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Opening day bad weather strategies?

6K views 28 replies 26 participants last post by  BuckFever1013 
#1 ·
Just curious if anyone changes their stand location depending on the weather. If its a clear cool day you hunt one place but if its snowing you hunt another, and how about rain? The forecast shows a 30% chance of showers in my area for the opener and Tuesday, with 2 nice days before and 2 nice days on Wednesday and Thursday. Im hoping the forecast moves a day or two early or day or two later. Its seems the only thing the weatherman get right is when its going to rain, im hoping their wrong this time. I hunt the same place, rain sleet or snow. The only thing that will make me change is hunting pressure in an area, then ill make adjustments.
 
#2 ·
If the weather is nice, I'll be watching a little point off of a NW slope(very steep) that is a long, long walk from the parking lot. If it's crappy out, I know of a good hemlock swamp not far from the truck that I can sneak into without getting soaked before I get there...have to wade a small stream to get there, but that keeps other hunters away!
 
#4 ·
Im ok with getting wet. I always hear people say "go to the pines" because its dry their. Put I have never had luck hunting deer in the pines when its raining. Just cursious how everyone else does?
 
#7 ·
Heavy rain is usually bad for stand hunting still hunting or a slow walk might be a good idea, light rain is OK to sit in usually they'll still move.

Light to medium fog is good because they move due them feeling safe/concealed. Been in heavy fog where they'd almost have to step on your toes to be able to see them.

Wind is a tough one, but if it's pretty cold they seem to stay put in heavy cover on lee side of wind. Walking ledges or edges of thick stuff might be a good plan.

Frontal passages have usually been good hunting before because they go to feed if its gonna get cold, and after epecially if it gets cold they'll be looking to chow down.

JM2C and observations
 
#10 ·
It looks like they really don't know what's going to happen.



.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
VERY LOW CONFIDENCE IN THE EXTENDED FORECAST, WITH WIDELY VARYING
SOLUTIONS BETWEEN DETERMINISTIC AND ENSEMBLE MODELS.

THERE IS MODEL CONSENSUS THAT AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND SURFACE
LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. ON SATURDAY. HOWEVER, MODELS
SHOW DIFFERENCES IN TIMING OF WHEN THE SURFACE FEATURE WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY. THE 00Z GFS AND ITS ENSEMBLE SHOW SUNDAY
WHILE THE 00Z ECMWF AND CANADIAN ENSEMBLES SHOW MONDAY.

THERE ARE ALSO DIFFERING SOLUTIONS AS TO WHERE THE UPPER LEVEL
FEATURE WILL STOP AND PIVOT. GFS SHOWS MISSOURI WHILE ECMWF SHOWS
LAKE HURON WITH SECONDARY DEVELOPMENT OVER WEST VIRGINIA.

CONSIDERING THESE VARIANCES, CHOSE TO MAKE VERY LITTLE CHANGES TO
THE LONG TERM FORECAST.
 
#11 ·
I'm not a walker, so will hunt the same spot regardless. Now if it rains I will look for a couple trees fairly close together, so I can run a few lines of paracord to erect my rain poncho lean-to. Its camouflaged and won't attract attention, and is better than just wearing it. Hoping the rain holds off for at least the first few hours of daylight so the hunters will still be about and moving deer. Once the rains come the walkers disappear and the deer bed down and then it gets slow....Now if it downpours I'm gone. I hate hunting in downpouring rain. Nothin is mnore miserable and I don't need to get a deer that bad.....
 
#13 ·
All this talk about rain has me considering getting one of those umbrellas ... and 1 more piece of junk to carry in LOL. BUT if its too crappy Ill go in, better to stay warm and dry than wet and get sick thus ruining the rest of the season...
 
#22 ·
I had the good fortune to have tagged out on doe and buck locally so heading to potter to possibly fill a bonus doe tag and in hopes of a bear or yote. Light rain ok, heavy rain or windy conditions i will be back at camp watching tv, tasting the beer choices and enjoying potter county. Have to state this: my bros best buck came in the nastiest windy conditions i can remember and he saw 3 buck together while hunting that day, so the old statement is true, can't get one on the sofa. On a similar note: I have seen many monster trees fall on windy days that will make a grown man run for the hills, so be safe.
 
#23 ·
I took a buck in archery so I will be looking for a bear at camp in 3B.

As for strategy for deer on the first day. So many ppl in the woods and all normal deer patterns/habits are off. I hunt the same "1st day stand" every year and always see deer. Of course it just happens to be an escape route to thick cover.
 
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