Do deer move when it's raining?

Do deer move when it’s raining? Let’s find out

Most people don’t go outside when it’s raining. Most animals will seek shelter when a storm is coming. Will deer, though, do the same? When it rains, what do these lovely animals do? Would you believe us if we told you that deer can handle really bad weather and that they can even enjoy looking for food when it’s raining? But this is just a small part of what we will talk about today. Find out why deer move or don’t move in the rain, where they hide during big storms, and if it’s worth it to go deer hunting in the rain.

Do deer move when it’s raining?

Deer are more active when it rains than when the weather is better. Even when it’s raining, deer move around, but not nearly as much as when the weather is better. Their bodies have been changed so they can stay alive in very bad weather. So, deer only think about a drizzle when it rains. Most deer, though, will hide and wait for a stronger wind to pass.

Even when it rains, deer like to be outside. Why? Because many animals eat them, and they may avoid being eaten by predators if they go looking for food when it’s raining. They can move quietly from one place to another because the rain will cover up the noise they make.

On the other hand, if it’s going to rain hard, deer might want to stay away from that one. Why? Even though their bodies can handle rough weather and it might be safer for them to hunt when it’s raining, their nervous system and ears are sensitive to loud sounds. When the weather gets better, they like to go out and look for food.

How do deer make it through bad weather?

Even though a deer’s body is made to handle harsh weather, it can be hard for them to find food during strong storms or gusts. Like other animals, deer can “sense” when it’s going to rain. So, when they think a storm is coming, they start gathering food to eat until it passes.

Do deer move when it's raining? Let's find out

Where do deer go when it’s raining?

Did you know that deer often hide in safe places where they can sleep and think? They might even fall asleep if they’re comfortable enough. Storms do this when they “settle in.” So, where do they go?

Deer like thickets of cedar trees because they are thick and dense, so deer may look for them. If their environment isn’t thick enough, deer will look for places with more trees to hide in. Deer will also use nearby corn fields to hide if they are close enough. For example, tall corn or soybeans make great barriers against the weather. Deer may also come into neighborhoods during storms because they get along well with people. They can go to sheds or barns for safety.

Do deer move when it's raining? Let's find out

Should you go hunting for deer when it’s raining?

Deer hunting in the rain isn’t too hard as long as a storm isn’t coming and the wind isn’t too strong. As long as a storm isn’t coming and the wind isn’t too strong, it shouldn’t be too hard to hunt deer in the rain. If you don’t, it will be hard to move around, and you might not see any deer because they tend to hide in those conditions.

But if it’s only lightly raining, you can just go deer hunting in the woods. We’ve already shown that deer don’t mind moving around in the rain, so you might even get lucky. They also have great eyesight, which lets them move around freely in the rain, fog, or mist. Did you know that white-tailed deer can see about 314 degrees in all directions? So, anyone coming up behind them will be visible to them.

Hunting a deer in the rain 

Even though rain is bad for deer, it is good for hunters because it makes deer less able to hear. When the weather is bad, deer can’t stay in one place for too long because the sound of the rain will make it hard for them to hear and scare them. Rain may damage a deer’s sense of smell because it washes away smells and makes it harder for them to “smell” danger.

If you want to go hunting for deer when it’s raining, make sure you have a waterproof blind and the right clothes. Bring something to cover yourself with while you wait for the deer, as well as patience since no one knows how long it will take to find a deer.

Rain not only makes the ground wet, but it also dampens a hunter’s underground camp. Many of us plan our vacations all year long for this short season that we love and are proud of. Also, when it starts to rain, our chances of getting that big buck on our trail camera go down very quickly. Even though it’s not ideal, when done right, hunting in the rain can be very strategic.

Do deer move when it's raining? Let's find out

Rain does affect hunting?

Let’s make something clear so that no one gets confused. Rain does affect hunting, yes. But rain doesn’t affect deer very much. Once the rain stops, deer will still need to eat and go about their daily lives, but it may change the times when they are usually active. Whitetail deer are always moving and doing things, except when there is bad weather like a storm or a lot of wind. So, if you don’t mind a little rain, you might be able to catch that huge buck on your trail camera just as it stops.

 Deer don’t really like strong winds or pouring rain since they like to move when they can hear what’s going on around them. Because of this, try not to be sad just because it’s raining and you took the day off to go hunting. Instead of listening to your friend complain about the weather, be ready to adjust to the situation and make a lot of money.

Remember that when the rain stops, the big bucks will start to move. It also means that they will be moving throughout the day, which is more important. Use the rain to your advantage because it is one of the few things that will speed up the day. Also, keep in mind that, as was already said, many hunters won’t be able to take advantage of this weather, giving bucks another reason to move. Wet leaves make bucks move around less in a planned way, which is another reason why there are fewer hunters and more activity during the day. Because of this, they will travel more freely and stop stopping sometimes or whenever they hear a noise.

Do deer move when it's raining? Let's find out

How to hunt a deer in rain easily in rain?

You, the hunter, will have the advantage over the deer because the wind and rain will make it harder for the deer to hear and smell. We’ve put together a list of important tips, requirements, and ideas to help you hunt whitetails when it’s raining.

First, if you want to hunt in the rain, you need to be ready. When it starts to rain, you should have good rain clothing, a waterproof blind, or anything else to keep you dry. When hunting whitetails, it’s worth getting a little wet, but no hunter wants to get completely soaked. So, before you go on a rainy quest, make sure you are ready and have everything you need to stay warm and (relatively) dry.

After you have the right gear, make sure you plan to sit for longer than you would normally. When it’s raining, deer will move at any time. Rain might stop for about ten minutes before starting up again. You know how things work with the weather. It can’t be predicted. Put yourself through the trouble of sitting all day. 

Bring some snacks, use the bathroom before you move to your stand or blind, and get comfortable so you can see some action. We’ve already said that the rain is unpredictable. Deer will still move if it is just clear enough for them to move around a little bit. So, practice being patient by sitting all day. It will work out.

After you catch a deer, the next most important step is to make sure you have a good track. Now that you’re ready and know you have to wait all day to catch a big buck, this is a very important step. You will need to be ready for a less-than-ideal course because the rain could be a steady drizzle or a downpour. Naturally, some or all of your blood will be washed away by the rain, so you must take all reasonable precautions to make sure that your shot is accurate and that you are paying close attention to every little movement that happens after you pull the trigger. 

If you have a good shot, your buck shouldn’t go too far. Because of this, you should make sure that the method you choose is the best one for you. Either wait for the buck to drop or follow right away. When tracking in the rain, these will be your best two options.

When used right, rain can be just as promising as a cool morning in October. Don’t give up or get down when you see rain in the forecast. Use this less busy time of year to go hunting by planning ahead.

Some interesting facts about deer

If you’re here, you probably already know that deer are amazing wild animals. Let’s find out some other things that make them different.

  • White-tailed deer calves may learn to stand in as little as 20 minutes after birth! In 60 minutes, they can walk, and in 24 hours, they can run! How do they figure things out so quickly?
  • Usually, only male deer have antlers. Antlers still grow on female reindeer, but they don’t get as big as those on males. Female white-tailed deer and other animals can also grow antlers, but this is unusual and is thought to be a sign of something wrong.
  • Some deer have different-colored coats, but most have hair that is brownish-reddish. Some deer are called “piebald,” which means their fur is either all white or has brown spots. There are also deer that are almost black, called melanistic deer, and deer that are all white, called albino deer. Piebald and albino deer are easy to spot and kill, but a melanistic deer has an advantage over predators because of its color.
  • We all know that deer have great eyesight. We haven’t told you this yet, but they can see better at night and on cloudy days than humans can. Because deer can’t really tell the difference between bright colors, most of them look like shades of grey. So, when it’s cloudy, deer can see the colors around them better.

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