Are white tail deer active when it is raining or drizzling outside?

Question

Would this be a good time to hunt? bow/ gun.

Answer 1

They are somewhat less active in the rain, but a slight drizzle doesn't even have an effect on their cycles. If the rain comes down hard, you will still see Whitetails that are on the move heading towards their bedding area. I hunt with conventional firearms,Bow hunt and Black Powder hunt in the rain. I've killed quite a few Deer over the years this way. If you are going to be out hunting already, it doesn't take a lot of additional equipment to continue to hunt if it rains. I just pack a lightweight camo poncho to keep the water to a minimum and protect my gun or bow from being directly in the rain.

Answer 2

Deer remain active when it is raining as long as it is not pouring down. They aren't bothered by drizzling rain and I have had some of my best shots when it was drizzly and overcast. Deer's activities are driven by light. They feed early in the morning and late in the afternoon and evening. During the middle of the day, while not totally inactive, they seem to prefer to bed down at this time. Because rainy days result in subdued light, the deer remain active longer than on sunny days. Yep, light rain can be a good thing for the hunter.

Answer 3

Deer Hunting In The Rain

Answer 4

I don't think they are more active, usually they will bed down under some trees or some cover. I like to hunt in the rain though for a few reasons.
1) Nobody else is out there
2) rain soaked leaves are nice and quiet
3) the sound of the rain drowns out the sound of you walking.

The only negative that I have is that you have to tear down your gun when you get home so that you don't have any water sitting inside the action

Answer 5

Deer have to remain active almost all the time (they have to eat to keep their body temperatures, especially in adverse conditions). It will take a pretty heavy storm or wind to keep deer bedded down. As the other guys mentioned a bit above, rain also gives you a little bit of an advantage. They hear you or smell you as easily, and with rain comes more movement (mostly through wind)...it is harder to you see you moving, because everything around you is moving too.

If you are concerned about your gun getting wet, I would suggest using car wax. Put that on the gun, and the rain just slides right off. (you'll still need to clean it, of course, but the gun won't rust while you're in the field.)

Answer 6

Deer do travel in the rain, but mush less than normal. Usually right after a rainy day or a few rainy days they will move quite a bit because it makes it easier for them to chew the grass into cud (food to be regurgitated and chewed again). This also allows them to take in water when eating the wet grass. It also depends on the time of year it is...most likely, rain will not stop a doe in heat or a buck on the prowl of a doe in heat.

Answer 7

Yes they will move as long as it is not raining to hard. A little drizzle is my favorite and most productive time to hunt. It washes away your sent and theirs from predators. Just make a good shot and start tracking a little sooner, but go slow and quiet.

Answer 8

My experiences are about the same as JD's. I have seen deer ignoring a light drizzle, too.

Answer 9

Their behavior seems sensible. Not to get too heavily into anthropomorphism, but they seem to bed down mostly but get up when they get too miserable and need to warm up. I like to still hunt, even with a bow, which is not exactly the most productive method, and I seem to have better luck getting in really close in the rain, where stand hunting seems to be considerably less productive with their decreased activity.

Answer 10

raining or drizzling is the worst time to hunt white tail deer.because when the rain starts they lay down.they know they can't hear you in the woods when it's raining.so they hide and watch.they are smart.