I like clouds. I’m not against sunshine, mind you, and a peek at the moon now and then is nice; and essential, I suppose, to romance and the poets. But here’s a vote for clouds; a good solid, damp gray cloud cover. To some, such weather is dreary and their complaints abound. But not for me. Here’s why.

My trips to field and stream are more eventful if there is a cloud cover. I see more game and catch more fish on such days. Ask any experienced bass fisher, especially one who fishes surface baits in shallow water, which kind of weather is best for fishing success. Bass leave the open shallows when bright sunlight makes their eyes uncomfortable.

Deer seem to move about for food with a sense of urgency when the clouds roll in. There are no shadows or reflections to betray my position in my boat or blind. I don’t get sunburned on my neck and hands if the clouds are heavy. There is no need for sunglasses which hamper my vision and change the colors of everything.

Clouds during hot weather are a blessing and I am not alone in welcoming them. But what about winter clouds? I like cold clouds too! Other fans of winter clouds are not legion, but of those few, many are hunters. Deer move best in the daytime following cloudy nights when the moon provides no light for night feeding.



Sneaking close



One winter I made an elk hunt in early December, which is very late in the season for mountain hunting. The gray clouds came in every day and blanketed the snowy slopes with yet another layer. I loved it. I got much closer to elk when it was snowing. The first elk I saw bolted at 20 yards as I followed its tracks in a blinding snowstorm.

In bright sunlight, the elk would never have let me walk up on it in the open like that. When the weather cleared for a few hours, I could see other elk over a mile away, but they could also see me and the stalking was tough.

To be fair, I must acknowledge exceptions to the rule that clouds are good for enhanced adventures involving wildlife. Every southern squirrel hunter knows that his quarry is most active on a clear, still morning after a pre-dawn shower of rain. The squirrels are thought to be enjoying the sunshine. I am not completely convinced they are not celebrating because the clouds came and brought rain.

Another creature which is more active on the bright, quiet mornings is the marvelous wild turkey gobbler. He gobbles profusely in the spring on bluebird mornings and is often quiet when it’s cloudy, especially if there is wind.

I explain the tom turkey’s insult to my theory on clouds by pointing out that he is a master at distressing hunters and disproving their theories. I would expect a gobbler to dislike clouds if I happen to like them. Ornery is a word which comes to mind when I think of turkey gobblers.



Great light



Clouds are welcome to those who hunt with a camera. It is easier to get good photographs in the soft, even light of a cloudy day.

All duck hunters will support my “Clouds Are Great” campaign. Everyone agrees that the dreary days are “nice for ducks,” and they are right.

Quail hold better in front of a pointing dog on the damp, cloudy days. Bird dogs and hounds find and follow scent much better on cloudy days.

Only shooters can attest to this, but damp, overcast conditions will cause the smoke from burnt gunpowder to hang in the air so that a few extra whiffs are available to appreciative nostrils.

For far too long we have put down the “gloomy” days with our gripes and groans. I say give the dark days their due (or is it dew?) Every time a leap year comes along, I am on the sidelines pulling for the extra day to be a cloudy one. Hooray for clouds!