Opener Forecast

Mark W

Well-known member
Saturday - 90% chance of rain
Sunday - 100% chance of rain.

Going to be messy. Besides wearing waterproof waders, anyone have some good suggestions on how to stay dry? Not so worried about staying dry during hunting hours, it is the 4 hours prior to opening where we are sitting around that could be a bummer. One of my hunting coats says waterproof but it really isn't. I have a black waterproof jacket and a black umbrella to use during the waiting period but there has to be a better mousetrap. Has to be lightweight as we carry in about a mile or so.

Mark
 
Mark,

I've been in that position myself and finally after too many years of not knowing if my breathable gear will handle the rain I bought a set of Grundens 100% waterproof rain jacket and bibs. I never have to worry about staying dry now. If I am going to be sitting in rain for long periods I put on my Atlas 495 gloves and snug them inside the sleeves. Dry to the bone.
 
I tend to not hunt in the rain and if this were just another hunting day, I would stay home. As we drive 4 plus hours to this place, I feel "obligated" to hunt. I believe I still have an older rubber camo coat but man is that thing uncomfortable as the temps are suppose to be in the 80's as well.

Mark
 
Large golf umbrella. Lightweight and portable. Stick it an old bag chair case with strap to carry. Used one myself with camo netting on top for dove opener to give lab a shady place to set. Piece of sch. 40 pipe that handle can slide into cut to length and pointed gives you a place to stick it in ground similar to beach umbrella.
 
We talking squall line moving through with 30 minute of rain or an all day continuous rain sorta thing?

For me, hunting in the rain fallings into the "I'm too old for this sh#$" category (see the other thread on aging). Opening day or not, if its an all day frog-drowner, I'd sleep in!!
 
In my particular area I found as a younger man that mallards & blacks didn't really fly in the rain. Might just have been the time of day ducks were using the area where my blind was.. Some impound owners I know though swear by rainy days. On another note my son and I did have an outstanding woody shoot on opening day in light rain standing knee deep in a marsh shooting them like doves when they came into the little creek beside us. Guess it just depends if your where they want to be!
 
Well Mark I can't believe you are really talking opener yet but there it is. Time flies when you are having fun so I don't know why it is moving fast here. I will be thinking of you this weekend and hoping the best for you guys. Say hi to the crew for me. I will have a quiet weekend waiting for Mon. when the real fun starts. Port put in on Mon, Chemo Tues or Wed. and transplant shortly after. Still ahead of schedule and feeling pretty good. One of the hardest things for me may be eating enough and drinking enough. No I don't mean "that" this time.[;)]. Best of luck to all heading out this weekend and don't forget the bug dope.
 
Mark,

I picked up a "log pile" tarp at Fleet Farm. 3'6" wide x 17' 3" long. Going to stretch some netting, add rafia, and give the boat blind a roof. Also running poly or tarp on the wall panels.
 
Really good goretex rainwear is pretty bombproof. My angling friends all swear wading jackets from Simms and Patagonia. But expect to pay dearly for them. Key features include neoprene or other gaskets at the sleeves, functional hooks, fabric durable enough to stand up to some abrasion, and enough ventilation to prevent sweat, designed well enough to not let in rain. Expect to pay a lot for them.

When it's warm, I just resign myself to getting wet. When it's cold, that's not an option.


I have a Cabela's wading jacket that is not quite as good or as expensive as the top of the line Simms and Patagonia stuff, but has kept me pretty dry in some pretty awful weather. I think it was about $200 on sale a few years ago. Well worth the price.

Grundens work great if you won't be exercising enough to work up a sweat. Like a sauna if you are walking or paddling hard enough to generate some heat.

Love the umbrella and tarp ideas.
 
Mark,

This is where my Army training comes in handy...lol....take a poncho or small tarp and tie it over your head with parachord when sitting. Half over is your head for a roof and other half is behind you....add a pair of waders and you should be dry as a bone.

Spent many a day living under a poncho shelter, in all kinds of weather (most not good)......
 
I hate hunting in rain but will do it for a while if there is no lightening. Lightening is a deal breaker. Watch out for that. With the temp change this weekend there could be some.
It still looks like it will be fairly warm so being a little wet is uncomfortable but not too dangerous. A small tarp and a little rope is probably the best option after an umbrella.

I was invited up to MN for the opener but I'm going to pass. It just doesn't look like fun to me. I have started to only hunt when it's fun.

Good luck to you.

Tim
 
TimJ said:
I hate hunting in rain but will do it for a while if there is no lightening. Lightening is a deal breaker. Watch out for that. With the temp change this weekend there could be some.
It still looks like it will be fairly warm so being a little wet is uncomfortable but not too dangerous. A small tarp and a little rope is probably the best option after an umbrella.

I was invited up to MN for the opener but I'm going to pass. It just doesn't look like fun to me. I have started to only hunt when it's fun.

Good luck to you.

Tim

Where in MN? We hunt near Beardsley and stay a few miles north right on Traverse.

Maybe k
 
I usually end up hunting in the SW corner of MN, right around Windom. It would most likely be a field hunt on private land. Even though I wouldn't have to sit in the rain as long it doesn't make the forecast look better. I'm sure they will kill geese and wood ducks. I didn't see many other ducks around there last weekend when I was there.

Tim
 
Hello, this was a great investment can't beat the price bought one for me and my son four years
ago they show no signs of wear and are really waterproof. They have no pockets but nice zippered
slits to get to your waders.

http://www.fortbraggsurplus.us/GENIII-Wind-Jacket-Multi-Cam-OCP-ECWCS-Level-4-p/geniii-wind-jacket.htm
 
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