Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: rdskns71 on December 01, 2012, 12:11:11 AM

Title: hunting in rain
Post by: rdskns71 on December 01, 2012, 12:11:11 AM: So my son and I want to go out this weekend in 437, this is our first year hunting so it is a big learning curve. I have picked up a lot of good info here so I figured it would be a good place to ask this.

My question is: will this rain and wind that we are getting this weekend effect our chances of harvesting or even seeing deer?

Also, I'm not asking for your honey spots, but does anyone have some decent spots to go in 437, or 407? I think I have found a decent spot but without really knowing what I'm looking for I'm not sure that it is.

Thanks for any help!
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: spin05 on December 01, 2012, 12:12:19 AM: Rain is good for blacktails. Especially if it stops right as you start your hunt
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: PolarBear on December 01, 2012, 12:15:32 AM: I prefer to hunt and have taken most of my blacktails in the rain! My daughter got her first blacktail buck this year in a nasty down pour. It throws their senses off.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: rdskns71 on December 01, 2012, 12:32:52 AM: Alright! guess we will go for it then!!! Thanks for the help! :)
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: RadSav on December 01, 2012, 01:29:24 AM: Quote from: rdskns71 on December 01, 2012, 12:11:11 AM
My question is: will this rain and wind that we are getting this weekend effect our chances of harvesting or even seeing deer?

Yep! It should improve your chances pretty good. Probably don't want to wait long after the shot to start blood trailing unless you know the shot was too far back. But, rain is great stuff for hunting on the westside.

Sorry, I don't have enough time in those areas to help you any. Good luck :tup:
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on December 01, 2012, 06:30:49 AM: I will say this ...I hunt 437 religiously and I prefer wind and rain when it comes to blacktail hunting ...it USUALLY pushes them into more open areas .. But IT IS NOT WORKING :dunno: :bdid: and I have hunted my butt off this late season ..and hard miles at that .. not driving around in my truck where it is warm :chuckle: :chuckle: Back out this morning but it is blowing 90 so if I see him I best arm about a foot to the right :dunno: :yike: Good luck and never give up :tup:

and I would not waste your time in 407 ...it gets pounded hard from Sept thru Dec ....archery muzzzy and rifle :twocents:
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: D-Rock425 on December 01, 2012, 06:39:12 AM: Ill be out looking tomorrow. I'm ready to fill my multi season tag with a lovely blacktail doe :chuckle:.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: rdskns71 on December 01, 2012, 12:55:01 PM: Went out this morning for about 4 hours, didn't see anything but a gut pile. Tried calling while we sat over an opening, walked several miles and nothing. we were out off lake Cavanaugh rd. Oh well try again in a couple days.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: Tbar on December 01, 2012, 12:59:28 PM: Keep at it there are deer throughout that area.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 01, 2012, 06:25:35 PM: rdskns, we're hunting neighbors. I was in the same area today and only saw two twin fawns, cute little guys. I was skunked the rest of the day and it was MISERABLE. I managed to stay out in it since 6:00 until about an hour ago... (soaked to the bone). It was a good day though. Good to hear you and your son are doing this together, good luck next time! If you're interested I'd be happy to share my spot as I've had little luck and am running out of free time to dedicate to Blacktails. I saw a ton of fresh sign this morning, everything you could hope for beside a Buck. P.S. do you drive a green Subaru?
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on December 01, 2012, 06:30:09 PM: I ate my words today ...we seen a few deer and one nice buck and I totally messed up a good day >:( :bash: :bdid:
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: fishngamereaper on December 01, 2012, 06:32:10 PM: If its raining and you are not seeing them try walking the edge of the timber along a 5-7 year old clear cut. They dont like the timber in heavy rain and will feed and bed withing 30 yds of timber all day long.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 01, 2012, 06:34:29 PM: I can understand why they don't like the timber. I went into a stand of timber and had EVERYTHING falling around me. Some of my favorite spots had snags hanging over them. Not cool Nature...not cool!
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: seansfire on December 01, 2012, 06:38:27 PM: tried some still hunting today during the monsoon in the 627. is it better to keep moving during this nasty weather and glassing the edges then ? and is it better to be in the timber hunting out of out in the clearcuts hunting in ? Thanks a million for any tidbits
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: fishngamereaper on December 01, 2012, 06:44:10 PM: Quote from: seansfire on December 01, 2012, 06:38:27 PM
tried some still hunting today during the monsoon in the 627. is it better to keep moving during this nasty weather and glassing the edges then ? and is it better to be in the timber hunting out of out in the clearcuts hunting in ? Thanks a million for any tidbits

627 is my back yard...find a big cut or a couple contected together and start at one corner and just work the outer edges until you have worked the whole area, then turn around and do it the other way...its funny how I see guys hunt a clear cut, they walk in, glass it and then leave and never come back thinking there was nothing there. Blacktails"grey gohsts"...they simply appear from now where..if its been an hout since you where in an area there is a good chance a deer may be there.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: BlacktailBowhunter on December 01, 2012, 10:24:27 PM: Although she only hunted 3 days, my wife had a lot of action in the rain this season and I have numerous trail cam pics of the deer moving during the rain during daylight hours.

What really seems to bugger the deer movement is the wind. Once it gets windy in one of the spots, the deer seem to disapear for a day or two.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: Turner89 on December 01, 2012, 10:38:00 PM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on December 01, 2012, 06:32:10 PM
If its raining and you are not seeing them try walking the edge of the timber along a 5-7 year old clear cut. They dont like the timber in heavy rain and will feed and bed withing 30 yds of timber all day long.
:yeah:
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: BGhunter on December 01, 2012, 10:47:53 PM: I love hunting blacktail in the rain. It seems to push them out into the open but the wind might hurt your chances. I've always had a hard time finding deer and other big game in windy whether.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: rdskns71 on December 02, 2012, 12:28:12 AM: Quote from: furiouzgeorge on December 01, 2012, 06:25:35 PM
rdskns, we're hunting neighbors. I was in the same area today and only saw two twin fawns, cute little guys. I was skunked the rest of the day and it was MISERABLE. I managed to stay out in it since 6:00 until about an hour ago... (soaked to the bone). It was a good day though. Good to hear you and your son are doing this together, good luck next time! If you're interested I'd be happy to share my spot as I've had little luck and am running out of free time to dedicate to Blacktails. I saw a ton of fresh sign this morning, everything you could hope for beside a Buck. P.S. do you drive a green Subaru?

No I was in a black Toyota Camry today,I also have a blue Datsun pickup that I take out.

if you don't mind telling me your spot I won't turn down the help! :-)

Yea I'm surprised he has been so interested in hunting,I thought he would get bored with it but letting him use the call seems to keep him satisfied with being ot there
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 02, 2012, 07:08:12 AM: My wife freaked when I told her I was thinking of giving up my spot! She's really supportive of my hunting addiction. However one of the fawns I saw yesterday was a buckling and he was a beast so I know the genetics of this particular buck I'm chasing have been spread around plenty. I'll get another shot at one of his kids. I'll PM you with my number and the location. I'll be happy to walk you guys around a bit (because it doesn't look like much until you've crawled through some black-berries!) sometime after next weekend (I'm going Elk hunting in the Olympics). That is of course unless my wife has beaten the idea out of me by then ;)
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: seansfire on December 02, 2012, 09:01:18 AM: after a nasty day like yesterday would a nice , wind free morning with the clouds breaking up be a good hunting morning or are they still going to be in hiding ? where i am it aint even raining at the moment.

i hear guys say to look for the beds , what kind of terrain would be good to even look in ? thick swampy areas or big tree areas with needle floors , or ?????????
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: JimmyHoffa on December 02, 2012, 11:56:43 AM: Quote from: seansfire on December 02, 2012, 09:01:18 AM
after a nasty day like yesterday would a nice , wind free morning with the clouds breaking up be a good hunting morning or are they still going to be in hiding ? where i am it aint even raining at the moment.

i hear guys say to look for the beds , what kind of terrain would be good to even look in ? thick swampy areas or big tree areas with needle floors , or ?????????
For the beds, I look for the grassy areas. You can find some areas of grass near the edges of timber, usually I find it in the corners where two timber edges meet. Also, find grass beds in clearcuts. Normally, I find the beds in areas that drain well.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 02, 2012, 12:19:43 PM: Most beds I find are a pile of rotted stump... Specially cedar... Or an area that's a little elevated covered in needles or leaves... During pouring down rain and wind I've even seen them bed and jumped them outta beds tucked up right under a cedar/western fir trees... The smaller ones where the branches almost touch the ground... Or do...

Walked within 5 feet of the tree.... Thought I heard something... Turned around.. A doe and two fawn were just getting up from their nap under a cedar... The forky I shot this year was bedded within 40 yards of me while I sat on stand for @ 45 minutes under a western hemlock.... No clue he was there till he got up and stepped out... Think he was just as surprised..

Really windy conditions they tend to hold up in thick reprod where they don't have to worry about stuff falling on them... Very hard to hunt that...
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: highside74 on December 02, 2012, 02:13:48 PM: Love a little rain. Not a lot of rain.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: rdskns71 on December 03, 2012, 02:07:21 AM: I work third shift, get off at 6am,I am going to go back out when I get of this morning if anyone is interested. Going back to lake Cavanaugh rd unless someone has a better place to try.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: furiouzgeorge on December 03, 2012, 05:56:28 AM: Sorry Rdskns I haven't had a chance to put a map together for you. I'll try to do that early this week. Good luck!!!
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: rdskns71 on December 05, 2012, 08:01:44 PM: Well this is the third day this week I have gone out, and still haven't seen any of those elusive deer! Did some hiking on some logging roads Monday morning, found a clear cut that looked good so sat there last couple days, still nothing. I only get to get out about 2 or 3 hours in the morning, wondering if I'm out too early or even to late. I know they are out there seen a couple scat piles and almost positive I found a spot they were bedding down.

Couple days left to get one hoping the next couple will be better.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: Simcoe hunter on December 11, 2012, 08:16:25 PM: rdskns71 please continue you story. Don't hunt your area but am interested in following your exploits. :tup:
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: Flick N Stick on December 11, 2012, 08:34:18 PM: I love hunting in the rain for blackies I feel like it gets um movin more, Go get um :tup:
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: steeleywhopper on December 11, 2012, 08:42:56 PM: Saturday was mild weather and very still, only saw 4 does. Sunday was rain and mild wind. Killed my doe at 7:30am and Killed my buck at 10:45am, saw 9 deer other than those killed. My favorite weather for Blackies is wind and rain, I feel it keeps em moving and most of all it will mask your movement better. Saturday the deer had us pegged and all of them saw us before we were able to spot them, quiet woods with no wind and or rain. Sunday was a different story, rain and a little wind allowed us to sneak up on all the deer we saw accept two. For the record I had a"General deer tag" to fill and a "second doe tag" to fill.
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: S&W38spc on December 12, 2012, 11:08:56 PM: :chuckle: :rolleyes:
Quote from: furiouzgeorge on December 01, 2012, 06:34:29 PM
I can understand why they don't like the timber. I went into a stand of timber and had EVERYTHING falling around me. Some of my favorite spots had snags hanging over them. Not cool Nature...not cool!
Title: Re: hunting in rain
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on December 12, 2012, 11:35:41 PM: Hunting Blacktail after the rut is somewhat like fishing the sound for Blackmouth..

A nasty stormy day that almost blows you off the water can be great if the tide is just right. But a calm beautiful day with the same tide can be boring as hell with no catch.

Some Blacktail will sit out a storm/rain, and others will wander looking for food. Hunting the fringes of the private property around the lake should prove worth while. The key with this time of year is that you get to cover more ground while being a little more noisy since the weather is making a bit of noise for you. I've kilt several Blackies in the rain.

-Steve