Does Record Rainfall Help or Hurt?

From the Rocky Mountains and eastward into the Midwest, record levels of precipitation since April have created ideal summer range conditions for deer, elk and other wildlife. With unusually green conditions in many parts of the U.S., this year has the potential to produce some outstanding trophies. But that’s not the whole story.

The Good

While drought conditions persist in the Pacific Northwest and California, the weather further east has been more soggy than usual. May brought record-breaking rainfall, which persisted well into the summer in many areas. In places like Colorado and Wyoming tall grasses, green slopes and abundant wildflowers have highlighted the summer months.

Big game herds look to be in very healthy condition. The wet spring followed a relatively mild winter in the Rockies, meaning calf/fawn survival and winter carryover should be excellent. The word from most of our guide contacts on the ground is that animals look extremely healthy and that antler growth is already proving to be impressive. One guide in Wyoming noted that many mule deer does seem to be accompanied by twin fawns, a sure sign of healthy range conditions.

The obvious benefit for hunters, at least for this season, is bigger deer, bigger elk and bigger antelope. But there might be a catch.

The Bad

Photo credit: Winterhawk Outfitters

The wet spring hasn’t been totally positive. Spring bear hunters in particular have felt the short end of the stick. With tall grasses and plenty of forage, bears seemed to be less predictable this year. The heavy May rains bogged down most of the spring black bear season, making for very tough hunting conditions. In Wyoming, spring black bear harvest was off by as much as 80 percent.

Another sore spot has been for some whitetail hunters and outfitters in the Midwest. The unusually heavy rainfall wreaked havoc with crop planning and food plot production. Hunters in these areas will have to adjust their tactics based on these factors. But for those who are able to make adjustments, we could see some very impressive racks hit the ground this year.

Finally, the unusual weather and the abundant feed may play tricks on hunters. These factors can impact where and when animals move and even the timing of the rut. For example, if elk are still in summer mode in the middle of September, hunters must be ready to adjust. They might be big this year, but that doesn't mean they'll cooperate.

The Bottom Line

While it could be a banner year for antler growth, keep one thing in mind – Mother Nature still holds the wild card. Ultimately, the weather from September through the end of the year will dominate hunting conditions. Of course predictions are only that, but the National Weather Service is forecasting unusually wet weather to continue into the fall for the central Rockies and parts of the plains and Midwest. Meanwhile, unusually dry weather may continue to plague the Northwest.

No matter where your adventures take you this season, hunters who are mobile, able to adjust and think on their feet might have the upper hand. In short, be ready to change your tactics.

No matter what the autumn brings or whoever find success, here’s to hoping that we’ll see a few new records being broken this year.