Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
Even in dry conditions I seldom ever hunt around water sources in our hunting area. I've sometimes seen a lot of sign around them but I've wasted a lot of time sitting over them. For the most part the deer either get all the water they need from the vegetation they eat or use water sources under the cover of darkness.
As far as hunting in the rain I usually don't bow hunt unless it's just a light drizzle. A blood trail will quickly wash away with heavy rains and you will almost certainly have to blood trail an archery shot deer. Rifle hunting is another story. Most of my deer either drop on the spot or don't run over 50 yards. I can usually find them even without a blood trail just by sweeping the area and even when I immediately climb down to look there's still a visible blood trail.
Hunting in a hard rain is usually a miserable experience but the deer live in it and still operate like deer normally do (except in torrential rain). Most of the time I check the weather predictions before leaving for a hunt. If heavy rain is forecasted to stop or lighten up in most cases I still go hunting. I've seen and killed deer right after a rain lets up and if the rut is happening those deer will be on their feet. If there's a lot of scraping activity prior to the rut beginning (while the bucks are moving more) they may begin re-freshening their scrapes. Turn up the volume on your hearing because they can get within shooting range very quietly.
As far as hunting in the rain I usually don't bow hunt unless it's just a light drizzle. A blood trail will quickly wash away with heavy rains and you will almost certainly have to blood trail an archery shot deer. Rifle hunting is another story. Most of my deer either drop on the spot or don't run over 50 yards. I can usually find them even without a blood trail just by sweeping the area and even when I immediately climb down to look there's still a visible blood trail.
Hunting in a hard rain is usually a miserable experience but the deer live in it and still operate like deer normally do (except in torrential rain). Most of the time I check the weather predictions before leaving for a hunt. If heavy rain is forecasted to stop or lighten up in most cases I still go hunting. I've seen and killed deer right after a rain lets up and if the rut is happening those deer will be on their feet. If there's a lot of scraping activity prior to the rut beginning (while the bucks are moving more) they may begin re-freshening their scrapes. Turn up the volume on your hearing because they can get within shooting range very quietly.
