I've been patently waiting for this coming weekend for many moons now. My hunting pal and I had choose this weekend over the summer to set out on our annual all day sit. The wive's and in-laws will be back home creating a magnificent feast (Pre-Thanksgiving) to show case our long sit. We've both been pretty good at staying out of the woods all year. Earlier this summer we had decided to return to the basics of hunting (no pressure, more deer). Instead of vesting many hours and days in the woods in an effort to grow kill plots and re-shape the terrain, we decided that we would just mow the trails and hang a couple of stands. We did hang our cameras (5 total) but we've only checked them 5 or 6 times since June. I ventured down there two Saturdays ago to more or less get a feel for what stand I would feel confident in hunting. That's when I walked up on a 3 good bucks and a couple of does bedding near my climber stand. I stood there watching them push each other and make scrapes and rubs for about 10 to 15 minutes. When I took a couple steps they took off running, but no tails in the air, nor did they blow or run very fast. I'm assuming this giant 12p may have pushed them instead of me, as he was still out standing??? I've now left this newly discovered honey hole along for 3 weeks come this Saturday. I feel confident that they area has been cleansed of my wrong doing. we've been having this annual all day sit for about 3 years now. the first year was 2010 and I was back up on-call, but decided to go anyways. around 11 am i had a beastly like buck in front of me at about 100 yards and he bedded down. that's when my phone started going buzzing. It was work and I had to leave. the bad thing was I had to walk in the direction of the bedded buck. I'm not sure he ever saw me, but that day was done. the following year 2011 my co-hunter got forced into work and I hunted all day with a great encounter of 2 large shooter buck, but this since branch was all that stood in my way off sealing the deal. Next we moved on to last season 2012, again I was forced to be on call at the last minute. however, I had worked out a deal with a co-worker and he was to watch my on call that day. everything was going great until I looked at my phone and saw several emails alert. I checked them and found that my POS co-worker had a change of heart and decided that we would no longer watch the on call forcing me to leave. this is the same day that I stepped on my bow knocking the sites off completely, then having have 2 bucks chasing a doe at my SUV. Fast forward to present day 2013 season. This weekend is the day that thus far has proved more of a pain in the ace then anything else. The weather is calling for rain and scattered thunder storms starting Saturday morning and lasting all weekend. "FML!" I will be in the stand all day if it kills me, but I'm a little bummed out since it seems the deer activity sort of stalls in the rain. I know I've heard many argue that the rain won't stop the rut, or "I've killed several deer in the rain". In my experiences I've seen very few deer in the rain, plus it just plains sucks sitting in. I'm holding out that the rain will be scattered and that I'll have many dry spells to help get the deer moving. Does anyone else have any thoughts on hunting in the rain? Are the bedding areas your best bet?
First off, you need to pick a different weekend next year. Second, go buy one of those tree umbrellas at walmart for $20 any your sit in the rain will be much more enjoyable. I'm sure you've seen them. Third, I've never had much luck hunting in the rain, with less deer movement and the risk of a blood trail being washed away I NORMALLY sit those out. However, if the showers are scattered in nature, it could be a great sit. Buck will freshen scrapes after a shower. Deer in general will get up to stretch and dry off after the rain. But thunderstorms are a totally different beast. Do not go hunting in a thunderstorm, it's dangerous and you won't see any deer. BTW, I could have used your squirrel shield the other day when a red barked at me for 5min non stop. Live and learn I guess.
This Monday I sat in very high winds and a steady to driving rain. I was in a great area where I should have seen a dozen deer and a few bucks and I saw 2 deer in 4 hours, a 4 point forked buck (1.5 years) and one running doe. The wind and rain sucks!
Thunderstorms? Bring a 1 iron in the tree, not even God can hit it. Bloodtrailing in rain? Buy bloodglow or double lung them.
Here you go Shane! BOWBUG RF Game Recovery System - Home I have no idea if it works. Something I saw a few years back.
