Post by: Angry Perch on October 17, 2019, 11:00:03 AM
Post by: OutHouse on October 17, 2019, 11:08:37 AM
Post by: L8NITE on October 17, 2019, 11:10:37 AM
Post by: npaull on October 17, 2019, 11:22:33 AM
It's so much easier to hunt them when there's a lot of rain noise to cover your motion. And they move much more during the day.
Post by: boneaddict on October 17, 2019, 11:44:38 AM
Post by: 4fletch on October 17, 2019, 11:52:53 AM
Post by: Whisker Biscuit on October 17, 2019, 12:29:05 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 17, 2019, 12:30:52 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 17, 2019, 07:45:45 PM
I'm not sure they love rain (or even better - wind and rain) as much as it makes them nervous when they are bedded in the timber. As we hunters know, the sound of rain covers our noise and allows us to travel with much more stealth in the deer woods. Also, a steady rain is pretty good at knocking down scent, both of which leaves the deer lacking a couple important senses it uses as primary defense against predators. When it is really windy and rainy (think blowing tree tops, knocking tree top trunks, limbs crashing down in the forest etc.), the deer are now overburdened with so much noise that they feel defenseless in the smell and hearing sense categories, which requires that they stand up and use their last defense against predators: sight!
So when it gets ugly out there, BT hunters go in the woods because they see more deer (because the deer are now standing up or up moving to safer/quieter localities, or feeding quickly before the real storm hits etc.) Early in the season, they'll often just wait out the mild rains in their beds. If it is cold out, the rain also cools their bodies which requires they replace the calories and thus, feed more often. Add in the coming rut and bucks beginning to cruise for does - late October rains can be just what the doctor ordered for finding deer up and moving during the daylight hours.
Post by: JakeLand on October 17, 2019, 08:00:17 PM
Post by: 444Marlin on October 17, 2019, 09:45:46 PM
I think the same goes for blacktail. They really could care less about rain.
Post by: slowhand on October 17, 2019, 10:35:07 PM
Post by: Martinhunter on October 18, 2019, 01:25:18 AM
Post by: opdinkslayer on October 18, 2019, 06:13:41 AM
I’ve found that before nasty,a break in nasty or right after nasty is most productive for hunting.
A couple things about nasty weather I’ve figured out over 35 years of blacktail hunting. When it’s storming they are either on the rapid move going somewhere or they find some bigger reprod to lay up in to get out of the wind/rain. Using optics on nasty days is a challenge. Deer move more all day on days with weather.
Having said that I’ve killed my best buck on a bluebird day & our biggest numbers seen days have come without rain as well. So go figure🤷♂️ Fact is they only give you so many days/weekends a season so you have to play the hand that’s dealt & be out there. Personally I love a nasty night followed by calming winds & showers at daybreak. We will see what this weekend brings as I saw a pic of a big buck taken yesterday late morning during some............breaks in the rainy weather.
Post by: Soady on October 18, 2019, 07:36:23 AM
Exactly right, black tails move during and between the breaks during nasty weather either going to refuge or getting up and stretching, browsing or moving again to better refuge. With the foul weather gear we enjoy today why not use it and get after them? As the previous poster said you only get so many days. During modern season I scout black tail bucks during foul weather as my muzzy season is just around the corner in some of the best foul weather all year
When I know where they’re going and coming from my odds go up considerably leaving me more time to concentrate on their home ground refuge. After all the pressure they are getting all from the early season hunters they are no longer on their early preseason scouting areas. Toss in foul weather and they move into those areas.
Good luck to all!
Post by: JimmyHoffa on October 18, 2019, 08:02:35 AM
Post by: The Marquis on October 18, 2019, 08:31:48 AM
Post by: Spuddieselwwu on October 18, 2019, 09:51:27 AM
Anybody ever hunted blacktail in the thunderstorm?
Yes - shot my first blacktail in a thunder/wind/hail storm. Oct 30, 2012. It was crazy. Was slow creeping through an alder patch trail and looked off the trail 40 yards and he literally stood up from his bed, shook off like a dog would and I popped him. He didn't know I was there until he heard my safety come off. He ran 50 yds and expired in a super steep creek - was a PITA getting him out of there - but fun.
Post by: npaull on October 18, 2019, 09:52:46 AM
Quote
I'm not sure they love rain (or even better - wind and rain) as much as it makes them nervous when they are bedded in the timber. As we hunters know, the sound of rain covers our noise and allows us to travel with much more stealth in the deer woods. Also, a steady rain is pretty good at knocking down scent, both of which leaves the deer lacking a couple important senses it uses as primary defense against predators. When it is really windy and rainy (think blowing tree tops, knocking tree top trunks, limbs crashing down in the forest etc.), the deer are now overburdened with so much noise that they feel defenseless in the smell and hearing sense categories, which requires that they stand up and use their last defense against predators: sight!
So when it gets ugly out there, BT hunters go in the woods because they see more deer (because the deer are now standing up or up moving to safer/quieter localities, or feeding quickly before the real storm hits etc.) Early in the season, they'll often just wait out the mild rains in their beds. If it is cold out, the rain also cools their bodies which requires they replace the calories and thus, feed more often. Add in the coming rut and bucks beginning to cruise for does - late October rains can be just what the doctor ordered for finding deer up and moving during the daylight hours.
I think this is likely spot-on. Regardless of whether they "like" it or "hate" it because they have to be more in the open, the fact is they are MUCH more visible and MUCH more approachable/stalkable in bad weather. The weekend hunting is going to be awesome.
Post by: opdinkslayer on October 18, 2019, 02:15:48 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 18, 2019, 10:55:04 PM
Things that factor into how a deer responds to a storm likely include:
Rate of barometric pressure drop.
Terrain of the area in question
Wind direction in relation to the terrain
Wind speed
Time of day
Rate of rainfall
Probably about twenty other factors as well.
Being flexible and considering alternate strategies is probably huge in bad weather. Some people like to hunt ridge tops in the changing winds because the deer will often get up and re-bed on the other side of the ridge as winds change. Some like hunting cuts when it gets ugly, 'cause the deer bail out of the timber when the wind is blasting. Many huge mature bucks are taken from small forest opening during massive storms, because they apparently go there to stand and watch for predators while the storm is raging. '
It is a well known fact that deer are often very active just prior to and just after a major storm. In the middle of a constant storm with little change in wind direction or other factors, you may just be up against it until things change a bit. I have yet to see a buck up and moving in really bad weather, so while I spit this stuff out, I cannot say with first-hand knowledge that it is correct. Looking like it is going to be a nasty day tomorrow. Good luck all!
Post by: Turner89 on October 18, 2019, 11:08:21 PM
I got skunked that year :chuckle:
Post by: PolarBear on October 18, 2019, 11:17:04 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 18, 2019, 11:25:04 PM
A couple Halloween's ago was a nasty day. I decided to get up on this knob in the middle of a 5 year old cut. I approached with the 15-20mph wind and rain in my face. I got about 30-40ft from the top and realized there was a 2 point bedded down at the top. He never knew I was there until I threw a stick at him. It was early in the morning and wanted his dad.
I got skunked that year :chuckle:
I think that was four Halloweens ago. Nasty, nasty day. I went into big timber next to four year old reprod. I didn't see jack all afternoon, got soaked and went home early 'cause I was too cold to hunt I heard three hunters shots from the reprod while I was sucking in the timber. Bad choice (again) but learned to always have a spare set of dry gear when I hunt, just in case!
Polar Bear, I was thinking of you when I mentioned the ridge tops. Seems storms this early in the season have more unpredictable, less favorable results. What do you think?
Post by: X-Force on October 18, 2019, 11:28:25 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 19, 2019, 09:53:43 PM