Rain

[Swede]

How does rain affect your hunt and how much?

For me rain for a short period is fine and changes things only a little. A long term soaker will get me out of my tree stand. Elk don't come into a water hole as much when it is wet everywhere. They will come into wallow, but drink less frequently. Probably the lower temperatures and fresh water holes affect their need for water where I have my stand as much as the wet forage. When it rains I try to call or spot and stalk hunt more. Also I take a break and look over new areas.

[Lefty]

I still hunt faster with a quiet woods If on a good trail old roads.
I started thinking I also glass longer and more

[Elkhunttoo]

I had a cousin shoot a 6pt bull a few years ago on a very rainy day from a stand over a water hole. He said it is the only day he didn't even untie his bow from the rope. He said he felt like it was a complete waste of time and next thing he knew a bull was almost at the water. He had to then try and ready his bow for the shot and luckily got it done.

[saddlesore]

I don't hunt in the rain.The main reason I hunt is for enjoyment.Hunting in the rain is not enjoyable

[N2mywake]

When it rain's on our hunts we continue on, if it's heavy rain we shelter under the drip line of an evergreen until it passes. We've had some great encounters in a light rain, it's a good opportunity to move quietly with less scent. I'll take rain over wind any day.

brings up another thought, what rain gear are you guys using? I've been in the market for some new technology in that area. I currently use the MT050 gortex but I'm thinking kuiu or first lite might be worth a look.

[Old school]

My boys and I elk hunted in the rain one day this past year and we were glad we had quality rain gear. We bought Sylo rain gear and we were very pleased with it. It is very lightweight, sturdy and quiet (for rain gear). I really enjoy stillhunting in a light mist. A steady rain is a different story...time to head for camp.

--Mitch

[Indian Summer]

I hear you Saddlesore. I hate rain! It takes the fun out of everything.

I'd rather hunt elk in the Sahara desert than near Seattle. I wish Trump would build a dome over all of my hunting areas instead of a dang wall. If I lived in a straw hut surrounded by wildfires I would still not pray for rain.

I know one thing.... rain makes me sleep so if it decides to cut loose about mid hunt I'm sleeping in.

"March is a green muddy month down below, some folks like it, FARMERS mostly." Yeah well I'm not that big of a fan of vegetables either.

[Elkduds]

A few weeks ago I hunted w someone who reminded me, "no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." My tolerance for hunting in rain went up several notches when I got Core4 Torrent rainwear (now Sylo). It is remarkable: light, quiet, breathable, packs small, durable. WT sponsor Camofire has Torrent stuff on sale sometimes. This fall a hurricane in Mexico sent some violent, wet weather our way mid-Sept, SW CO. 2 days in a row when the rain let up an hour before sunset, elk came out to feed. As did bears.

[ishy]

It's my favorite time and have had some of my favorite days in rain. This years bull was called in a light drizzle and it dumped right after I shot. I tend to see more action in lighter days, but have had luck in some pretty nasty weather especially right before or after a big storm.

[olympushunt]

A few weeks ago I hunted w someone who reminded me, "no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."

That made me smile. Although you can stay warm there are some places in the PNW coast that when a hum dinger comes through.....you have two choices. Stay in and not get wet or go hunt and you WILL be wet. I don't care if you have Sitka gear over top of the best 5 companies that make rain gear, you will still be wet. Don't care if you wear a full body condom under that....you will be wet. You can wear crab gear over all that...including the full body condom.....you will be WET. There is NO staying dry. It comes at you sideways. I'm talking driving torrential rains that if you were to jump into a swimming pool....it basically would be drier. lol My buddy and I did that last fall...and it's really about pain management at that point. All you can do is still hunt in timber stands and hope to catch some elk off guard.

[WapitiTalk1]

A few weeks ago I hunted w someone who reminded me, "no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."

That made me smile. Although you can stay warm there are some places in the PNW coast that when a hum dinger comes through.....you have two choices. Stay in and not get wet or go hunt and you WILL be wet. I don't care if you have Sitka gear over top of the best 5 companies that make rain gear, you will still be wet. Don't care if you wear a full body condom under that....you will be wet. You can wear crab gear over all that...including the full body condom.....you will be WET. There is NO staying dry. It comes at you sideways. I'm talking driving torrential rains that if you were to jump into a swimming pool....it basically would be drier. lol My buddy and I did that last fall...and it's really about pain management at that point. All you can do is still hunt in timber stands and hope to catch some elk off guard.

This^^^^^ Rain in many of the mountain states is tolerable for a few days; it actually helps quiet the dry elk woods down a bit. Now in W WA, the faucet gets turned on in November and stays running pretty much through March/April, that's our winter here. I hunted for years in Army Gore-Tex top and bottom and now have a really good set of Russell Outdoors rain gear but as olympushunt mentions, you will get wet no matter what you wear in the PNW (it's inevitable). I enjoy hunting in rain that I know isn't going to last long; it keeps your scent and noise down, but conversely, it limits how far you can hear elk chatter and movement. If it's a squawler, with heavy rain and wind, I'll normally take that day off. We were hit with a huge rain and wind storm in ID a few years ago that eventually prompted me to cut my hunt a few days short. The elk got lockjaw and had hunkered down to ride out the storm and after 2-3 solid days of hunkering down at camp myself, I'd had enough. So, light, sporadic rain.... sure thing, no issues but big ol' set in soaking down pour rain (accompanied by wind), no thanks.

[saddlesore]

It might be OK to get wet when you are hunting out of your truck.However if you are packed back in 8-10 miles at 10,000 feet and think you can survive in a little back pack tent and only have one change of clothes without being able to dry clothes off, you are one step away from hypothermia, then death.

In these circumstances the number one priority is staying dry. Ignore that and you are very likely to have to depend on a S&R team to get you out or carry your or your remains out.

I always had a nice wall tent with a wood stove when I packed back into wilderness areas and had enough sense to look out in the morning and check the weather . Snow, I might go out in,but a good rain or even a constant drizzle,meant going back to bed. I can't count the number of times I had to take a poor schmuck in that thought they cold beat mother nature.

[olympushunt]

It might be OK to get wet when you are hunting out of your truck.However if you are packed back in 8-10 miles at 10,000 feet and think you can survive in a little back pack tent and only have one change of clothes without being able to dry clothes off, you are one step away from hypothermia, then death.

In these circumstances the number one priority is staying dry. Ignore that and you are very likely to have to depend on a S&R team to get you out or carry your or your remains out.

I always had a nice wall tent with a wood stove when I packed back into wilderness areas and had enough sense to look out in the morning and check the weather . Snow, I might go out in,but a good rain or even a constant drizzle,meant going back to bed. I can't count the number of times I had to take a poor schmuck in that thought they cold beat mother nature.

Good advice for sure. A guy really has to have a way to dry off at the end of the day and get warm. Being wet can demoralize a guy very quickly and that will lead to defeat. I've always wanted to hunt out of a wall tent. I've heard with a wood stove they are unbeatable for warmth and the ability to dry stuff out. Maybe someday someone will invite me to hunt out of a wall tent. That's real elk hunting.

[Indian Summer]

In the snow you might? I love the snow. If I wake up to a fresh dusting I'm as happy as a kid in Toys R Us. You can see everything including what happened last night and yesterday. I'll take anything under a foot over bare ground.

How about those poor elk down around Naselle Washington near the Columbia River..... it's so wet and spongy down there that they get hoof rot nd deformations and some barely have any type of foot at all. Kinda creepy. Everyone has moss on their roof and the sword ferns are as tall as me. If I lived there I'm sure I would have eventually migrated east to drier ground or to the rockies of Idaho or Montana.

On the bright side if you live there the only hunting clothes you really need are hip boots or Lacrosse Burleys and Helly Hansen Impertech. You'll still get wet like Olympus said but at least the rubber stuff dries out quick so you get a few hours out of it the next day. I'd also invest in one of the Porta-Roof Umbrellas. How can you guys live over there!!!!!!

I once got yelled at by a rancher who made hay for saying rain sucks in front of him.

[Tigger]

I hate rain. My last two hunts have had rain shut down the bulls and make life miserable. It also makes things slippery and that can be downright dangerous.

[saddlesore]

Unless it is just a dusting, it is far better to get out there ASAP when the snow stops. Elk and deer to some extent, hunker down in the timber in those heavy snows and then get out to feed when it quits. Deer are browsers and can find feed above the snow.Elk being grazers have to paw down thru it. They can browse to some extent, but can't get the amount of forage they need that way.

Going out when it is snowing only leads to the same problems of going out in the rain. You will eventually get soaked.

[ElkNut1]

We don't mind some rain as long as it isn't hammering down all day. A steady light rain or intermittent rain offers great bugling/rutting times! We took this bull last year an hour after daylight, you can see we both are in full rain gear. Called this bull to 20 yards to my son! Moderate to light rain & we are out there!

ElkNut1