Hunting in El Nino Year

[chevy_dog]

Have any of you guys been keeping up with the El Nino predictions for 2014? Looks to be on par with 97/98 wet year. Here is some info:

http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/forecast.html

I have a nice tag in the high mountains of Nevada this year (you can guess it) and have been wondering how this can impact my hunt if it does turn into something we witnessed during the 1997/98 year.

I have some hunts planned for blacktail in California this year also, and if it is anything like 97/98, I am in for a wet one!

If you remember hunting in the West during 97/98, what was your experience like? El Nino is supposed to bring rain, not snow, as I understand it.

 

[Bonedalien]

kinda like last year, that nearly washed away the east half of Colorado. I was in elk camp the whole brutal storm. 9 days. learned about the communities lost at the trail head when we came out. I realy hope we dont ever see that type of rain again this year, or ever.

 

[5MilesBack]

kinda like last year, that nearly washed away the east half of Colorado. I was in elk camp the whole brutal storm. 9 days. learned about the communities lost at the trail head when we came out. I realy hope we dont ever see that type of rain again this year, or ever.

Ya, not even sure how last year would be classified as I haven't seen a Sept like that in all my 49 years. Although I will say that during that two week stretch of rain, I had the best elk hunting I've ever experienced.

 

[Vandal 44]

I think El Nino happened last year, it was the wettest September I could remember. It made for a difficult hunting season. The only good thing about last years wet hunting season was it gave me a chance to test my rain gear and I found out it wasn't very good.

I hope this season isn't like last years

 

[robby denning]

Weather is weather, just gear up and go. Like Vandal 44 said, have good rain gear. Rain & storms can keep pressure down, the woods quiet, animals active- all kinds of advantages. I just make sure I have a great camp and a good book in case I get stuck in there. Be close to your hunt area and if the weather starts to break, get out there, even it's just a few hours. The bucks and bulls will be out after being hunkered down (if the storms are severe) even at mid-day. Think about lightening and flash floods, but all in all, just have great gear and you'll do fine.

 

[Alphaman77]

I hope it's wet all summer we are about to turn to dust where I live. And last year was the best I've ever experienced, as long as you were willing to be where you needed to be when the rain let up. It was great no pressure and perfect stalking.

 

[MuleyFever]

We did have a wet fall last year and I thought the hunting was on par with the previous year. I sure hope it raines a lot. We need the water here in S Utah.

 

[voidecho]

Based on this map from your link above Northern Nevada actually averages less rain in Nov and Dec during El Nino years. Southern Nevada averages considerably more in El Nino years in those months so it kind of depends on where in Nevada you're hunting. The statistics unfortunately don't include the very wett '97/98 El Nino.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/threats2/enso/elnino/ndpstat/nv0.gif

 

[NVCHUKAR]

Where in nevada is your tag? It is still nevada so I doubt you will see more than a days worth of rain or snow. If it does happen it will be fast and heavy.

 

[chevy_dog]

Rubies!

 

[NVCHUKAR]

Rubies seem to generate there own weather. I have seen it snow in mid june on the mountains. For the most august/september are pretty nice weather. You might get a few days of afternoon rain but don't expect rain all day and night every day. That said just be prepared for the worst and have a good hunt.