Rain...What To Do and Tactics

Looks like rain this weekend. Would you hunt opening weekend even if it looks like rain Saturday and Sunday or would you wait until the following weekend? ALSO, any tips for hunting in the rain? Do you take your gun in the case to the stand...just let it get wet then dry/oil it later?

How much do you think the rain slows down deer movement?

Absolutely. In fact, I'm excited. I've killed three good bucks in drizzle rain. They may lay low in a driving rain but will move more and later in light rain. WT are crepuscular and feel comfortable in dim light conditions.

Unless it is absolutely pouring down rain it won't slow down deer movement. IMO cool, overcast days make for the best hunting conditions even if you get some light to moderate rain. I don't really change my tactics other than I want to be the stand before it stops raining, even if it just a temporary break in the rain, because deer will usually get up and move when the weather breaks.

Heck yeah, this is spot on IMO.

Deer cannot see in total darkness, so when it's raining all night, odds are pretty good that they are bedded down and waiting until they can see. I've always had the best luck at first light either right after it's quit raining, or while its still raining. Especially if it's been a long, drawn out storm.

Rain or shine, we will be out in the blind Saturday morning!!!

Everything the fellas said.

I am very hard on my hunting equipment and rifle, main reason I have a SS barrel and composite stock, just for bad weather here and in the Rockies. But I wouldnt let bad weather keep me from hunting, a commercial wrap or sleeve , or a good cleaning when I get home. If I know it will rain and my rifle will be exposed, I would put a light coating of a repellent like WD-40 extreme.

Yes, by all means hunt in the rain. As others have said they may lie up during a downpour, but will definitely move in a light rain. Besides, if your stand has a tin roof on it, early in the morning just before sunrise with the rain coming down, you will get some of the best sleep of your life.
As far as taking your rifle to the stand, I take mine out of the case and put it in a big black trash bag to carry in the rain to the stand. I'm sure that keeping it in the hard case won the way to the stand might be even better.
By the way, you can also put one strip of electrical tape over the barrel of your rifle to keep rain out without affecting its accuracy any. I have shot mine both ways with a cold barrel to check and can see no difference. But others feel free to jump in here with what you think.

Hunt. Protect equipment as much as you can. My son killed his biggest buck ever in a sleet thunderstorm. He was the only deer to come to the feeder. Wind was blowing too. Of course, that was late season.

you will kill more deer in a down pouring rain from a stand ... than sitting on the living room couch/recliner watching football ...

I pay very little attention to the rain when it comes to hunting, and I suspect the deer pay even less since they don't have a nice warm dry house to go to when it storms. They might slow a bit or bed longer during the heavy rains, but I have taken good deer during those conditions too.

As mentioned, a little piece of electrical or duct tape over the end of the barrel or cut the finger out of a rubber glove ... just be sure to dry & oil upon getting back to camp/home to prevent rusting.

Exactly!!! I hope to be in the stand when the rain stops. That's when I see the most activity.

Rain or shine, I'll be sitting in the stand. I rather enjoy hunting on cool, rainy days...my favorite hunting conditions by far

For me it is a matter of "can I get back to my stands?" where I hunt, if it rains more than 2" you can drive to my blinds due to the mud. I know most would say "ok then walk" but if I killed something, I wouldn't have a way to get it back to the ranch house.

Have seen pretty good movement in light rain

I bought a camo rainsuit for last week but didn't need it. I sense I'll be breaking it in Saturday. I like the 'rifle in a trashbag' idea.

I will sit in my home made ground blind and hope the bucks are off the night crawler routine. Rain is good, gets bucks out to refresh their grounds scrapes. Always like it after a rain, except when the camera shows they came through at 2 am to refresh that scrape. Rain and rut normally mean movement where I hunt.

Been known to ease a little "Powernap" in listening to the rain on that Tin

Been known to ease a little "Powernap" during the rain, under clear skies, in the bone chilling cold, and in the nice warm sun. I'm almost always alert for the first hour of light and the last. Outside of that, all bets are off. A good deer-blind nap should not be denied.

Hunt. Only lightning slows me down.

Biggest deer my dad ever saw was when he woke himself up snoring one warm afternoon following a big bbq lunch. Buck was staring right at trying to figure out what the heck was making all that noise.

^ ^ ^ ^ this ^ ^ ^ ^

i'll always be out. the animals are outside all day every day

I will be in the blind, unless it is flooding.

Easy to say for you fellas hunting in nice box blinds. Try doing it in a climber tree stand

Well shoot STX, if the blind is flooding, get out and sit on the ground ...Lawd

In the blind its even better if its a bit chilly

went out in an open tripod in a light rain, that turned to a monsoon for several hours, I was fairly prepared but drenched, so why not stay? Out of nowhere walks a large 10 point into an oat patch that I hadn't ever seen before (not sure where he came from even). BANG! field dressed him and started dragging him, got to the creek and realized all the heavy rains had it rolling about 2+ feet deep. After close review and a couple steps, I decided I could make it across safely. Made it to just shy of the middle when the gut cavity of the large 10 point filled up with the rushing water, (similar to a parachute filling up with air) and down stream my trophy starts to head with me in tow. I hang on for dear life and get better footing, after the next 8 to 10 steps, I finally get to the slower moving other side ... whew! It took me another 15 minutes to drag it up the other side of the creek. another several hundred yards to get the truck before loading it...

Yes, they move in the most inclement weather, you just have to be willing to be out there with them. I am very thankful that there wasn't any lightening while up in the metal tripod or I would have called it much sooner and missed that opportunity.

Saturday morn is supposed to be clear and 45. No rain predicted here. I'll be in the blind for sho.

Killed several deer after the rain stopped. Especially if it rained all night.
You NEED to be in the stand as it stops/slows down.
Yes, Walter set me up with a Box T enclosed "condo in the woods" a few years back.