Walking in the rainy conditions is lovely, running in the rain is adventurous, but whitetail deer hunting in the rain is wild!
Most hunters give up on their trips and start packing their gear to go home when they encounter
a little rain. What they don’t know is deer hunting in the rainy weather can actually be to their benefit.
The conditions may not always be ideal, but you can use them to your advantage. Deer
sometimes become more active during the rain, and they won’t be able to catch your scent
because the rain will mask it.
So, can you deer hunt in the rain?
Here’s everything you need to know~
Do Deer Move In The Rain?
The answer is yes, deer do move in the rain. In fact, if it’s a light drizzle, they’ll move like they
usually, do without any noticeable changes and go about their daily routines.
Some theories say that light rain during the early season gives the deer a break from the heat,
which gets them moving to enjoy the coolness.
Though they may be less active if the steady rain is accompanied by strong winds. If you keep an eye
out, you will notice that they stand in their place more than they usually do.
Deer’s movement will only get affected if it’s pouring hard. In that case, their vision will be
impaired, and they’ll prefer to stay in the safety of their hiding place until the storm passes. The
loud noise will also affect their ability to stay alert against predators.
You can still use that to your advantage because deer will become more active right after a
heavy rain pour passes. The deer will have likely spent the night in their hiding place, and they’ll need
to get food and water and complete their routine.
It’s often hard for us—humans—to absorb the fact that animals are less affected by the rain.
These fellas have a busy schedule, between avoiding predators, surviving, and balancing their
dietary needs. So no, a little rain won’t cause them to go into hiding.
Why You Should Hunt Deer In The Rain
Hunting in the rain doesn’t have to be all bad. You’ll need to wear warmer clothes
and pack your breathable rain gear to accommodate the wet conditions. But hey, at least you’ll get to brag if you manage to catch a deer!
Less Deer Movement
Raining will get the ground all wet, which will cause the deer to be more cautious moving
around, so they don’t slip on wet leaves.
And you know what walking with caution means: walking slower and moving less.
The same goes if the rain is accompanied by strong winds, which will cause the deer to limit
their movements.
Needless to say, you can take advantage of that while hunting.
It’d be wise to remember that deer will start moving right after the rain stops, too, and there
won’t be a lot of hunters around. It’ll be your chance to watch a deer closely and choose the
right moment to shoot.
Less Noise
Every hunter knows the drill: you watch a mature buck from afar, waiting for the right
moment to bounce. And when your moment is finally here, and the buck is approaching, some
wind whistles, moving leaves and causing tree branches to sway.
Before you know it, the noise alerts the buck, and it goes back to where it came from.
No tree stand kit would’ve prepared you for that moment.
Luckily for you, rain solves that problem. It covers all the noise in the woods, which prevents
deer from hearing the tiny movements they usually do.
Scent Masking
Deer have pretty impressive senses. They can smell a hunter more than a ¼ mile away, and
their smelling senses get even better when the weather is calm with no strong winds. It makes
sense since it’s their top defense against predators and hunters, but it makes it harder to hunt.
Most hunters opt for homemade scent maskers to play the deer’s senses, but they don’t always
do the trick. That’s where rain comes in.
When the rain comes down on various surfaces in the woods, it creates a distinct airborne scent that
masks all others. Ozone molecules also contribute to the smell, but that’s a story for
another day.
The verdict is you’d be better off hunting in the rain rather than hunting in dry conditions without
a scent masker.
Deer’s Impaired Vision
As you probably already know, deer are naturally red-green colorblind. That means that they
can’t distinguish orange or green from red, and that comes to the advantage of many hunters,
but it’s not always enough.
Luckily for rain hunters, deer’s visibility will be dramatically affected when it’s raining. They can’t
see clearly through the rainwater; they’re already colorblind, which gives you leverage.
What Makes It Hard To Hunt Whitetail Deer Buck In The Rain
You didn’t expect hunting in the rain to be all easy, did you? It gives humans an advantage, but there are still some setbacks you’ll have to prepare for and deal with.
Blood Trailing Is Hard to Follow
When it’s raining, the blood trail becomes a tall order. For starters, the water can wash away
some of the blood and dilute it, making it more challenging to spot. On top of that,
heavy rain can affect your visibility. In this case, you’ll need the help of a tracker dog if the area
you’re hunting permits it.
One more thing to consider t is that waiting for too long to track the wet deer after you make your hit
might not be ideal in the rain. After a few minutes, the rain will start washing away the tracks, so
you won’t be able to follow up with your shot.
Watch Out Its Slippery and Dangerous
There’s no denying that hunting in the rain is more dangerous than in normal weather
conditions. If you hunt in the rain, your GPS tracking unit won’t work as efficiently as it should.
Besides, any electric device you use, like a camera or a range finder, will be susceptible to
water damage.
Not to mention, walking trails become slippery during rain. If you aren’t careful enough, you
might take a serious fall. Prepare yourself with a pair of hunting boots with solid traction to
prevent that.
Hard to See Through a Rifle Scope
If you like taking long-range shots, you’ll need to use a rifle scope, which is much more
challenging to do in the rain. The constant pelleting of water drops will tempt you to wipe the
lens clean every couple of minutes, which will throw you out of focus.
Plus, if it’s raining too hard, the water will entirely mask your visibility, so it’d be better to wait
until the weather calms down.
But even then, you have to be careful not to let the lens fog up. If that happens, you won’t see anything at all through the scope. So make sure you keep an eye on the condensation level and keep wiping off any excess moisture when needed.
Hard to Stay Warm
When it rains, your hunting gear will get wet, which is uncomfortable and makes it harder to stay
warm. Needless to say, you’ll need to check the weather forecast before hunting to decide what
to wear.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so make sure to pack extra clothing items and gloves in case yours
get wet.
Final Thoughts: On Hunting Deer In The Rain
Now that you know what deer hunting in the rain is like, will you go for it?
It would be a shame never to try it. You may find it more challenging in some cases, but it’s easier in
others. Plus, what’s hunting without a little challenge?
Remember to study the weather patterns and prepare your outfit accordingly. You’ll need
something that keeps you warm in wet weather yet doesn’t weigh you down.
And, of course, your shoes are the most important items of your outfit. Take care not to wear a
pair of shoes that’ll increase your chances of slipping.
In conclusion, we hope that our article on “Can You Go Deer Hunting In The Rain?” has been helpful. We wish you good luck!