Rules of thumb that didn't work out for you

[blackveltbowhunter]

I dont think the idea " Blacktails love the rain." Has a ton of weight.
Not to be confused with "the best hunting days are rainy." Which can be true.

They are similar, but not exactly linked. My experience is that temp swings, (drops) barometric pressure and even moon phase are more important to deer movement than simply if its raining or not. In the PNW these variables often go hand in hand with rainfall. But if those conditions are present without rainfall the deer are just as active.

Rain gives hunters an advantage in noise suppression etc. So while I do love hunting blacktails in the rain, I dont believe the blacktails love it as much.

 

[Hoodie]

I'd agree with the above comment on rain. I haven't seen more movement on wet days.

I've heard people say that in higher elevations like where I hunt, the windy days (which often come with rain) blow a lot of old man's beard moss off the trees. That's a popular food source so it could get them up feeding, but I'm not sure that's the real reason people see more deer.

Just like rain, wind makes it much easier to still hunt.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Depends on how much rain we are talking about, and how long its been happening.

They sure seem a lil more willing to get out in the open when its a nice steady rain

I used to have a few places that were almost a guarantee once it started raining

 

[ReddingArcher]

Depends on how much rain we are talking about, and how long its been happening.

They sure seem a lil more willing to get out in the open when its a nice steady rain

I used to have a few places that were almost a guarantee once it started raining

I have a theory on why they are out in the open a bit more in a steady rain. I think it messes with their sense of smell and hearing and want to be able to see what’s going on around them.

 

[RockAndSage]

I have a theory on why they are out in the open a bit more in a steady rain. I think it messes with their sense of smell and hearing and want to be able to see what’s going on around them.

And to see each other and that body language...

If I were suddenly deaf and couldn't speak or smell, I'd want eyes on the crew for sure. This theory of yours makes a lot of sense. Not sure if it's actually part of what's going on, but at the theoretical level it makes as much sense as any other reason they'd be up and about.

Part of why it makes sense, is that I do know really big, mature mule deer bucks will often post themselves up high, overlooking the "neighborhood" of other deer below. Ideal spots for mature muleys are places where they have their back to a wall of some kind that makes it difficult to be attacked from that direction, with prevailing wind wafting in from that same direction. They like their surroundings to be loud, like scree or dense brush, and they like their views below to be fairly good. They use the junior herd below as a kind of danger magnet and early warning system - a predator will see the herd first and see them as the best opportunities. The mature bucks up above will key in on abnormal sounds, snort alerts, or hoof thumps from the herd below while they're snoozing, and will be actively gazing at different parts of the day chewing their cud. But they'll key in on movement of any kind, especially like a bunch of ears going forward, or actual bolting. If they detect threat, they just sneak out in the opposite direction.

What I haven't had a chance to do, is observe any of that in rain - but I strongly suspect that in a driving, loud rain that was killing their ability to use their nose and ears, they'd be a lot more alert visually and on edge. Combine that with less punishing sun, and it would encourage them to be up and about a bit, at least for the normal herd deer.

I'm going to post in the Mule Deer forum about muleys and rain, to see if anyone has noticed any patterns of them being up and about more.

 

[proslogion]

I've never hunted Blacktail, but I look forward to in the future - thanks for sharing your experience