluge-is a reason to not hunt or to blame for the loss of an animal.
When things go wrong it is a combination of events and one component is always going to be a marginal hit.
If your shot takes out both lungs you will find the critter rain or not. So if you are going to hunt in the rain do it from the ground where you have a much better angle, and only take shots that are well within your kill distance and be prepared to take extra time should you have a difficult recovery. Stalking in the rain is a lot easier-the ground is way more quiet and your scent gets diffused. I spray my feathers and use a tube quiver to keep fletching protected, and if I can handle the elements my bow can too.

[two4hooking]

How often does the animal go down in sight? Rain washes away a blood trail - the primary way we find animals here in the thick east.  I was taught by my Dad gun hunting in the rain is ok, bow hunting in the rain is a no no.  Animals here are hard enough to find sometimes under the best conditions.

[Brianlocal3]

I second bjorn, I'm hunting in the rain!!

[wetfeathers]

Well said Bjorn.  Almost half my deer have been shot in a rain or snow storm.  However, I admire those with concerns about the possibility of losing a blood trail and chose not to chance it.

[J. Cook]

I'm like many of you...I don't have enough hunting time to really get to pick and choose my weather.  When I have the time, I hunt, period.  I shoot 5" 4 fletch and they shoot fine when wet.  They just look terrible once they get all matted down.  I put a another post up a day or two ago on here because I did like Randy and took one of my bows I don't use as often and made it a wet weather bow -- elevated T-300 rest, 4" 4-fletch vanes and limbsaver string leeches.  It shoots perfectly with that combo and won't be affected by the rain.

[David Mitchell]

And you guys who hunt in the rain...how do you find deer when the blood trail has been washed out?  Just do grid searches?  My concern is not shooting in the rain but recovery after the shot when no blood is left on the ground.

[mountain lion]

I like to hunt in the rain, I use a paste type wax on my bow which has helped repel the water. But it's never had any effect on my bow, as soon as I get home I wipe it down really good. Happy hunting!

[dragonheart]

Originally posted by mountain lion:
I like to hunt in the rain, I use a paste type wax on my bow which has helped repel the water. But it's never had any effect on my bow, as soon as I get home I wipe it down really good. Happy hunting!

Me too!

[wetfeathers]

David Mitchell,  I have a much higher percentage of double lung hits when the conditions are right. (noise from rain, quite stalking, movement in the woods from rain or wind)  I can get close in the rain.... real close.  If a shot occurs, it's usually a chip shot 10 yd or so.  Easy recovery. I have lost deer, but never due to rain.  Only due to my poor shot.  A gut shot deer is a difficult one to recover regardless of the weather.

[wapitirod]

Originally posted by Kirkll:
You guys are so funny.... If you lived in Oregon and didn't hunt when it rained, you wouldn't get much hunting in....but most of us out here don't set in trees all day to hunt deer either. i don't think I'd care for that much in the rain either....

Cat whiskers on the string, and some kind of protection on your feathers is good in the rain.

But having another bow set up with an elevated rest and vanes is an excellent idea        .... kirk

Yep, this is my 30th year hunting in OR and I wouldn't have done much hunting if I waited for it to stop raining, especially the past 6 yrs living on the nw coast where we get 120 inches a year