Rain hunting

sten44

sten44

New member
Looking more likely I’m going to have to deal with rain on my South Dakota trip. I generally don’t hunt rain, but I’m not changing the trip so I plan on doing what I need to do to get out there! Any tips for rainy weather and roosters? Thanks.
 
They will be tucked in. Find some trees/grass mix nearby food.....I found that they will stay close to the food source and have some water protection. Check SD GPAs for such cover and the same on any WIA properties.
Hunt the breaks in the rain, they will be on the move. They tend to use their track shoes and run too.
These are just my experiences with those conditions.
 
The thick bladed wetland grasses (not sure what they are called) are so thick this year that I wonder if the birds can stay out of the rain by merely tucking into that? Of course, if you don't have that on the property you are hunting, then weedy thickets are still the ticket.
 
Between rain, high winds, and the standing corn & sun seeds, it's been tough going in SW ND this last weekend & current week. Between last Friday and Sunday, the Wrecking Crew and I walked approximately 15 miles of cover to flush 3 roosters and a handful of hens (got 2 of those roosters)...
 
Careful with the dogs in the rain. Most will be fine if it's just cool weather. I screwed up and over did it once with a setter. Their coats are not made for wet cold weather. It was a sleet/rainy day. I lost track of him and when I found him, he had made himself a nest. He was cold and shivering.
 
Labs said:
Between rain, high winds, and the standing corn & sun seeds, it's been tough going in SW ND this last weekend & current week. Between last Friday and Sunday, the Wrecking Crew and I walked approximately 15 miles of cover to flush 3 roosters and a handful of hens (got 2 of those roosters)...
Click to expand...
Very similar situation in North Central.
 
You are also going to find that much of South Dakota soil has a lot of clay in it. Your boots will double in size and weight. I've had dogs build up so much clay/grass between their toes that they had difficulty walking. Had a pickup one time that generated "cones" off the hubcaps that were almost a foot long. If it is wet and slick, don't get off maintained county roads unless you bring your sleeping bag. Even county roads get slick because the surface gravel is thin. Lots of truck traffic hauling harvested crops, ranchers moving cattle, tractors moving from field to field. No dust to warn you of oncoming traffic. The birds are even weighed down by clay on their feet.

Personally, I recommend "Miller Time" and let it dry out. We have been getting a lot of moisture out here!
 
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