I have seen some really big bucks move on rainy/drizzling days. It cost me a chance at a Giant buck here in NC a few years back. I didn't hunt because it was raining and I didn't want to get me or my camera gear wet. He came through that day, in late October, shortly after 4PM.( Look to the right in both pics.) My stand is 25 yards to the left of him. I learned a valuable lesson that year. Bucks move a lot there the last week of October. I have other pics starting Oct 23rd and on that have taught me to be in the stand there during that time No Matter what the weather is!
FroggToggs; can usually find a set of them for $50. Light, packable, breathable, slip right on over your normal gear, and most importantly fairly quiet. As to whether or not to hunt in the rain; deer move a lot in rain even in daylight. But you do run the risk of losing blood. I lost blood on a buck maybe 3-4 years ago due to a forecasted short drizzle that turned into an all-day soaker; and 2 years ago in a rifle Opening Day downpour, I heart shot a doe with my .35 Rem and she flopped over at about 75 yards just out of sight. I tried to blood trail her within a couple minutes after the shot, and there was literally nothing until where she crashed.
Not hunting during inclement weather because of poor blood trails is like saying I ain't going to get groceries/ beer/ kids at daycare ( ect) cuz my tires are bald. If you don't wanna hunt, say so, but I hate the " poor blood trails" excuse!
no, it's nothing like that. You can replace your tires. You can't replace blood that washes away. I've hunted in rain. I've passed on hunting in rain. I'll do both again.
Shot one of my best bucks in the freezing rain. Was raining all day, little wind, 40 degrees and was soaked. Several times I thought about throwing in the towel and had seen nothing but knew it was a good spot set along the end of a scrap line next to a bedding area and hr before dark he stepped out at 20 yards. I like hunting in the rain but not if high winds and hard rain. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have Rivers West gear for rainwear. Doesn't "breath" worth a damn, but that stuff doesn't leak at all.
A slight rain will wash the sight of blood away but if using a dog to retrieve your game the rain will actually help to hold the scent on the ground longer as long as it’s not too much rain
Can find a packable rain outfit from huk fishing on campfire.com every now and then that is really nice. Or else most camo apparel companies sell rain gear
Dont go to Alaska or BC then... there are places that if your not going to hunt in the rain you probably won't be hunting much. I slap on some sitka rain gear and hunt. Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
I bought some rain gear last year from MidwayUSA, (bear creek/lake) something like that. I was really happy with the quality and was very quiet. Midway USA always seems to be having sales. If memory serves, I got both the top and bottom for around $60 total. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
That why you spine deer in the rain, no blood trail. Jokes aside, I always hunt in the rain just as long as there is no high winds 20+ mph
If you don’t hunt in the rain then you have absolutely no grit, plain and simple. If you don’t hunt in 20+ mph wind in a downpour then you have common sense. I’m waiting for someone to come up with a excuse they don’t hunt in the rain because it deflects their super light high speed arrow lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A lot of great points. The only thing that turns be down on a hunting day are those high speed wind days. 2 years ago I had the buck I was after all year long walk out in front of my stand (of course I was not there) and this was a day of roughly 50-60 mph winds. I was absolutely amazed they were on the move during it.
I used to hunt in high winds, young and dumb. I had a tree one day break and come crashing down 20 yds from my tree I was hunting, that was enough for me. Every time I try to talk myself out of hunting (too hot, too cold, too rainy) for deer to move, I think of all the time I had deer come by when I wasn’t in the stand in inclement weather and the times I hear from other hunters experiences with deer movement it pushes me to hunt. With the exception of dangerous winds haha
My luck it would be my tree I'm on or next to me coming crashing down haha. I'm out on heavy wind days.
I've had superb hunting in super high winds 35+ type. But I usually hunt thick cover. Sometimes I think guys have more excuses ( wife/ kids) not to go sit.!
Not excuses it just makes life easier at home hahaha. I’m fortunate to have a wife that Supports my habits
