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Rain Hunting Strategy with a ML

EastTNHunter

EastTNHunter

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Location
Rhea Co., TN
As I look ahead to this weekend's rainy forecast I begin to think about how I want to approach it, as well as what my limits will be. A few parameters :
- I have back problems and cannot do many all day sits, much less back-to-back all day sits.

- I have access to very little private land, but do have a shooting house overlooking a narrow powerline that is typically a hot travel corridor during the rut (one shooting lane where the deer often cross outside of ML range, and it's narrow and mind-numbing to stare at for too long)

- Much of the public land that I hunt is thick and requires me to be in a treestand to view much of anything. Also, most of it is in very small blocks, so still hunting is pretty much out

- I have rain gear and a treestand umbrella

I'm going to wait to see what the final forecast is, and if it's going to be heavier rain one day then I will likely just hunt the shooting house that morning and afternoon, hoping that one crosses close enough to shoot. But I also plan to hunt my treestand spot(s) and hope for the best. What factors do you see that lead to more midday deer movement that would help me to pick when to hunt that all day sit? Any other things that have been successful for you in this type of weather while trying to keep your powder and gear dry-yet-accessible?
 
I take either of two approaches
My fave is to slow walk the forest on days it rains. You can cover ground quietly. Rain and a poncho helps keep the scent down. When I sit I have a big golf umbrella I will cover with for a short sit.
Second is to climb somewhere I normally see deer. Cover up with the tree umbrella and a poncho and watch the woods from high above. Usually some where fairly open so I can see a ways out.
I only hunt public so shooting houses are a no go for me.
 
Let it rain. I have 4 to choose from.
 

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Weather sucks but it's time to be in the woods. I doubt I'll be in a shooting house but might be. Other then that a condom on the end of the barrel will keep your barrel dry if you're worried about that. I'm not seeing much midday movement at all right now on cameras doubt that changes this weekend.
 
This will likely change by Saturday, but here in E TN there is a roughly a 270 degree windshift through-out Saturday with a light rain/drizzle. I plan on being in the woods all day. I tear off a finger of a rubber glove and stick it over the end of my ML to keep the moisture out. Check it often if I'm moving through the woods as it's extremely thin and not durable at all.
 
Shooting house or pop-up blind for me if its steady rain....and walking in before daylight if its raining Ill carry muzzleloader in a gun case...I'll sit all day during the rut...but we need a good cold snap for some mid-day cruising....but first two or three weeks of November Ill get as many all day sits I can regardless of the weather....waited all year for November....time to hunt.
 
We are not missing the hunt this weekend, but I am not looking forward to 70/59 weather and .8 inches of rain on Saturday. We have tree seats and thinking about ordering some tree unbrellas, but dont need anymore junk.


I really don't like blinds, but may get one. Who has best price now on a blind big and comfortable enough for two adults?
 
UTGrad said:
Is there a reason that box is so high off the ground? Ours are 8 ft max. Is the ladder how you get in the box?
Click to expand...
It's 15ft to the floor. The field that it's in, has a slight slope and roll to it, and I wanted to be able to see the whole thing. The ladder is how you get into it. I have it bolted to the stand. It's really not as bad as it looks. I'm planning to put a platform and steps going into it after season is over.
 

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