It’s no secret that rain can put a real damper on your hunting trip…literally. Whether you’re taking down bear, doe, turkey, buck, or anything else this archery season, you’ll want to make sure you’re fully prepared.
Even if you’re asking yourself, “Is it even worth the hassle to hunt in the rain?”—Kool Dri® Rainwear has you covered.
Wear the Best Rain Gear for Bow Hunting
If you’re a seasoned hunter, you may already know that some of the best times to hunt are after a long, heavy rain. Most deer and other wildlife will hunker down during heavy rains and emerge when the rain lightens up or stops altogether, so when they do, you’ll want to be ready. Unfortunately, that means you’ll have to head out while it’s already raining, but that doesn’t have to be as miserable as it sounds.
At Kool Dri® Rainwear, it’s all in our name. Our camouflage and solid color rain suits are perfect for staying dry in any season. They’re light weight so you can easily pack them up after the rain is over, but also sturdy enough that you can wear them over gear that will keep you warm. The specially developed polymer and nylon materials are truly waterproof and almost completely indestructible, making them a key component in the perfect bow hunting rain suit.
Don’t Shoot in Bulky Clothes
Rain can be your biggest ally when you’re bow hunting since it helps muffle sounds, but bulking up under warm clothes while also trying to stay dry can be cumbersome when you’re trying to shoot. When you use one of the Kool Dri® Rain Suits over your warmer clothes, you won’t have to worry about that added bulk that may restrict your shot when that 10-pointer strolls by.
Keep Your Feet Dry
One of the most important steps when it comes to keeping yourself warm while bow hunting is to make sure you keep your feet warm and dry. Even with rain boots, keeping the water out of your socks can be quite a hassle and is likely the last thing you’ll want to be worrying about.
First, make sure you wear two layers of socks—one inner layer that will wick up any moisture, and a thicker outer layer that will keep your feet insulated. You’ll also want to make sure your boots fit properly and that at least one layer of your pants can fit into your boots to help keep your feet insulated. We also recommend packing a few extra pairs of dry socks in a resealable plastic bag just in case.
Keep Dry Clothes and Towels in Your Car
Speaking of dry clothes, even if you stay mostly dry for a few hours in the rain, some of the under layers of your clothing may have soaked up body moisture from hiking to and from your tree stand. If that’s the case, we find that coming back to a nice set of dry clothes and some towels in the truck can be a game changer. It sounds like an unnecessary extra step, but having a few towels to dry off and sit on while driving home can make all the difference.
Invest in Waterproof Bags and Spray
Now that you’ve sufficiently waterproofed yourself, what about everything else? If your hunting gear isn’t waterproof, we suggest applying a waterproofing spray to dry gear to help protect it before you go out and face the elements.
Another tip that we’ve picked up on is using Ziploc or similar bags to store electronics, snacks, or anything else that you take with you. Not only does this diminish any sounds of opening bags of chips (we’ve all gotten hungry out there, let’s face it!), but it keeps everything dry and compartmentalized. Plus, you can easily store your bags in your rain suit pockets!
Use a Tree Umbrella or Ground Blind
Even with the best rain gear, a lot of hunters find that their laps can still get wet and cold after sitting in the rain for so long. We recommend to always set up your tree stand with a tree umbrella for an extra layer of protection against the wet.
If that’s not your style or you’re afraid of the noise from the rain, a ground blind is always another great way of staying out of the elements. It also gives you a freer range of movement under the cover of the blind, so you don’t have to worry as much about a sudden shift spooking a doe that just so happened to be walking by when you needed to stretch.
While bow hunting in the rain may not sound like an ideal way to spend your day, we found that with the right gear and setup, the experience is just as enjoyable as a day with nicer weather. If you’re still not sure, try out our gear for yourself and watch the forest come alive after a hard rain! Feel free to contact us with any questions.
