my time to hunt is limited to weekends so I hunt no matter weather or wind. looks like its going to be a very wet weekend and I plan to hunt both days regardless. any good tips for hunting in a steady rain?
Rain gear........
I worry about the blood trail in the rain but still do it occasionally. I bet your deer will be there this weekend rain or shine. If it's not a downpour I stick w wool- don't really like rain suits. Popup blinds are nice in the rain- but in your situation that won't work
Get'em
Tim
Still hunting is effective in the rain . The rain clears your sent and noise .
Just don't wear crunchy sounding rain coat .
Just keep your bow and string well waxed and try to keep your fletching and glove / tab dry. I would also hunt when I had the time, including in rain, but I guess I would be a bit more picky about shots.
Good luck and pick a spot.
ChuckC
If your not moving a bunch , a tree umbrella is nice. Pretty light and rolls up tight for carry. Makes a serviceable ground blind too.
Using a blind can be nice in the rain
I use those little tree umbrellas that screw in overhead. Just have to watch the height of your setup so your bow tip doesn't hit.
When I used to hunt in the wet, I tried to pay close attention to waterproofing my fletching as well as using a cover. I have a Cabela's rain suit that has a soft exterior that is not noisy, but it is awfully warm in early season. If it is not cold out, you may use a light wool shirt that will keep you from getting chilly when wet but will be very quiet. Be sure to wear a head gear that does not drain water down the back of your neck - awfully irritating. You've already got the most important item for hunting in the rain, which is a determination to stay with it. Good luck.
I would also recommend hunting to thick bedding areas. Deer will bed down like we would in the rain.. Somewhere dry, out of the wind and preferably close to a food source. So try to get into the deers brain and think of a spot that has those 3 things.. And sit just off a trail and wait for the moment.. And hope that lady luck gives you a kiss on the cheek!
String tracker couldn't hurt. At least it won't wash away.
I'm lucky that i have plenty of time to hunt with my job. I hunt alot at my uncle's cabin and when it rains and i mean rain i sit by the fire with a glass of Bourbon or a jar of shine and just relax. I'll put on some bluegrass/country or watch a favorite movie of mine which is usually Patton.
Now if i decide to go out and it is going to be a light rain i have my favorite pine to sit under with my tree umbrella. I cover my fletchings and i don't bother with my shooting glove since i can shoot bare fingers. As for rain gear i just ware my wool, gets wet but keeps me warm. But for the most part i do what i stated above.
Graps is right.
One of the best buck I shot, I got him off his bed at 15 yards while NYC was getting hammered with Sandy four years back.
I should have added, where we live we only had rain storms and wind.... instead of a hurricane...
I like to hit the ground walking in the rain, but based on your situation with those bucks, I'm not sure I would recommend that. My only other suggestion is to keep shots well inside your effective range. It can get really tricky trying to track a marginally hit deer in the rain. And make sure you have ribbon or something similar ready to mark a blood trail, and mark every spot. This will give you a good line on direction of travel, and keep you from losing where that last spot of blood was.
the thing that will help me right now is I am set up for a 10 yard shot max and i'm using a heavy arrow and large broad head. the only thing that worries me is after I hit one I know its going to bolt for the thick stuff and in a heavy rain that will be difficult. as I stated I can only hunt weekends so if it rains it rains...
I love to hunt in a mist or very light rain wearing wool, anything heavier I'll be under a tree umbrella or back at camp.
The last seven deer I've shot with the bow required no blood trailing. All fell within sight. I have shot many others that also fell within sight.
Of course, most haven't. Close shots, large sharp broadheads and limiting your shot to comfortable ranges/angles should assist in quick, short recoveries.
Good luck.
Ken, I know you dont want to do it, but I suggest you stay home with the boy.
If you are hell bent on hunting use an umbrella and string tracker.
Personally, if the wind isn't right stay off the field by the house. instead hit that big valley we hunted a few years back down the road and do a loooong sloooow still hunt.
I will take thick cover for trailing over open fields or woods any day. Wounded deer tend to take the path of least resistance. If a marginal shot should occur, I would suggest taking up the trail immediately. BUT, only go a short distance. Just enough to establish a direction of travel after the initial "bolt for cover".
Please keep in mind this is only a suggestion. A lot of factors can play into the decision of when to follow and when to just back off. Shot placement, how heavy rain is(or gonna be), knowledge of common escape routes, ability to track, coyotes..... You get the idea.
Charlie,
its hunt weekends or bust for me can't let rain slow me down. also trail cams showing all 4 bucks still working the small area as well as does. i put out another stand today in the pouring rain to cover wind direction and give me another option. i can feel it man just need to get my azzz in the stand no matter what!
A lot of good advice here, but the determination you have is outstanding! Go get'm :thumbsup:
if it's raining hard, the deer will be bedded down. be there as soon as it stops.
Wool clothing in the rain will keep ya warm even when wet.It's also very quiet.
If your hunting your stands just keep at it, dress warm and wear something to help keep you dry but quiet ... if still hunting keep the wind in your face. Rain can be a good thing to keep the ground quiet and maybe knock a few leaves down for you.
If you get lucky and have to blood trail a critter, mark your starting point with something the rain will not wash away and move quickly along the side of your blood trail. If it's good blood trail, my experience is you will not have an issue, but if it is sparse mark your route you go can clearly see the travel line.
Good luck
Its not the rain you have to worry about.
Make sure you take your bonine pills and tie yourself tight to the trunk.
Good luck and may your arrows fly true.
I used a tree umbrella for the first time in August this year. A great invention! I sat in rain off and on from about 1:00 until about 9:00. I stayed comfortably dry.
Wait for it to quit! Unless your in Western Washington or Oregon, then wait for it to slow down!
Other tip I have is to use this stuff to water proof your feathers. Make sure you by the fabric one like in the picture. Apply it outside in accordance with the instructions and let it stay outside for 24 hrs!
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/wachatz/1461368922731_zpsb3c3aoky.jpg) (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/wachatz/media/1461368922731_zpsb3c3aoky.jpg.html)
Still hunting works well in the rain but, be aware your senses get confused to. Hard to spot deer standing still with all that movement so go slow and stay frosty! Also I like to use baby bottle liners for fletching covers. I put them over the fletching and use a little rubber band to secure to the arrow. Just pull the cover off the rubber band will stay attached but, if it's nice and small it won't affect anything.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Luminol aka Bloodglow.
The stuff is absolutely amazing and it's not a gimmick. It is used by law enforcement to locate blood. Criminals try to wash away blood at crime scenes but Luminol still detects it. You mix tablets with water (but windshield washer fluid is better) in a spray bottle. It is used in darkness (no lights at all) and glows blue when it contacts blood drops smaller than the eye can see. And rain does NOT wash away the iron(?) in the blood that Luminol detects. In fact, rain makes the blood easier to see with Luminol.
We did a test trail by putting some blood on a rag and dragged it through the woods. There was absolutely zero blood that was visible by the naked eye. We came back after dark and sprayed Luminol and the trail glowed an easy to see blue. But what was even more amazing was the following day we got almost an inch of rain...We went back that 2nd night and the test trail was still easily seen.
If there is or was blood, Luminol WILL detect it. Even on your hands after washing with soap and water!
2 tablets will cover approx 100 yards (so they say) and cost about $25 for a package of 8 tablets (4 mixes) so you can possibly trail 400 yards for $25.
Go to bloodglow.com
Every hunter needs to know how to blood trail but this stuff is an amazing last resort when you can't find blood.