How about the rain.....

[Slamdog]

Heading back to camp for the usual this weekend. I've always liked the rain when hunting. Much quieter while still hunting and pushing small sections. I wondered how the rest of you are going to hunt with the rain coming in. Thanks. Lance

[1894]

Wool coat , hat , pants , and a good pair of boots
I prefer the rain or snow to the warm and sunny days.

[HUNTER]

Ameristep Doghouse blind ... nice to have a roof over head . I gots a fear of hights so a tree stand w/ someting like a BuckWing Porta Roof is not an option ...

I hate the first floor would rather have the penthouse

[ADKHUNTER]

Wool coat , hat , pants , and a good pair of boots
I prefer the rain or snow to the warm and sunny days.

Ditto that. Anything but the warm weather.

ED

[thebluesman5748]

Hello Lance... The rain brings with it an aura of mystique when walking the big woods. To me, the slightest movement is detected, and it's sometimes a bit spooky in the pines where I tend to find more deer on a rainy day. I look forward to a very slow, steady rain.... The downside, you can't hear much of anything... It's all visual.

Drawback: I like to "scope an area" while stillhunting, and all that moisture becomes a problem with the scope fogging. You sling your weapon, and when you pick it up, the eyelet is full of water. That's hunting I guess.....

On a clear day you deal with all the colors of the spectrum, and the human eye has difficulty zeroing in on the natural colors of our prey. It's almost surreal. On rainy days, everything is grey, as in black & white photography, and you don't have to deal with colors in the spectrum. It's that "movement" that catches your eye.

Another problem: I like to stay dry, and I always wear 100% wool.(the fabric is just so quiet, noiseless) Keeps your ars warm when wet, but it sure gets heavy. Rubber or synthetic raingear may keep you dry, but they sure make a lot of noise. Raindrops sound like someone driving nails when they hit your coat, and we all know that sound when branches slide across raingear..... zzzzzzzzzzzzz

I always pack my whisperlite backpacking stove when hunting. There's plenty of water around where I hunt, and on rainy days, that hot cup of soup and hot chocolate are priceless throughout the day. You can boil water and rehydrate packaged foods and feast out there on those long dreary days. Keeps the dampness out....... It may give your position away but that's only temporary..... Keep moving

[adkmoose]

[QUOTE=thebluesman5748;79937]
Drawback: I like to "scope an area" while stillhunting, and all that moisture becomes a problem with the scope fogging. You sling your weapon, and when you pick it up, the eyelet is full of water. That's hunting I guess.....

A much SAFER way of "Scoping an area " would be to use binoculars . Every hunter safety course teaches to never use your scope for that purpose.
Some may consider getting a rifle pointed in their direction offensive , if not criminal.

[Wldrns]

I like to "scope an area" while stillhunting, and all that moisture becomes a problem with the scope fogging. You sling your weapon, and when you pick it up, the eyelet is full of water.

I agree with adkmoose. I can't believe you do this and I hope I am never in the area when you do. I was brought up hunting with my dad from a very young age, when he taught me that the muzzle of a gun will never, not ever even for a second point in a direction where I don't know exactly what it is pointed at, and it is a safe direction always. If I was following him on a trail I was made conscious of even a momentary pointing at the person in front of me while carrying the gun at my side... a big no-no not to be excused.

[St.Regis]

I agree with adkmoose and Wldrns...I use binoculars to "scope an area", not my gun.

[trouthunter]

[QUOTE=adkmoose;79938]

Drawback: I like to "scope an area" while stillhunting, and all that moisture becomes a problem with the scope fogging. You sling your weapon, and when you pick it up, the eyelet is full of water. That's hunting I guess.....

A much SAFER way of "Scoping an area " would be to use binoculars . Every hunter safety course teaches to never use your scope for that purpose.
Some may consider getting a rifle pointed in their direction offensive , if not criminal.

I agree, "scoping an area" is a HUGE Bozo no no.Please get a pair of binoculars. Take a minute and think about what you are doing while scoping a area. What if a DEC officer or any law enforcement officer is approaching and sees you pointing your gun at them? While most are aware of this reckless practice and wont draw their weapon and fire back you can sure understand why it makes them feel uneasy.
When hunting rain I also opt for wool and focus on dense pine areas.

[fisher39]

[QUOTE=trouthunter;79945]

I agree, "scoping an area" is a HUGE Bozo no no.Please get a pair of binoculars. Take a minute and think about what you are doing while scoping a area. What if a DEC officer or any law enforcement officer is approaching and sees you pointing your gun at them? While most are aware of this reckless practice and wont draw their weapon and fire back you can sure understand why it makes them feel uneasy.
When hunting rain I also opt for wool and focus on dense pine areas.

Whoa, you folks are making it sound like bluesman said he shoots at anything that moves or something along those lines. OF COURSE everyone knows you SHOULD use binoculars, but if you are hunting in an area that few others hunt and keep your finger away from the trigger, the risks are negligible. Simply walking with a loaded gun or shooting a deer on flat ground (where you aren't sure where the bullet will ultimately come to a stop) is probably many times more dangerous.

[trouthunter]

[QUOTE=fisher39;79947]

Whoa, you folks are making it sound like bluesman said he shoots at anything that moves or something along those lines. OF COURSE everyone knows you SHOULD use binoculars, but if you are hunting in an area that few others hunt and keep your finger away from the trigger, the risks are negligible. Simply walking with a loaded gun or shooting a deer on flat ground (where you aren't sure where the bullet will ultimately come to a stop) is probably many times more dangerous.

I never intended to make it sound like bluesman shoots at anything that moves. Where are you getting that from?
I agree there are other things hunters do quite often that are probaly more dangerous but, in your own words "everyone knows you should use binoculars". Better safe than sorry.

[Robony]

Winter rain, now tell me why, Summers fade, and roses die.
The answer came; the wind and rain.
Golden hills, now veiled in grey, Summer leaves have blown away
Now what remains? The wind and rain.

[adkmoose]

[QUOTE=fisher39;79947][QUOTE=trouthunter;79945]

the risks are negligible.

What exactly is your definition of negligible ?
Would you be happy if he was "Scoping " in your direction?

[lumberzac]

I think the point that one should not be “scoping“ has been made. Now lets get back on topic.

Personally I don’t go out if it is raining as I have seldom seen deer when it has been raining. I do look forward to getting out when it’s snowing and is one of my favorite times to hunt.

[wildbrookies]

I guess, I`ll thrown in my nickels worth also...


If its not a steady downpour ..I like hunting in a light rain..especially, if the woods are very dark and gloomy and foggy...I`ve seen two of the biggest bucks on hunts in the rain...the first one ,I unfortunately filled my tag the week before up northern zone on a small buck and was hunting on a rainy morning in the southern zone ,when this huge 8 pointer walked down the trail I was overlooking and I had to let it go ,it came within bow range and it was rifle season ...very tough pill to swallow ...the second one was on another rainy ,dark gloomy, day with a few inches of snow already on the ground causing a ten foot high fog above the ground...this big buck must`ve quietly came in behind me,I never saw it until it was already slipping by me behind a huge deadfall ...I can still picture the huge white rack and thick body , it offered me no good clear shot behind the deadfall ,so, I waited and as quietly and mysteriously as it appeared it disappeared ...I think, the big boys and all deer in general, will be more apt to move during such dim lighted,awful ,dreary conditions ......these big guys are mostly nocturnal deer during the southern zone, so ,unless you put drives on to kick them out of their beds, the only other way ,is to go out on those rainy,dark days...just a thought and hopefully gets you guys out when the weather is not the greatest and alot of the other hunters are snuggled up on the couch watching football or hunting shows..

Wb