Hunting in Rain

[Sylus]

Hello All,

I am planning on going out hunting this weekend, however the weather network is predicting rain. Does hunting in the rain change anything? I figured it would help with scent and noise reduction but how does it effect animal movement? In my mind it seems like it would keep animals on there feet, i know I wouldn't want to huddle in one place cold and wet, I would rather move around and keep warm. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers, Sylus

Oh and if i get anything i will be sure to post it on here, hoping to finally cut my first deer tag! :-D

[luckofthedraw]

If you looking for lowermainland BT, then the rain is your best friend. The worst snarly, wet, windy stuff you wouldn't want to be in is the best time to hunt. Correct on scent and noise reduction. The forest is noisy because of falling heavy drops of water. Instead of hearing random loud drops, deer would rather be out in a cut under a steady flow of rain drops...better for them to hear that way.

[Sofa King]

moose love it.
but the deer seem to hunker down and wait it out.
their senses are too messed up by it, can't hear or smell danger as easily.

[luckofthedraw]

If you looking for lowermainland BT, then the rain is your best friend. The worst snarly, wet, windy stuff you wouldn't want to be in is the best time to hunt. Correct on scent and noise reduction. The forest is noisy because of falling heavy drops of water. Instead of hearing random loud drops, deer would rather be out in a cut under a steady flow of rain drops...better for them to hear that way.

Someone will have to chime in on other regions for mule and whitetail. I've been in Kamloops a year and haven't seen enough rain to figure that out yet :mrgreen:

[adriaticum]

I think rain, if you can handle it, is your friend.
I snuck up on a couple of does, without knowing, to 20 yards during a bit of wind and a bit of rain.
Water also softens the ground and makes it easier to stay silent.

[Sylus]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!! I will give it a go this weekend and see how it plays out. Another thought I just had is that bad weather will keep the fair weather hunters back in town, another plus. Nothing quite like having the woods to yourself.

[Sofa King]

that's why I prefer a snowfall over rainfall.
still messes them up, but they will be up during a snowfall.
makes it quiet for us, and it's nowhere near as wet.

[Sofa King]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!! I will give it a go this weekend and see how it plays out. Another thought I just had is that bad weather will keep the fair weather hunters back in town, another plus. Nothing quite like having the woods to yourself.

very true.
but these days, simply being one that gets out of their truck and hits the bush almost guarantees that you'll have the woods to yourself. ha.

[Sylus]

very true.
but these days, simply being one that gets out of their truck and hits the bush almost guarantees that you'll have the woods to yourself. ha.

So true!! I was up at Peter hope last Saturday and the roads where packed full of quads and other road hunters. Hike for for 20 minutes and I didn't see a guy the rest of the day. Didn't see a deer either though haha

[marcus44]

I see more deer activity on cloudy/rainy/snowy days then on sunny days.

[Just]

I saw 7 deer the other weekend when it was hot n sunny and I was hiking thru a burnt forest area. I hiked thru the same area 2 weeks later in the rain and saw only one deer.

[caddisguy]

If you're in the LML you won't have the woods to yourself. I'm expecting a bit of a gong show this weekend. I took Monday off so I'll have some time with a little less pressure.

I haven't seen many deer up and about on sunny days. It's like they are pretty much nocturnal other than first light and last light. If it has been really stormy and windy all night and there's a break from the nasty weather the following afternoon or early evening, they seem to come out early.

[finngun]

I saw 7 deer the other weekend when it was hot n sunny and I was hiking thru a burnt forest area. I hiked thru the same area 2 weeks later in the rain and saw only one deer.
well...in 2 weeks....6 dead deers...:mrgreen:,,some people can kick down 6 in one night with pitlamping:icon_frow saaad

[howa1500]

Crummy days have always been good to me

[jacksondog]

Shot a 6 point bull in the Kootenays last week on the 15th in a light steady rain, as far as deer go in the west koots mule deer are hit and miss but the whitetail are out everywhere during rainy days, we have been very successful over the years in this kind of weather.

[300win]

good ruttin weather, BT's love rainy slop

[Squamch]

I don't really bother to hunt here on the island if it's not pissing rain.

[BCLogger]

My 30 years experience hunting deer is that when the weather is crappy, they bed down. The noise of the bushes rustling, branches blowing, and rain drops falling throws off their keen senses. Sure the noise from the wind/rain masks your sound, but it's hard to spot a deer when it's hunkered down in the saplings.

[Wentrot]

Supposed to come down in buckets tomorrow-I know what I am doin!

[Fella]

Its supposed to be nasty on the island on Saturday so I'll be in my spot hoping for a buck

[Ferenc]

Even better if your out there just as the rain storm starts !

[swampthing]

Bucks move in bad weather. Crappy to hunt in but I feel hunting in the rain ups your odds considerably. My best buck fell in pouring rain.

[finngun]

I don't really bother to hunt here on the island if it's not pissing rain.

well ...otherwise yu dont do much hunting anyways on the island :mrgreen:....lived there 21 loong years...

[Spirit's Master]

Had some good luck in the light rain Monday night. I was able to sneak my 200lb, lead foot frame up onto this nice little doe.

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt333/SpiritsMaster/10420334_807954259264486_4880263109768494290_n.jpg (http://s625.photobucket.com/user/SpiritsMaster/media/10420334_807954259264486_4880263109768494290_n.jpg .html)

Always see more island animals on the move (roadways and such) in the rain too. If I wasn't working all weekend I know where I'd be...camped out in the rain. Looks good all next week.

cwf