Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Do you hunt in the light rain or drizzle? What about blood trails in this case?

Discussion in 'Bowhunting Talk' started by meatseeker, Sep 29, 2016.

  1. meatseeker

    meatseeker Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2016
    Posts:
    56
    Likes Received:
    2
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    I've avoided bowhunting when it's drizzling(or light rain), primarily b/c I was worried about trouble with the blood trail if I did shoot something. Wondering if there are guys who do hunt in this type of situation. Thoughts?
     
  2. twmessmer

    twmessmer Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2013
    Posts:
    194
    Likes Received:
    106
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Southern, Indiana
    I feel deer movement increases in a light drizzle IMO. I shot my second biggest buck in a light rain. However you will want to only shoot deer where u kno u will kill them quick. There is a good chance the rain will wash away the blood. I learned from experience last year. I sat in the stand all day in a light rain. Saw a bunch of deer and finally had a shooter walk by at 2 pm. It was a 35 yard shot quartering away. Hit the buck back a bit so I elected to wait till dark. I had another shooter an hour later walk the exact same spot. I never did find my deer but moral of the story is light rain is great hunting. Just wear some waterproof clothes or get an umbrella.
     
  3. Ske1etor

    Ske1etor Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2009
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Marrero, Louisiana
    I do, honest truth is I hunt in the marsh and flooded timber so blood trails are hard to come by to begin with. For one, sound is muffled in a light drizzle, scent is pushed down so that helps.. pick a good shot and hope for a quick kill.

    Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
     
  4. early in

    early in Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    6,708
    Likes Received:
    5,915
    Dislikes Received:
    104
    Location:
    Southeastern, Pa
    During the rut I will hunt in anything except a complete downpour. If it's raining enough to wash out a blood trail, a good comprehensive grid search should turn up any well shot deer.
     
  5. copperhead

    copperhead Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    3,477
    Likes Received:
    700
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Apex, North Carolina
    I do but am very hesitant. Especially since I am color blind too.
     
  6. Coop

    Coop Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2012
    Posts:
    3,541
    Likes Received:
    74
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Springtown TX
    Light drizzle yes. Heavy rain, no. I will do my best to get out after a heavy rain though. I always see increased movement after that. One nice thing about tracking in rain or after a rain when everything is wet/damp still is it's often easier to see overturned leaves of the deer trail. Of course if you are tracking an open field or something that wouldn't help you.
     
  7. tynimiller

    tynimiller Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2011
    Posts:
    13,023
    Likes Received:
    4,800
    Dislikes Received:
    5
    I will but my shot selection decreases in distance and angles I'll take...only way I can justify it. If I release an arrow in wet conditions I want to ensure barring a catastrophic issue with bow my arrow will land and a kill will be swift.
     
  8. NebMo Hunter

    NebMo Hunter Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Posts:
    1,667
    Likes Received:
    2,127
    Dislikes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Omaha NE, Nodaway County MO
    light rain I still feel I'm good
    it no doubt makes it harder, but it is still doable.

    having well maintained trails also helps as it encourages deer to stay on trails
    not saying a dying deer is going to do exactly what we want it to, but anything that encourages them to stay on trail helps.
     
  9. PinkPony

    PinkPony Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2014
    Posts:
    3,182
    Likes Received:
    1,264
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    I've sat in a drizzle. Anymore than that I wont go out.

    Opening day is Saturday and they're calling for rain. I most likely wont go out. I just don't like the idea of losing it due to a washed out trail.
     
  10. pick00l

    pick00l Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2009
    Posts:
    969
    Likes Received:
    344
    Dislikes Received:
    1
    Location:
    PA
    I don't get enough time in the woods to be picky about going. It's rain or shine. I do however, keep all the factors in mind on shot selection.

    I have shot a deer with steady to light rain. I was very nervous about the blood trail and started tracking only 25 minutes after the shot. I knew it was not a good shot. Long story, jumped the deer...luckily he only went 30 yards from the jump spot and was recovered from what I remember about 100 - 130 yards from initial shot.

    If you are concerned, it helps to have a good tracker with you, unless...you are a good tracker. I personally enjoy tracking and helping others.
     
  11. Skywalker

    Skywalker Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2010
    Posts:
    6,850
    Likes Received:
    806
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    NW Missouri
    I'll hunt in a light drizzle to light rain. Generally I'm heading in when it's heavier than that. Mostly because I don't want to risk the thousands of dollars worth of video equipment I'm using, but I still am hesitant to shoot a deer in the rain.
     
  12. msigman

    msigman Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    Posts:
    351
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    S.E. WI
    My first deer I shot with a bow was in a light drizzle. Bad part was we lost the blood trail on a fire lane because of the rain and after looking for two days, I never did find it.
     
  13. selfbros

    selfbros Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Posts:
    2,422
    Likes Received:
    43
    Dislikes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Glen Carbon, IL
    I've hunted in both. The problem I found was getting out of the bottoms I hunt in my truck. I have to cross a creek in the road. When I left it was over my hood. Luckily I made it across and even more lucky my beer was still cold
     
  14. KTang26

    KTang26 Newb

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2016
    Posts:
    20
    Likes Received:
    1
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Chickasaw Ohio
    I think that hunting when it is raining can help deer movement. And do hunt when the rain is light, just make sure to dress appropriately, and make an ethical shot.
     
  15. pastorjim08

    pastorjim08 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    Posts:
    12,456
    Likes Received:
    16,208
    Dislikes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Indiana
    I might hunt in a light drizzle but never in a steady or heavy rain. That's just how I feel about it.


    Blessings........Pastorjim
     
  16. bow nut

    bow nut Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2016
    Posts:
    327
    Likes Received:
    2
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    I do like hunting in the light rain. Seems deer don't lay around when wet, so the sightings seem better, and I like stalking and light rain helps quietness too, actually got pretty good. But downpours not so much, like downpours from my couch !
     
  17. 802veteran

    802veteran Newb

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Posts:
    21
    Likes Received:
    1
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    I will be but I'm sitting the blind because of the call for rain all weekend. A well aimed shot is more important than a blood trail imo. But rain is not something to be ignored.
     
  18. kb1785

    kb1785 Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
    Posts:
    1,019
    Likes Received:
    272
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    I have had rain wash away a blood trail and I know from experience that it is very difficult to track the deer. I recovered mine but it was a lot of work and a lot of anxiety. Deer are not affected by a light rain but heavy rain and especially wind will certainly curtail movement in my neck of the woods.
     
  19. vermontwhitetail

    vermontwhitetail Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2013
    Posts:
    4,422
    Likes Received:
    15,510
    Dislikes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Vermont
    I love drizzle hunting, lots of movement. Great stalking weather too. Heavy rain I avoid but will get out immediately after a heavy rain. Even if blood is bad or washed away, you should still be able to track by hoof print and disturbed ground. I have found a lot of deer by this method when blood id bad.
     
  20. early in

    early in Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    6,708
    Likes Received:
    5,915
    Dislikes Received:
    104
    Location:
    Southeastern, Pa
    I'd be hunting right now if it weren't for the gusty wind coming out of the ENE. I HATE wind while I'm hunting, especially from that direction!
     

Share This Page