Rain on opening day

[brainwake]

Well....just looking at the forecast for opening day here in OK. It looks like we are in for some rain.

I will probably hunt in a tent if its raining.

I saw some statistics about how fewer deer are taken in the rain...but I would attribute that to fewer hunters.

What is your opinion on hunting in the rain? Have you had successful hunts in the rain?

 

[Browning Guy]

I personally have never hunted in a tent blind but I have hunted in the rain with mixed results. I used to enjoy hunting in a light rain or drizzle. I think the deer were more relaxed and moved more after the first hour of daylight. They tend to move more during the day. One disadvantage is they move quieter, no leaves rustling to warn you, but you move quieter too. Now in the case of heavy rain I've had less luck and in the case of heavy rain and heavy wind you might as well volunteer to be camp tender that day and stay in where it's dry and warm. LOL

 

[Tophernj]

I just got back from my first hunt. Ever. In the rain. No luck. So for me, it's 0-1.

I love it. I'm hoping to go up to my buddy's house again next week.

C

 

[black_powder_Rob]

I kinda love a light rain to, water gear is a must though. If it is a down poor I tend not to go out though. It can sure be hit or miss in the rain to. If you are hunting a path way to a water source forget about it.

 

[gspn]

Depends on the rain and what my options are for staying dry.

If you have a way to stay reasonably comfortable I say go hunt.

I've killed lots of deer on days right when it got gray and drizzly. Wet leaves also make for good stalking.

I don't think you'll see much in a heavy downpour but if you stay in the field you can hunt the periods immediately before and after the heavy rain...you might be surprised by what you see. Beats not hunting! Good luck.

 

[phonejack]

I don't hunt in the rain however, I use a tent blind all the time. I place it just inside a thicket facing out and the deer never see me. A bag chair makes sitting comfortable.

 

[Patocazador]

A temporary light drizzle doesn't seem to turn the deer off but the rain associated with a cold front coming through makes them sit tight until it almost stops raining. Then the woods are alive with deer until it clears a few hours later.
Once the clouds clear and bright blue skies appear, go home and watch football for a day or two. I've never had any luck killing deer on the day after a front goes through. The high pressure and wind seem to make them sit tight.

 

[buck460XVR]

I love hunting in the rain. Especially on large tracts of public land where I can stillhunt/stalk for deer. Not only is there minimal competition from other hunters, but deer on public land almost seem to know most hunters are at home where it is dry and they are relatively safe. It's also easier to get close to them with soft wet ground and the sound of rain helping to muffle your steps. I have also shot several nice Toms in the rain, both outta covered blinds and just sitting in a good rainsuit. Generally tho, it's hard to hear them when they respond to calls, but when they come, they come fast and don't tend to hang up like they do when the weather is picture perfect.

 

[double bogey]

You want to be out there the second it stops raining. I have seen movement then than most any other time, as Patocazador posted above.

 

[Legionnaire]

I'll hunt in the rain if light; not in a downpour. It was raining lightly where I was in upstate NY last Monday. Deer seemed to be moving well. Took a 6-point buck and an antlerless at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. respectively. Light rain doesn't seem to bother them at all.

 

[gonefishin1]

Where i hunt it is very thick brush and short shots. The only time I can stalk is when it is really wet or drizzle/slightly raining. So i make sure that I hunt then. I normally have really good luck.

 

[frankenstein406]

Got one yesterday in light rain while walking. Didn't see anything while sitting in a blind in the rain.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I enjoy hunting in a light rain. Of course what I do, a lot of people don't consider to be hunting. On rainy days, I'll sit in a ground blind watching over a 75 yd long lane that has 50 pounds of corn scattered down it and drink coffee.

I love it though, and have killed a couple of deer doing just that.

I've also killed one in the rain while sitting in the truck looking down a logging road. We were inside the lease gate and off of the county road so it was perfectly legal. The club we hunt in tends to frown on truck hunting but exceptions are made during the rain.

 

[J-Bar]

I killed my biggest whitetail ever, a 9-point, during a drizzle.

But I do not want to be carrying a .270 caliber lightning rod during a thunderstorm!!