Whitetail hunting the rain

[TexanSam]

Who has had success hunting whitetails on rainy days? It's been dry as a bone here for a while, I've finally been seeing buck signs slowly start to pop up. Hoping this cold front and potentially the rut kicking off will make some deer move. The days I have allocated solely to deer hunting look like it is going to be raining. I don't necessarily think it is going to stop me from hunting, I just might have to wear rain clothes.

 

[pabearhunter]

They have to eat and drink so they will move sooner or later !

 

[recon6036]

“Bucks in the rain.” Great time to hunt all day, as long as it’s not a heavy downpour.

 

[NEWHunter]

Make extra sure the shot flies true and locate a guy with a tracking dog in your area for additional insurance. I’ll be out in the rain the next several days as well. Good luck.

 

[TN2shot07]

I’ll sit rain but only if there’s an end in sight. Some of my best days have been being in the woods when it stops.

 

[sccritterkiller]

I never sit in rain..I go into the thickets and do recon, easier stocking in the rain. Sitting is bad enough, won't do it in the rain.

 

[Nick87]

Some of my best days have been being in the woods when it stop

Yup.

 

[Steiny77]

I hunt as long as it's not pouring. Need to be able to blood trail so no iffy shots.
One of those Treebrellas in addition to good rain gear works pretty good on rainy days.

I think deer seem to be more at ease and move around a bit more when it's dark and raining.

 

[npaden]

I've never seen deer stay inside because it was raining. I would have to say that I would expect movement to actually pick up during the rain. As said they might wait out a torrential downpour but they don't mind getting wet for sure.

 

[Treeshark]

Some of my best days have been being in the woods when it stops.

That’s my experience as well. I always enjoy hunting over scrapes right after the rain stops.

 

[MThuntr]

If I'm prepared to sit all day and stay fairly dry then I'll sit all day. There are good arguments to be made for still hunting during the rain...lots of extra sounds from raindrops and it quiets down vegetation.

 

[npaden]

If I'm prepared to sit all day and stay fairly dry then I'll sit all day. There are good arguments to be made for still hunting during the rain...lots of extra sounds from raindrops and it quiets down vegetation.

This is true on a windy day too. Lots of movement and noise and you have a lot better chance of sneaking up on something.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

After it rains they move…no one wants to lay in a wet bed.

 

[Pahoundsman]

I’ve killed my best 3 Pa bucks (125 plus) in the rain or right after.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I usually still hunt so I love hunting whitetails in the rain. I got the buck in the photo right before dark and it had rained all day. The cap didn’t ignite the powder so I had to duck down behind a windfall, put a new cap on, then cautiously raise up far enough to get a shot at the white patch on his throat as he was looking to see what the “pop” had been.

 

[3855WIN]

I like to go slippin in the rain. I also like to sit in a shooting house during the rain.

One morning, I was slippin along in the rain, when lightning just flashed real close. This one stood up out of his bed and I shot him.

 

[JDH]

That’s my experience as well. I always enjoy hunting over scrapes right after the rain stops.

Killed a buck this way in 2022.

 

[Ben Long]

Two best times to hunt is when it's raining and when it ain't raining. (Stole that line from PF McManus.)