Deer move in rain?

[roysclockgun]

Again, I admit, I am ignorant of the different deer activities and patterns in the deep south, where I now live. However, in Md. and Pa. I have seen lots of big bucks and lesser deer moving and feeding in rain.
I just got a call from one club member who tells me that all the other members have bailed out of going to Ga. this week, because of rain. Do southern deer not move in rain and feed in rain, or are my hunting buddies simply faint of heart?
I am going, although I will spend another three or four days in camp alone. My strongest belief is that the man who put a lot of time in the woods will sooner or later, kill bucks!
Steven L. Ashe

 

[ajvigs]

Sir,

I have always found that a front pushes deer to move. When the barometric pressure drops, I have always seen deer on the move to feed before the front hits. Once the front hits, they tend to stay put unless something pushes them to move. I would say stick it out, because once the front is over they will be on the move again seeking to forage. If there are any closed stands of timber in between some ag. fields where they feed, that would be where I would wait them out. Find a good, well used trail to overlook and you should be good to go.

 

[truck driver]

The rain holds the sent down but a down pour or steady hard rain will make them seek cover.
Drizzly conditions make for prime time hunting.

 

[wildgene]

...think "conservation of energy", if the weather is so bad, wet, windy, extreme cold, they'll hole up in thermal cover digesting what they have, one of the reasons they feed heavy before a front moves in. If they're going to use more energy than they can replace due to the weather, there will be very little movement, if they can replace their "budget" they'll be out feeding. If the bad weather lasts long enough, they'll have to refill their stomachs for heat generation...

 

[DrMike]

...think "conservation of energy", if the weather is so bad, wet, windy, extreme cold, they'll hole up in thermal cover digesting what they have, one of the reasons they feed heavy before a front moves in. If they're going to use more energy than they can replace due to the weather, there will be very little movement, if they can replace their "budget" they'll be out feeding. If the bad weather lasts long enough, they'll have to refill their stomachs for heat generation...

Concise, cogent summation of ungulate movement.

 

[wildgene]

...think "conservation of energy", if the weather is so bad, wet, windy, extreme cold, they'll hole up in thermal cover digesting what they have, one of the reasons they feed heavy before a front moves in. If they're going to use more energy than they can replace due to the weather, there will be very little movement, if they can replace their "budget" they'll be out feeding. If the bad weather lasts long enough, they'll have to refill their stomachs for heat generation...

Concise, cogent summation of ungulate movement.

..."Hey, dem's 'Fightin' Words'"...

...I think... :roll: :mrgreen:

 

[NYDAN]

As usual, the writers on this forum are giving good advise. In my experience, deer will move around in a light rain and "hole up" in heavy weather. If you have good wet weather hunting gear and don't mind being out in the rain, I find that still hunting/stalking can be very successful during a rain. The rain helps cover your scent and quietens your step. We have snuck up on bedded and/or browsing deer during a rain many times. If you don't mind bumping deer out of their bedding area, you can still hunt through it, facing into the wind, of course. If your hunting area is small and you would ruin your evening hunt if you bump the deer out of their bedding area, you might want to stay out of it. If your hunting area is large and you know their local habits, it might be OK to bump them out of the bedding area, and then set up to ambush them when they work back into the bedding area or when they approach their evening feeding area.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Roy, if deer did not move and feed in the rain, they would starve to death in parts of Western Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

 

[JD338]

...think "conservation of energy", if the weather is so bad, wet, windy, extreme cold, they'll hole up in thermal cover digesting what they have, one of the reasons they feed heavy before a front moves in. If they're going to use more energy than they can replace due to the weather, there will be very little movement, if they can replace their "budget" they'll be out feeding. If the bad weather lasts long enough, they'll have to refill their stomachs for heat generation...

I agree with Gene.
I have shot a lot of deer in the rain......and snow.

JD338

 

[Elkman]

My strongest belief is that the man who put a lot of time in the woods will sooner or later, kill bucks!

Roy, I will bet that I could count the number of deer (or in my case elk) that have been killed by hunters that stayed home, on one hand. I was elk hunting one time on a particularly nasty day near the continental divide. My partner voiced the opinion that "the elk wouldn't be out today". I responded with "I will bet they not at the Hilton". Later that day after several inches of new snow, right at dark, a very nice spike bull walked out of the timber looking for us. Take good gear watch out for falling trees, stay dry and enjoy the hunt.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have no idea how many deer that I have killed during snow storms? I know though that it is a lot more than on sunny, nice days!

 

[Gm weatherby man]

I have also had great luck in pre bad weather, basically on edge of storm. Fog has produced some fine bucks as well .

 

[super-7]

I have no idea how many deer that I have killed during snow storms? I know though that it is a lot more than on sunny, nice days!

That's the truth, they love fresh snow for some reason. Also helps hide crunchy leaves. I say go hunt dress warm bring rain gear, lots of socks , good boots and enjoy yourself. Good luck.

 

[roysclockgun]

Everyone's responses were played out as correct during last weekend's hunt in SE GA. During Dec. antlerless deer are off limits, so I was only gunning for bucks, 8 pt. or better. Arriving in camp early Fri. afternoon, the weather was in the high 70s, but with a front moving in. Before dark, I had a doe and youngun' feeding 150 yards away. Over the weekend hunt, I changed stands four times. Of the six times out, I had deer in front of me, in my crosshairs, four times for a total of 11 deer. They fed during light rain and heavy rain and in some pretty stiff winds too. Deer are where one finds them the faint hearts who remain in bed just cheat themselves out of seeing deer, let alone bagging deer. I was alone in camp all weekend. I have until the 15th of Jan. to get another buck and one more antlerless deer. The antlerless open up again on Jan. 1.
Thanks for the responses,
Steven

 

[DrMike]

Excellent report, Steven. We're pulling for you to connect with a decent buck and a fat, dry doe.

 

[Guy Miner]

Roy, if deer did not move and feed in the rain, they would starve to death in parts of Western Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

Man, isn't that the truth! It rains, pretty much all the time, for months in some of those areas.

 

[gerry]

I have noticed when hunting in the Queen Charlottes for blacktails that if a big snow or rainstorm comes in the deer actually will hide for a while but eventually they get hungry and start moving again. I never thought it would be true over there but that has been my experience especially when it comes to snow.