blacktail and rain

[coastie hunter]

Why is it that blacktail like the rain?completey the upset of whitetail our muleys.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't say they "like" it. In fact I bet they'd prefer to stay dry if they had a choice in the matter. Rain does make for better hunting conditions (sometimes) but that doesn't mean the deer like the rain. I'd say they just "tolerate" it, because they have to. It's where they live.

[D-Rock425]

I read an article some time back about the subject they said the best time to hunt them is on those dark drizzly days 

[coastie hunter]

I wonder if the rain makes them nervous our if they think its later than it really is because its dark.

[Vo2max]

just got out of the woods and it was raining where I live... no deer to be seen this AM unfortunately. However, out of the 2 days I have hunted in the past week both days I saw deer and it was either dawn or dusk yet crystal  clear skies and cool temps (38-42degrees). I think this just supports the theory that Blacktails do not have a pattern as frustrating as that is!

[summit creek]

most b tail bucks ive killed have been in wet nasty conditions

[BOWHUNTER45]

most b tail bucks ive killed have been in wet nasty conditions

 

[deerslyr]

I dont think Ive ever killed a BT buck when it wasnt raining 

[Humptulips]

The best times for me have been  just after a good storm. When the rain stops that first couple hours after the storm have always been good for me.

[coastie hunter]

 The rain worked for my boy and I saturday,I had a good feeling went out sat in the blind and at 4:15 a big mature doe came in 15 yrd shot my 9 year old boy smoked her! a great day I will post pic when I get a chance.

[Turner89]

I wonder if the rain makes them nervous our if they think its later than it really is because its dark.

  I dont think They like the rain. I think it does make them Nervous because they're hearing is not as good from the noise of rain on the leaves. It pushes them into the clearings.
   I was sitting on a rock over a 6 year old clear cut, when it began to down pour.  About 5 minutes into the storm a doe came jumping out of the brush and bedded down at the base of the rock in plane sight untill it quit raining.
   I sure thats why we see more deer in the rain.

[AKBowman]

I wonder if the rain makes them nervous our if they think its later than it really is because its dark.

  I dont think They like the rain. I think it does make them Nervous because they're hearing is not as good from the noise of rain on the leaves. It pushes them into the clearings.
   I was sitting on a rock over a 6 year old clear cut, when it began to down pour.  About 5 minutes into the storm a doe came jumping out of the brush and bedded down at the base of the rock in plane sight untill it quit raining.
   I sure thats why we see more deer in the rain.

 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I wonder if the rain makes them nervous our if they think its later than it really is because its dark.

  I dont think They like the rain. I think it does make them Nervous because they're hearing is not as good from the noise of rain on the leaves. It pushes them into the clearings.
   I was sitting on a rock over a 6 year old clear cut, when it began to down pour.  About 5 minutes into the storm a doe came jumping out of the brush and bedded down at the base of the rock in plane sight untill it quit raining.
   I sure thats why we see more deer in the rain.

 

Coastie Hunter knows ,,,

[Clancy]

Rain covers up a lot of noise you make when creeping through the THICK brush where blackies reside. I actually see more deer right before a large rain storm or right after. seems like they hunker down and wait to move till lets up. 

[ouchfoss]

The best times for me have been  just after a good storm. When the rain stops that first couple hours after the storm have always been good for me.

 

I can think back to several of the deer that I tagged over the years getting shot on some of the nastiest, crappiest and windy days or that calm that happens just as a storm lets up. My guess on the activeness during rainy or windy days is that it makes them lose the effectiveness of one of their senses (hearing) so they make up for it by being up out of their beds. 

[sirmissalot]

I wonder if the rain makes them nervous our if they think its later than it really is because its dark.

  I dont think They like the rain. I think it does make them Nervous because they're hearing is not as good from the noise of rain on the leaves. It pushes them into the clearings.
   I was sitting on a rock over a 6 year old clear cut, when it began to down pour.  About 5 minutes into the storm a doe came jumping out of the brush and bedded down at the base of the rock in plane sight untill it quit raining.
   I sure thats why we see more deer in the rain.

 

Some goes for whitetails. From my experience

[strutnrut1984]

yes i know on our property they come out into the pastures.on the dark drizzly days our just after a big rain and wind storm

[Rainstorm Hunter]

From my experience right before, during, and right after a weather system moves through is the best time to be in the blacktail woods.  Usually they will move at some point between the day before the storm comes in and the day after it moves through.  I think that maybe when it's nasty out they dont feed as much in the middle of the night as they do when it's dry.

[sled]

  Should be able to find out this week if they like the wind and rain.  Anyone going to try it?

[bloodhound]

the rain drops in the timber are loud and annoying when they hit your head, i think they tend to go out in the open where they can hear better and see better do to the noise for that reason alone. and if your gonna get wet ide rather have small drops hit me then big drops falling off the branches.

[_TONY_]

  Should be able to find out this week if they like the wind and rain.  Anyone going to try it?

Yup. Heading out Friday thru Saturday night...

[Bigshooter]

  Should be able to find out this week if they like the wind and rain.  Anyone going to try it?

Yup. Heading out Friday thru Saturday night...

Saw a little 2x3 rutting up 3 does in the neighbors yard today during a down pour and the wind was blowing hard.

[sakoshooter]

I don't think any animal likes rain. It does create better conditions in which a hunter can fool a deer simply because of reduced visibility etc.

[W_Ellison2011]

my father always told me hunting after its rained all night for a couple days is the best for blacktailsbecause, they feed at night with the light of the moon and since its cloudy and raining they don't get to feed thus forcing them to be out and moving during the day time which gives us hunters a better chance of seeing them. Biologically this makes a lot of sense to me. At night they would be hunkered down instead of out feeding since they couldn't see at night and during the day they can finally go out and get something.

[Skyvalhunter]

Simple it's not a matter of liking the rain but more so that they live on the wetside which obviously gets more rain. They adapt to their climate.

[coachcw]

the best time to hunt them for sure. I think they get out in the open more to protect them selves from predators , the fact is we can just so much closer really helps out .

[MDGrand]

I know the president of Rivers West and he hunts every year in Oregon at the same place...apparently a pretty big rainforest that just dumps rain consistently.. In his area he says he needs it to be nasty.. The more rain the more the deer cannot depend on their hearing so they are up and about as opposed to bedding when it's nice.

Not that way everywhere... But seemed to make a lot of sense.

[steen]

I don't prefer it, but I have to weed right after a rain most of the time simply because it rains alot here.  I'm sure the deer have the same choices,  it rains and they have to eat.  I have to weed and sometimes it is soon after a rain.  I'm just thankful I have sany loom.

[lokidog]

Seems like they are out in the open more also because wet branches brushing against them will soak through their hair faster than drops falling which would tend to just run off.  I certainly don't like to bust the wet brush, can't imagine they do either.   

[Smokepole]

I sure find a lot of blacktail beds under big evergreen trees.  I think blacktails really like to stay out of the rain any way they can.  They like to conserve heat and energy like other deer during the bad weather months.  I'd say they like darkness best.  Most of the blacktails I've patterned around here are nocturnal little bastages.  I don't think rain slows them down much, but when it really gets nasty they seem to find a place to hole up.   

[rasbo]

whats uncomfortable to you is the same for them..poring rain get out of the rain..But if ya wanna see some big bucks,go out when its blowing 40 mph or better..The high winds will put the deer out in the open or at least get them out of the timber..Carry a saw and a strap,they are a night time critter, the big guys for sure,till they start thinking with the wrong head...Timber with steep sides and big ferns,,blacktail hunting has got to be the most miserable deer hunting Ive done,but always rewarding..love them guys..goooood eats