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Tracking in the rain... #5988402 10/22/15 03:35 AM
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txshntr Online Content OP
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Just curious what other bow hunters do when it is raining. Do you still hunt? Are you more selective of the shot? Do you worry about the blood trail washing away? Any tricks or tips?


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Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5988648 10/22/15 12:57 PM
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If its not raining too hard, I will definitely be in my stand hunting! Just be careful climbing into and out of your stand (very slippery with broadheads.) After a shot, tracking should be easy unless there is very heavy rain after you shoot. Deer always move during a rain as long as the wind is not blowing too hard and the rain isn't coming down too hard. Definitely, I will be hunting in the rain!

Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5988675 10/22/15 01:22 PM
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I will hunt in a light rain but dang sure ain't shooting no doe or small buck in wet weather. If a big front is moving in with heavy rain for short period i'll go setup and be ready.

Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5988716 10/22/15 01:58 PM
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I've never hunted during heavy rains, but a light rain that brings the temps down during early season bow hunting is a plus to me.



Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5988784 10/22/15 02:36 PM
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Do yall change how you hunt in the rain (sit in stand longer, all day, ect..)?

Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5988795 10/22/15 02:42 PM
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Mist....sprinkle....I may or may not go out depending on what I've been seeing. Rain like what is in the forecast for this weekend....gonna sleep in, make a Tito's bloody Mary and watch College Game Day. grin

I rarely pick up a rifle but if it's raining and the general season is on I'll go sit in a rifle box just to be out and if an unexpected big 'un shows up...well it's fun to give them a little lead every now and then. cheers


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Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: DuckCoach1985] #5988847 10/22/15 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted By: DuckCoach1985
Do yall change how you hunt in the rain (sit in stand longer, all day, ect..)?

Yes I will hunt all day after a heavy shower not so much during ilght rain. Hard rain washes the woods free of most smells. Which causes most big bucks to get off their lazy aces and check stuff out.

Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: DuckCoach1985] #5988852 10/22/15 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted By: DuckCoach1985
Do yall change how you hunt in the rain (sit in stand longer, all day, ect..)?


I have never once hunted "all day". 5 to 6 hours in light rain if it isn't too cold.



Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5988996 10/22/15 04:44 PM
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I killed my best buck with my bow and it rained .5" right after the shot. A cold front blew in with high winds and rain. I thought for sure the blood trail would be gone or non-existent after the rain. I trailed as far as I could then called a man with a blood dog. He found the buck about 250-300 yards away. If that had been a heavy rain, I am not sure what the outcome would have been. The positive with rain is it softens the ground to make following tracks much easier. I would also advice looker higher on grass, trees and brush for blood. I tended to stay better and longer with the rain on my buck. I would keep a phone number handy just in case though.


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Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5989725 10/23/15 12:30 AM
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Best time to stalk. I've killed a lot of critters moving slow in the rain. It helps with your scent, sound and movement if there's a little wind.

Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: cmc] #5989786 10/23/15 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted By: cmc
Best time to stalk. I've killed a lot of critters moving slow in the rain. It helps with your scent, sound and movement if there's a little wind.
THIS!

Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5990644 10/23/15 05:48 PM
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I have had some pretty darn good luck hunting in the rain. How I approach depends on where I am hunting and the scouting I have done. Heavy woods I generally still hunt. But If I have some room where I can see or know the deer movement pretty well I will spot and stalk(my favorite), I am generally very selective on each shot I take anyway and do not take a shot that I do not have 100% confidence in. I worry about the rain washing away, but with a great shot I shouldn't need much of a blood trail. and I glass as I am walking. I have had plenty of blood trails disappear in the rain, but kept looking and always trust my gut on direction to walk and have yet to not find one. If you can't find a blood trail don't give up, listen to your instincts and keep walking and looking.


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Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5991325 10/24/15 12:58 AM
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We sat in camp with a bottle of Crown during the down pours this evening.


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Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5991562 10/24/15 04:55 AM
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If I don't see the animal go down and it is raining I call my wife and tell her to bring the hound out. Did this last friday - Had been raining/snowing for 3 hours when I arrowed a doe at 5 minutes before last light. I looked for 20 minutes than called the wife. She drove out with the hound and the hound found the deer in less than 2 minutes 70 yards from where I hit it.

In terms of weather constraints I generally hunt in anything except really high wind as I am paranoid of big old beech trees falling on me. Can't kill em from the couch.

Last edited by Hirogen; 10/24/15 05:01 AM.

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Re: Tracking in the rain... [Re: txshntr] #5991605 10/24/15 10:38 AM
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We are having torrential rains from that hurricane here. You can't cross the creeks to leave camp to get to the stands as it is right no. So coffee and BS will have to do until the rain quits. I like hunting light rain, drizzle. But like yesterday morning, the muddy tracks in the trail were the only tracking I had to find the sow I had shot early. Fortunately she only went 60 yards. Rain like we've had the last 12 hours there is no way I would shoot one.


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