Good and bad deer-hunting days

Deer hunting, like many other things in life, is always good. It's just that  some days are better than others.

And, it also can be worse. Much depends on hunting pressure, weather conditions and wind. The hunting pressure can be controlled on private land, but there is nothing we can do to change bad weather or wind conditions. We take what we get, and learn to live with it.

Deer hunting is subject to the same problems fishermen experience. Too much rain or snow can affect deer movements. The same is true with swirling wind conditions. The same applies to lightning and thunderstorms. Deer do not like to move in such conditions because they have trout seeing, hearing or smelling danger.

So what happens? We plan our hunts in advance, and suddenly, the weather changes. We can blame it on many things, but the bottom line is we can't do anything about it except gripe.

So why get angry? I've hunted whitetails for many years, and have become somewhat philosophical about goofy weather. I've learned to take the good with the bad, and mind you, it doesn't make me feel any better when I've got a good buck patterned and the wind blows out of the east for two or three days in a row.

Hunt deer every day to have the best success.

We shouldn't sweat the small stuff, but I admit becoming annoyed with the wind stays out of the east. We can't change it so we do whatever we can to move to an area where the wind affects deer movement to a lesser degree. Doing so, we know, means forcing us out of that little hotspot we've been avoiding until the rut begins.

Sometimes, when the weather is changing and the wind is playing tricks on us, I head for an elevated stand that is nearly airtight and watch and wait for bucks to move. Such days are more about scouting than hunting although my bow is with me at all times.

Such days seldom offer many shots, and although my bow is in hand, my objective is to make a bad day work in my favor. A day not spent outdoors is a wasted one, and regardless of what the weather does, my backside is in a stand somewhere.

Hunting means being afield on bad and good days.

Taking the good with the bad doesn't mean that a bad day can't be productive. I've sat out, and had the wind ripping autumn leaves off the trees, and then about 30 minutes before shooting time ends, the wind gusts die and it becomes whisper quiet.

Deer often are still spooky from the wind, but if there has been some rain and it quits falling when the wind lays, there can be some fine deer movement. It seems like the deer, much the same as humans, are happy to see the weather change and they begin to move out to feed.

Deer tend to be somewhat move cautious at such times, but it's one of the side benefits of riding out bad weather. If a hunter was home and inside out of the weather, by the time they got ready and went out into the woods, it would probably spook the deer.

Take a chance on bad weather. Sometimes it changes.

It's one reason why during the fall I'll hunt every night, regardless of the weather. If I'm in a tree stand or ground blind, and suddenly the weather changes for the better, it's time to start paying attention. All it takes is to see a buck or two, or a small group of does and fawns, and the whole day takes on an entirely different meaning.

One thing I've learned is that shooting a deer is impossible unless you are outdoors with them. Learn to take the weather as it comes, be grateful for the best days and the worst days because we can only play with the cards we are dealt.

It's impossible to be a part of the deer-hunting experience if we are hole up inside laying on the couch. I'm always willing to take my chances with a possible last-minute weather change.

It doesn't happen often, but what a great feeling we have when we tough out the bad only to have it change suddenly. When the deer gods smile, it's best to be sitting in a ground blind or tree stand.

Nod and say "thank you," and get ready for a buck to ease out within easy bow range.

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors