Texas Hunting Forum

Deer movement before, during, and after rain....

Posted By: Buckfever_1983

Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 04:28 PM

Of course on the opening weekend of bow season they are calling for rain on Saturday and Sunday. Ive read that deer move well before and after heavy rains just curious on yalls experiences and opinions.
Posted By: John Humbert

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 04:36 PM

I actually have pics from my game cams this year of multiple deer under the feeder while it is raining.

Deer don't know that rain that is coming is "heavy" or not. However, if it has been raining heavy for a while, after the rain stops - most animals will get up and shake off the coats to remove excess water to keep the underhair dry where it can insulate better. They usually move around a bit when doing this.

If your hunting area has ravines or washouts, a heavy rain can cause rising water in the bottom - any animals in the ravine or draw are very attuned to this and will move - even during a heavy rain - to get to higher elevations away from rising water - even if the "rising water" is only an inch or two - they know they need to take no chances and leave at the very first sign.

Posted By: LandPirate

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 04:40 PM

Especially after rain. Watch the bucks checking their scrapes and re-marking them.

If you have cold weather and prolonged wet conditions, they're going to be moving.

They'll bed up during a heavy rain but when it ends they'll be moving. Several years ago, around Thanksgiving, we had days of solid rain. The Sunday following Thanksgiving, at 1pm, the rain stopped. I headed out to my place, corned a sendero, parked the truck and walked back to my blind. When I got there I found a big ol' mature 11 pt standing in the sendero eating corn. I shot him, field dressed him, loaded him and off to the processor. I was home before 4pm.
Posted By: ZombieGun

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 04:54 PM

If its a hazy light mist, stay out in it as long as it lasts. They move like crazy in that stuff.
Posted By: Buckfever_1983

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 04:56 PM

Thats what I'm hoping for. First time bow hunting so it should be interesting. We'll see how the weather holds out
Posted By: txshntr

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 04:57 PM

I love hunting in the rain.
Posted By: buck-snort

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 05:05 PM

Hunting after a good rain is about the only time I see hogs at my lease. So I am hoping to get to hunt in the rain as well. Seems like everything moves more after a good rain
Posted By: Huntsmanda

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 05:21 PM

About normal movement before rain, no movement during the rain (steady or heavy) and good movement after a (steady or heavy) rain. Light rain/mist is usually pretty good too.
Posted By: ChrisB

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 05:29 PM

Originally Posted By: ZombieGun
If its a hazy light mist, stay out in it as long as it lasts. They move like crazy in that stuff.

This. My best day last year was a misting rain all day.
Posted By: hook_n_line

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 05:32 PM

My favorite days are misty or light rain. The deer move along the tree lines all day.
Posted By: stxranchman

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 05:33 PM

Rain has been such a rare event most deer look at it as a weather change as it is. I have had great look hunting in rain or drizzle. Had a hunter kill a upper 190's buck opening afternoon in the pooring rain. He and another buck ate corn for 40 minutes in the rain before the hunter could get his shot at him. It rained almost 3" that evening. I love to rattle/hunt in mid 40's temps and drizzle in the rut in South Texas.
Posted By: Texas Dan

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 06:18 PM

IMO, one of the best times to be in the woods is right after a lengthy rain, albeit heavy or light.
Posted By: DudleyDoRight76

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/27/12 09:19 PM

We'll find out this weekend!!
Posted By: Deerdown99

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 01:43 AM

Originally Posted By: E. TX Daddy
We'll find out this weekend!!



Yeap Me 2 going to rattle with my cheap bag and in the rain im sure....
Posted By: rifleman

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 01:45 AM

I;ve had them out on the feeders in heavy rain and lightning storms.. usually see them around feeders before rains & on the food plots after rain...after rains is also when the hogs decide to come out in full force.
Posted By: BUD MAN

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 02:31 AM

Originally Posted By: txshntr
I love hunting in the rain.


X2
Posted By: gollygee

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 12:26 PM

Originally Posted By: Texas Dan
IMO, one of the best times to be in the woods is right after a lengthy rain, albeit heavy or light.


X2
Posted By: Texas Dan

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 01:16 PM

I'll never forget the time when I had climbed down out of my tripod early one morning to find cover during a heavy rainstorm that came through just ahead of a weak front. After it slacked up, I walked over to my tripod and started back up the ladder. It overlooked a food plot with heavy brush around it so that you couldn't see into the food plot until you had taken several steps up the ladder. Before I reached the stop step, I looked back over my should and caught glimpse of a spike buck that was already stepping into the food plot. Having my back to him, all I could do was watch him bounce off into the brush.

Since that point, I've always positioned my tripods so I can see the area that I will be watching as I climb the laddder.
Posted By: 4Weight

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 01:52 PM

Originally Posted By: John Humbert
I actually have pics from my game cams this year of multiple deer under the feeder while it is raining.

Deer don't know that rain that is coming is "heavy" or not. However, if it has been raining heavy for a while, after the rain stops - most animals will get up and shake off the coats to remove excess water to keep the underhair dry where it can insulate better. They usually move around a bit when doing this.

If your hunting area has ravines or washouts, a heavy rain can cause rising water in the bottom - any animals in the ravine or draw are very attuned to this and will move - even during a heavy rain - to get to higher elevations away from rising water - even if the "rising water" is only an inch or two - they know they need to take no chances and leave at the very first sign.



Agreed I have pics from the 16 and 17th when rain hit my lease. Deer are at the protein mid afternoon. Multiple deer in an out of the feeder pen.
Posted By: Red_Breast

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 03:59 PM

My daughter and I were bow hunting out of a deer stand last year during a major thunder storm. I was really thinking the stand might blow over. I told her as soon as it stops raining we are out of here. When it stopped raining we started packing everything up. I look out of the window one more time and saw three does at 15 yards. Couple minutes later we had a doe on the ground.
Posted By: Jlambe

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 04:09 PM

I love the rain, if you don't mind being a little wet. If it is early in the morning and it is raining, it is perfect for slipping into your blind being unheard, seen or smelled. Then when it stops the action happens.
Posted By: jshouse

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 04:41 PM

Originally Posted By: Jlambe
I love the rain, if you don't mind being a little wet. If it is early in the morning and it is raining, it is perfect for slipping into your blind being unheard, seen or smelled. Then when it stops the action happens.


yep, really hoping for a good hard rain for a few hours till about 7am
Posted By: Kingpin

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 05:35 PM

Shot my best buck last year in a steady rain. Not only that, it was about 10:00 AM. Everyone else was back in camp.
Posted By: Texifornia

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/28/12 10:09 PM

When a bad storm is coming before and after. If its a light front then during and after.
Posted By: DLALLDER

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/30/12 02:31 AM

They weren't moving in the area I hunt today. The rain started about 8am and kept it up so the wife & I got out of the stands about 4pm.
Posted By: BOONER

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/30/12 02:40 AM

I saw 8 bucks and 13 does and fawns in Comanche county this afternoon. One 10 I been watching that will go 145_150 but he didnt get closwr than 40 yards and lots of eyes watching. Maybe in the morning
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/30/12 02:45 AM

Ready to get down there. Going to have to go by game cameras to see what they did the due to this rain. Probably going Monday now.
Posted By: bassman110

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/30/12 03:42 AM

Well all I can say is they weren't moving in the rain today where I was hunting. Just got back to the house after sitting in a climbing tree stand all afternoon/evening. I had a rain suit on but I was one wet puppy. The only thing I seen was a BIG red tail hawk and a grey fox. Besides these I didn't even see or hear any crows. To top it off my truck died in front of the garage just a I pulled into the driveway. I think it is likely the alternator. I guess it just wasn't meant to be today. But I was still pumped to get out in the woods.
Posted By: orpco

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 09/30/12 12:40 PM

Originally Posted By: Red_Breast
My daughter and I were bow hunting out of a deer stand last year during a major thunder storm. I was really thinking the stand might blow over. I told her as soon as it stops raining we are out of here. When it stopped raining we started packing everything up. I look out of the window one more time and saw three does at 15 yards. Couple minutes later we had a doe on the ground.

I'd discourage you from hunting in an elevated blind during thunderstorm if lightening is present. I have had them hit by lightening. It blew a jagged hole about 6 in in diameter in .5 in plywood. You could see where it had arced between the bolts holding it to the frame. Safety first.
Posted By: DudleyDoRight76

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 10/01/12 02:10 AM

Well we got over ten inches this weekend and hunted every morning and evening. We didn't see anything before, during, or after the rain except dead pigs!
Posted By: wacorusty

Re: Deer movement before, during, and after rain.... - 10/01/12 01:12 PM

The rain finally slowed down Saturday afternoon where I was. I went out and sat about 5PM during light to heavy mist in my waders. Deer were up and moving for an hour at least before dark. Yesterday morning they were at it again from sunup to about 8:30AM. I'll never miss an evening or morning hunt after a multi-hour rain!
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