Hunting Sense

Waking up to rain on your day to go hunting is always disappointing. Even if you decide to brave the weather, sitting for hours in a tree stand while getting drenched, the deer aren’t likely to be braving it with you. You may sit all day and never see a thing.

It doesn’t have to be that way though. A rainy day is a perfect opportunity for you to abandon your stand and hit the ground in pursuit of the deer. They’re still out there but instead of coming to you, you have to go to them. You’re likely to find them either bedded down or browsing near a bedding area.

Rain interferes with the two things deer rely on the most, their sharp hearing and keen sense of smell. It also makes it possible for you to move quietly through leaves you normally wouldn’t be able to if they weren’t wet. Rain can also help in keeping your scent from blowing all through the woods. Both of these help you have an even better advantage against the deer’s already weakened defenses.

There are a few important things to remember when you decide to still hunt or stalk a deer.

Make sure you walk slowly, stopping every few steps to look around and try to spot a deer. Be aware of where you’re placing your feet, making sure you’re not going to step on a branch that will snap and alert any deer of your presence. Keep an eye open for the horizontal lines of the deer’s back against the vertical lines of the trees (horizontal lines are something that seldom occur naturally in the woods and are a good way to spot a deer).

When you do spot a deer, continue to get within shooting distance by moving slowly and quietly. If the deer looks in your direction, freeze and don’t move. Also, drop your gaze so your eyes don’t meet his. Only move or look at the deer when it looks away.

When you are in a good position, take your shot.

Although it may sound simple, still hunting or stalking a deer takes a lot of skill. You may not get the hang of it the first time, so it may be a good idea to practice the technique in the off season when it doesn’t matter if you’re spotted. Once you get the hang of it though, these techniques can be quite successful. Add in some rain and move out of your stand using them and you may end up with a nice deer instead of just going home drenched.

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