waterfowling in the rain

[mazzgolf]

I have waterfowl hunted a couple times while snowing - never in the pouring rain.

 

Well, that is going to change - a buddy and I are planning on hitting a good duck spot tomorrow morning. Forecast is calling for rain all morning with winds at 15mph.

 

I'm a big baby - if it's pouring, I'm probably going to be miserable.     We'll be sitting in a blind that has some grasses covering over top, but nothing close to keeping wind and rain out.

 

Anyone have super-secret tips on how to keep warm and dry while duck hunting in the rain?

 

Or am I missing the whole point - the fun is all about being in the rain and getting soaked? do dee do do do de 

 

[Bucksnbows]

A cheap camo poncho is a good first start.  Try Froggtoggs if you can find them locally.  Ramsey Outdoors carries, them in both stores, but not sure where you are and if they have camo in stock or not.

[A-5 Pemberton]

It's all about the difference between water proof and water resistant.

[Tbryant]

After the first 30 seconds of getting rained on you get used to it. Once you’re wet your wet it’s not as bad as it sounds. If anything bring a poncho or waterproof jacket.

[Pucknut]

Great way to build character!  If you're wearing hip boots just watch the gap between the boots and your jacket.  Hope you have a great hunt!

[Russ 11]

The one thing you got going for you is its going to be pretty mild temp wise . Not so bad getting wet when it's in the 50's . Good luck

[chenrossi]

If it's any consolation, I'm still hunting in waders with a leak because I'm being cheap and just riding it out till the end of the season. Even with that cold spell we just had, got wet. Through em on the boot dryer after the hunt...repeat the next day. You just kind of forget about it when the birds start flying...

 

FWIW too, there's only a few days left. Just get out there.

[Deadeye]

I try to avoid pouring rain. That's why I went Wednesday instead of today. One issue for me is wearing glasses. Tough to look upward and shoot. But a couple tips - buy rag wool gloves and extra ones or waterproof gloves you can shoot with. The rag wool you can take them off wring them out, put em back on,  and you still stay warm - unless super cold out. The extra ones and maybe a towel or extra hat put in a plastic bag in your pockets or duck bag. When the rain lets up for a while switch gloves or hat. Putting on something dry feels great when you can. Just be sure to stow them back in a dry spot when the rain restarts. And absolutely required - a thermos full of coffee and snickers bars!!

 

Also if you have one of those new handheld marine radios with the emergency strobe - that activates when wet? Put duct tape over the light until the sun is well up. No shut off switch.

[Buck154]

I just got home from work and it's only a light rain but windy. Thinking about going now till it starts pouring since I'm awake. Just a pain walking in the fields when this warm and wet.

[ithaca10]

So how did you make out?

[Lunatic]

Duck are desperately looking for any water

 

 

[mazzgolf]

So how did you make out?

 

Bah! Not very good.    First off, we get there and the water was still iced over pretty bad ... took us by surprise. We didn't expect that much ice especially with the warming we've had the last few days. Had to crash through some to put out the dekes. There was some open water in front of us (Lunatic's pic was spot on! ) so we just put out a half dozen dekes. It was the weirdest feeling - we're staring at iced-over water in 60 degree weather!

 

Worst part was, it didn't rain until we were just about to pack up and go to work!! (so much for the forecast saying steady rain starting overnight and not letting up all morning). No rain to speak of - just a drizzle here or there - between 6am and 9am. Started packing up at 9am and then it starts raining. At least I wasn't miserable, but some rain to get the birds moving would have been nice.

 

We did see some birds, but not as many as we were hoping for. The dog was bored Our problem was, we'd scan the skies but then something would take our attention away (looking down at our phones or whatever) and BAM! like 2 or 3 ducks would zoom by! This happened at least three times to us - the ducks are so fast, and we're in a spot where we can't see them approaching until they are almost on top of us - we have to stay alert. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear they had a scout with binos looking at us radioing back to their brothers: "OK, they are looking down! Their hands are off the guns! GO! GO! GO!"

 

Oh well. We got to go out and at least we saw some birds. Even though it wasn't close to what we were expecting our morning to be.