Trad Gang

I hunt the rain often with my center fire or even my flintlock.  I feel the knock down power is in my favor.  I see deer movement in the rain often.  That said, I rarely hunt with my bow as I fear a quick loss of the blood trail.  So, I am looking for opinions from the rest of the trad-gangers, do you hunt the rain or not?

Bob.

I LOVE THE RAIN!!!!!!!!

Rain or shine...we are out there.

There are only so many times a person can go hunting in their lifetime, I hunt every day that I can rain or shine.

You better believe it....Rain or shine.

Bob,
   It depends, a slight mist or intermittent drizzle is ok with me, anything heavier than that I am with you. A fatally shot Whitetail can go quite a distance sometimes, what about a marginal hit? Now add in the steady rain and guess what happens,yep,you are now posting a "Should have known better" topic on the POW-WOW.
                            Good Shooting,
                                        Craig

If it's terribly cold or still warm-ish I love to hunt rain...regardless of animal.

When it's "cool" and raining I can't ever seem to keep from shaking and shivering so bad it's worthless.  When it's truely cold I'm bundled enough I stay dry.  When it's warm-ish it's not an issue.


If it's a pouring or something so heavy that it limits your visibility then I don't see the point either.

I don't wanna use the word ethical cause I'm kinda tired of hearing it lately. But bowhunting in a downpour is pretty irresponsible when you think about it.

If you're already out there and it starts raining, at the very least you should limit your shots to close, broadside shots at totally relaxed animals.

Misty, drizzly...maybe.

Heavy or steady rain...nope.

I feel I owe it to the game to recover what I shoot. Rain can wash out a blood trail in the time I wait for the deer to go down (20-30 minutes). It's just not worth the risk IMHO.

30coupe, you just said what I was starting to type.

love hunting in the rain but not downpour's

doug77

Gotta side with Monkeyball, Biggie, and 30coupe on this one.

Most of the time we rely on a blood trail to recover bow kills. It is amazing how little rain it takes to completely erase even heavy blood.

I lost a well hit doe many years ago in a light misty rain and haven't got my feathers wet since.

Ron

drizzly I will do,any thing more and its off to the Lazy Boy for me. Gary   ;)

My Favorite time to hunt is in a light rain.  Makes for excellent spot and stalk conditions.

Only in a mist or very light dizzle never ever in a hard rain. JMO

I'm with Biggie on this one. I'm colorblind and have to have others help me track. Unless someone is close by hunting with me I won't hunt in the rain.

I second Biggie on this one. I'm not necessarily heading for home if it starts to rain, but a shot has to VERY easy and clean before I'll take it.

Another one with Biggie here.
Besides - I'd melt.

Steve

I'm colorblind and have a hard enough time trailing them under normal conditions.  The only way I'll hunt in the rain is if I'm in a fairly open spot where I can see 100 or so yards in every direction, where I have a good chance of seeing them go down.

What Biggie said.

Whump Sez; I have tracked quite a few deer down that would have been lost if it was raining. 2 seasons ago I tracked a 3pt buck that traveled about 250yds before falling---the trail was a speck and a spot of blood. If it had been raining the animal would probably have never been found. If it is raining that is a good excuse for me to sit by the fire, sharpen heads and check my equipment. I also passed on a shot on a 4pt buck one morning right after a rain started--there will be another day to hunt and without the consequences that rain brings. Hunt safe  

Stalked up to 15 yards on this guys in the rain

  (http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee291/chonaker4/PA190003.jpg)

The very best time to hunt mature blacktails is during the rut when a storm blows in from the Pacific.

You are lookin for bucks who are lookin for does, rain splattering down, big timber is creaking and growling in the wind.  Sit out the downpour and get after them after it lets up.

Close shots and Snuffers or WW are the ticket!

Come on November!

Bob

I enjoy hunting when it's raining. But I'm 1000 times more picky about the shots I'll take. Heavy rain?

QuoteOriginally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
 bowhunting in a downpour is pretty irresponsible when you think about it.

I'm in total agreement. If you are out there already, you are better served by using the opportunity to get some in season scouting done. If you don't know the lay of the land like the back of your hand and cannot track without blood sign, then don't hunt in the rain. It's just like shot distances, IMO you need to stay within your skill level. Like it or not our actions reflect upon the larger group, act responsibly.

Original quote:
I am looking for opinions from the rest of the trad-gangers, do you hunt the rain or not?

He doesn't say heavy downpour, high winds with sheets of rain whipping by at 20 mph. Hunting on rainy days is a plus, especially for ground hunters. Light drizzly or misty days are exceptional. Periods of hard rain, stopping, then lighter rain...still good to be out there.

As with any day your hunting, make sure you take that high percentage shot....like close range.

I am with Biggie on this - however- if the rain is going to stop; be there when it does ! There is ussually a lot of action AFTER a rain.

Anything that can compromise a blood trail should, as conscientious hunters, give you pause. The blood trail is the only way to find most deer so its extremely important even on a well placed shot.
I do gun hunt in the rain but blood trails are shorter or sometimes unnecessary in that pursuit.
Do what you think is right, amigo. Have a good season.

I only needed to participate in ONE lost blood trail in the rain to make it a "no-no" for me...

...however, there are exceptions.

I tend to think of early season, b'cause it's NOW early season...so much underbrush...hard to find where they travel w/out blood trail... If it's raining hard enough to wash off the trail, I hang up the bow.  If it's early, the temps mean I need to find that downed deer shortly to avoid meat spoilage. I love my deer meat...

Time of day is another variable. Early day shot means more time to find it... cool temps, vs. warm temps...etc.

now if it's later season, frost has killed brush and leaves are down... it's cooler and I can see a lot better, trail through leaf disturbance... etc, I might take the shot if the country was more open.

Seems there are a lot of "variables" to consider
Generally speaking, I won't "SHOOT" in a steady rain...but often will be out there when it's intermittent.

NO

Fog and a very light intermittant drizzle maybe-hard rain never.

I live in Wyoming where it does not rain very often so I get plenty of time to hunt when I do not have to worry about rain washing away blood trails.  I learned my lesson the hard way a few years back and will not hunt in the rain.

In the Pacific Northwest if we didn't hunt in the rain we wouldn't get much hunting done.  The trick is to make a good close shot.  But I agree it can make tracking difficult.

I live on Guam. If I waited for the rain to stop I would never be able to hunt,LOL. Not too bad in the thick jungle. Mostly not in heavy downpours, but steady sprinkles. Makes for quiet stalking to get in on the pigs.

Danny

Had a doe come in one afternoon in a light rain. I shot, she hit the ground and I put one more arrow in her. The rain increased in intensity and she stood back up on wobbly legs. I had a few seconds when I could have put another arrow in her but was sure she was going to topple over, she didn't, put a tree between us and walked away.

The rain really started coming down. I waited 30 minutes and took up the trail. A little blood at first but the rain washed it all away within the first 20 yds. I looked for her until 10pm with no luck.

It rained 4" that night and I was back at daylight. I found her in a cane thicket 1/2 hr after daylight, it had been a very warm night and she was blown up like a balloon and stinking.
I walked out of the hollow I found her in with a terrible feeling of loss, such a waste of her life. I left her for the coyotes.

Long story, this happened 20 years ago. Just an explanation of why I feel it is unethical for me to bowhunt in N Alabama in any rain harder than a light mist. This was the first deer I lost in my bow hunting career and only lost one other since.

I understand that in the rainy parts of the US one must adapt to the conditions, but here in N Bama I have options.

I do not hunt in the rain, Bob B, for the reason you mentioned. Jawge

I will hunt a light rain but if it is pouring, I do not like to get soaked and most deer bed in some heavy thermal cover to try and stay dry themselves. I agree with Biggie, if ya do hunt in heavy rain keep the shots close and make them good lung hits and you will be OK. Shawn

firearms, any kind of rain
Bow, Nope wont go.

Been there and done that.  Shot a nice elk ( wife was with me). Put a good shot on it, one of the best of all my animals shot.  Within just a couple minutes it started pouring rain.  This was a morning hunt.  Usually we get the afternoon showers.  Found good blood, but within 30 yds. all the blood was washed away.  We looked for 6 hrs and never found the animal.  Now when it rains we get our the cards and play cribbage till it stops.  Good hunting afterwards - quiet walking.

I am with most- nope. . . but I do live in KS where I have many options of good days.  If I was on a limited hunt or hunted the NW, I would probably adapt.

On the other hand- I do check into the local NOAA weather radio station regularly throughout the day.  Knowing the rain was due to start in mid-AM then stop again later in the afternoon, I have actually got out of the stand and waited most of the day under some nice cedars for the rain to stop.  The moment it stopped I was back on stand and it was like someone flipped a switch- deer everywhere!

I wish I had the option to NOT hunt in the rain...  I'd never get to hunt if I waited for a dry day.

I see more black tail in the rain then the sun-just wait for the good shot,don't worry about tracking

Bob and 5deer are correct. Here in Oregon, if you hunt the late season, you hunt the rain. Get close and good shot placement are the key. Go ahead and get out there! Good luck, stay safe and shoot straight.   :thumbsup:

Light rain is OK....your reason for avoiding heavy rain is the same as mine....wait 30 minutes after a shot in a downpour and you'll have no blood trail.