Does weather play a major factor during the rut or not?

[Ronnie Shrock]

Does weather play a major factor during the rut or not?

[JM]

Yes it does play a factor, but every situation is different. All of the gun shots going off and extra hunters in the woods during the rut play much more of a role though. During the rut the only thing that will keep me from hunting is lighting.

[JM]

lightning*

[6phunter]

The rut continues regardless of the weather,but deer seem to prefer colder clear weather to move about more than warmer days.HUNTER activity only effects the rut in the immediate area of a breeding pair.ALTHOUGH at times it seems deer are nowhere to be found,they remain,often holding tight like rabbits.

[huntfishtrap]

Depends. It doesn't really have much effect on actual breeding and associated behavior, but it can have a huge effect on daylight movement. Factors such as abnormally warm daytime temperatures, a full moon at night, and extreme weather (t-storms, blizzards, etc.) can suppress daytime movement to the point where it's almost not worth hunting.

[pineywoods]

Good answers. Huntfishtrap said it best: They're gonna breed, the activity just may not happen in the daytime.

[Josey]

Colder is better. Cooler is better than warmer.