If you follow the stock market lately you’ve probably noticed that one thing is certain and that is that nothing is certain. Rallies are followed by major drops, and it seems that the slightest hiccup in the global economy can erase gains. For hunters, October’s weather mimics this erratic pattern, which can mean a boon or a bust depending on your attitude. 

Too many hunters feel that hot weather, rain, or windy conditions all but shut down deer movement. The result? They skip out on stand-time during these conditions to wait out better weather. But, for most of us where field time is limited, skipping any sit is a bad idea. 

So are these weather conditions worth hunting? In my opinion they are. In fact, rainy conditions during October equal my favorite time to hunt during the entire month. Unless you’re dealing with a deluge, the deer will move. At the opposite end of the spectrum are hot conditions, which aren’t quite as appealing for a couple of reasons. The first is that the deer movement does seem to slow down, although it doesn’t stop. The mosquitoes and gnats usually come out in droves, and sweating your way into a stand is almost a given. Still, the deer will move and obviously, some of their focus will trend toward water sources, which is where you should hunt. 

Lastly, windy weather is a double-edged sword. The deer will move but they will be cagey. This is likely due to the fact that predators are harder to see, hear and smell in windy conditions. But for you, that means you’ll be more hidden, quieter, and in a way, less stinky. 

If you spend enough time afield in October, you’ll likely run into all of these conditions and more. The weather might speed up agricultural harvests or slow them down, it might take so-so clover and turn it into a sugary-treat for the deer, or it might mean a week of sopping-wet stand sits. But, the bottom line is if you use the weather as an excuse to not hunt, you’ve given in to the age-old, built-in excuses that have permeated the deer hunting culture for many years. That, and you’ll guarantee that you’ll have less fun because you won’t be hunting, and you will definitely not fill your tag.