Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 08:14:15 AM

Title: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 08:14:15 AM: So where I’m planning on going this weekend looks like it’s going to be rainy.
Am I better off hunting the rain, or up the mountain a bit further into the snow?
Or is precipitation a bad thing for hunting in general?

Should I be looking more so in the woods than clear cuts?

Thanks in advance :)
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Machias on November 09, 2018, 08:17:23 AM: Unless it is a heavy downpour, this time of the year the bucks will not stop moving in the rain. I have killed a couple of real studs in pretty miserable weather. I would hunt edges of cover, but concentrate on funnels.
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: vandeman17 on November 09, 2018, 08:19:36 AM: Quote from: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 08:14:15 AM
So where I’m planning on going this weekend looks like it’s going to be rainy.
Am I better off hunting the rain, or up the mountain a bit further into the snow?
Or is precipitation a bad thing for hunting in general?

Should I be looking more so in the woods than clear cuts?

Thanks in advance :)

Wt or Bt? I would hunt more on where the sign is best and you generally have seen the most deer. Unless the snow is piling up and forcing deer lower, I wouldn't overthink it.
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 08:20:07 AM: Got it, thanks. What are you referring to as funnels tho? Never heard that term before
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 08:20:45 AM: Quote from: vandeman17 on November 09, 2018, 08:19:36 AM
Quote from: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 08:14:15 AM
So where I’m planning on going this weekend looks like it’s going to be rainy.
Am I better off hunting the rain, or up the mountain a bit further into the snow?
Or is precipitation a bad thing for hunting in general?

Should I be looking more so in the woods than clear cuts?

Thanks in advance :)

Wt or Bt? I would hunt more on where the sign is best and you generally have seen the most deer. Unless the snow is piling up and forcing deer lower, I wouldn't overthink it.

Just realized I meant next weekend not this weekend
And also WT
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: vandeman17 on November 09, 2018, 08:21:32 AM: Quote from: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 08:20:07 AM
Got it, thanks. What are you referring to as funnels tho? Never heard that term before

Funnels/pinch points are areas where deer pick because they are the easiest route or the route of least resistance when traveling or escaping.
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Machias on November 09, 2018, 08:40:54 AM: Funnels are terrain features, man made or natural that force deer into a smaller/narrower area. Might be a saddle, or a clearcut that pushes up against a stream that has cover. Lots of things are funnels, fields, clearcuts, water, steep terrain next to benches, etc..
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Machias on November 09, 2018, 09:10:24 AM: https://community.legendarywhitetails.com/blog/mapping-whitetails-05-3-must-hunt-funnels/?fbclid=IwAR37XdftpP9PzwdrviMW4ntxykcAyuSswMaLGs4ipqdO-QL6uGdKvjfnXFA
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 09:43:16 AM: Quote from: Machias on November 09, 2018, 09:10:24 AM
https://community.legendarywhitetails.com/blog/mapping-whitetails-05-3-must-hunt-funnels/?fbclid=IwAR37XdftpP9PzwdrviMW4ntxykcAyuSswMaLGs4ipqdO-QL6uGdKvjfnXFA
This is extremely helpful. Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Machias on November 09, 2018, 09:46:58 AM: Good luck! Make sure you have a grunt tube, VERY effective this time of the year!
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: fishnfur on November 09, 2018, 09:50:26 AM: Snow provides a real opportunity to judge an animal's size based on tracks and pursue a specific animal if so desired. It is an opportunity that lowland westside hunters rarely see. I have no idea how much help it would be to a WT hunter. Similar I would imagine.
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: npaull on November 09, 2018, 09:58:26 AM: In my opinion, all big game hunting is better in the rain. It's quiet, I think it keeps your scent down, and animals seems to move more. There's absolutely *no question* that blacktail hunting is better in the rain.
Title: Re: Deer hunting- rain or snow?
Post by: Scheindogg on November 09, 2018, 10:02:20 AM: Quote from: Machias on November 09, 2018, 09:46:58 AM
Good luck! Make sure you have a grunt tube, VERY effective this time of the year!
Darn it I have “the can” and just ordered (coming on Monday) a rattle bag
But don’t have a grunt tube yet >:(