Hunting in the rain

9.3mauser

9.3mauser

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Super GunNutz
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Kawartha Lakes, ON
Sitting here watching the rain come down, has me thinking how strange it is that it's pouring rain and it's not even moose season yet...

So it's also got me wondering how many of you will stick it out through an all day rain, not just showers, and what sort of luck you've had hunting in the rain?

I've always been told that game doesn't move in a heavy downpour, but I'm not sure if it's the wildlife or the hunters that don't like the rain.
 
I know what you mean about it feeling like hunting season already!
As far as moose in the rain goes I primarily moose hunt from a blind with a good roof so rain doesn't bother me much. In my last 25 years of hunting them I can really only remember shooting one when it was really pissing out.
I always chalked it up to them not being able to hear very well.
Right before and after a rain they sure seem to move though.
 
Seems every shotgun season around here, I spend a week pushing bush in the rain.

Only good thing about it is that more people are willing to push the bush, as it can get quite cold and wet when your blocking/shooting.

Obviously because we are pushing bush deer have no choice but to move so can't help you with that part of your post. ;)
 
Some of my best hunts have been in bad weather. I mean really - where are the animals to go? It's not like they can go home during bad weather...

My experience is that hunters stay in when the weather is bad so the game tends to move more. Plus the high moisture in the air makes it harder for critters to smell you.
 
Heavy rain is miserable to be out in when its cold and animals seem to hunker down. Nothing wrong with hunting in a light drizzle though I find animals start to move a bit later than normal.
 
Dairy & beef cattle, while somewhat "domesticated", don't lay down (or head for cover, IE: the barn) when a storm's coming just because they're tired...

Wild game will do the same, for the most part.
 
Hunters stay in camp when it rains. Moose are easier to see when it rains, they get shiny. They can't smell me or hear me. Got my cow last year in the rain. Shot a mule deer in the fog one year. Shot a whitetail in a blizzard.

I really like hunting in bad weather, I have good equipment.
 
never occurred to me not to hunt in the rain. First whitetail I killed was in driving rain, last 3 blacktails were in sheets of rain, an elk in drizzle, best goose hunting was always in super low pressure systems with rain, even better is frozen rain (snow) shot alot of mule deer that had 2 inches of snow on thier backs.IMHO precipitation is the still hunters best ally. Mind you I am noisey and stink like coffee urns and ashrays most days so maybe it helps me more then most
 
Shot my best blacktail in driving rain and have had the best success blacktail hunting on the nastiest days, scuddy windy rainy days on the top third of the mountain.
Done pretty well on muleys in the rain as well.
I'm far from any kind of expert hunter but Ive often wondered if the conditions were bad that they couldnt hear or smell as well they get nervous and want to be in the open where they can see. Course it could be I just got lucky in the rain.
 
Shot my first moose while it was freezing raining sideways out. Luckily it was a headwind, so no issues with wind doping :D

I hunt rain or shine, rain usually sends hunters running for shelter, that much less competition and more chance for me to come across one that someone else might have seen first.
 
On a practical note, wouldn't rain make tracking a wounded animal that much harder? Of course the theory is to have it down within a step, but what if?

I've never done it, so I don't know.
 
I love hunting in the rain, the animals seem to be less wary and i have way more success stalking, and the wet ground makes for quiet walking. I've walked up on a nice buck and shot him at 15 yards in the rain - and he didn't even know i was there.
 
it really depends on the rain...
miserable days.. nothing an no one likes being out in them, calm steady rain can produce feeding deer an also depends on whats coming, weather wise.

before a big storm, the evening before can be real good for big stags to feed out before bedding up for a few days in thick shhit!

if theres any wind, hunt in sheltered areas ive found..

but then again, deer are where ya find em
 
as for tracking wounded or dead on feet deer in the rain, as long as it isnt pissing down that its creating mud on the surface you will be pretty right with hoof prints an hopefully a decent blood trail to the downed animal
 
I enjoy a overcast windy day, makes the hiking alot easier! Rain I don't mind it, enjoy it alot more than the sun! Snow however bugs because when it starts coming down my favorite slashes and logging roads are impossible to get to in a vehicle, and way to far out to hike to.
 
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