Trad Gang

The next full moon is on the 26th, and with the weather changing a lot, northeast texas, i thought this would be a great time for some hunting and fishing. I have never went by the moon phases, I just heard of it not too long ago so i thought I'd see if there is any stock to it. Anyone know if there is, I get my vacation time from work on the 25th, I'm going to take thurs. and fri. off and hunt and fish all this weekend.

never hunted moon phases.... how do they taste?

Yep, read Byron Fergusons book, "Become the Arrow" He speaks to some backyard research he has done as it pertains to Moon phases. I find that when I am seeing a bunch of deer I can look up and see the moon...most of the time.

Brian

Man I dunno.  There is so much else to keep track of - temp, wind speed, wind direction, rain or snow, lack of rain or snow, hunting pressure, phase of the rut, food availability and type, and on and on and on.  I think my brain might just seize up if I try to factor in one more variable.

I wish I had the time to hunt moon phases.  Unfortuantely, I am driven to hunt work phases instead.  

I honestly believe in the moon phases. Here in NY and Vermont where a lot of the research has been done, 7-10 days after the harvester moon the rut kicks in, actual breeding will be 3 weeks or a tad more after the Harvester moon. I also believe that there is good mid-day movement when the moon is directly overhead or under foot, meaning a full moon or a dark moon. A few days either side of these phases, mid-day movement increases. I took my 2 weeks vacation based on the Harvester moon this year and took from Nov. 2nd. thru the 19th. off. should be good, if I can draw a bow. Bad shoulder has me hurtin! Shawn

I have used solunar tables for several years and find them advantageous. I have used them both for fishing and hunting. If your opportunity to hunt is limited the tables could help you decide when might be the best times to choose. If you are blessed with the opportunity to hunt any time you want to then don't worry about it unless you are interested in trying to pinpoint prime movement times.

Louis

Yes...Bamboo and I will be in CT bowhunting all of next week and all activities have been planned around the moon....

I love full moons, more so when they are rising in the early evenings... Just like this Saturday

I am usually "a hunt when you can" type of hunter, but have noticed over the years when a full moon is up and showing in the evening, the deer movement is sometimes, but not always,less.  I do most of my hunting in the evening.

I've kept notes the past seven years or so from whitetail hunting (mostly rifle) in northern MI and Ontario. I especially paid attention the last two years to the predictions from Alsheimer et. al., as related to rutting activity & moon phase & timing. I found his predictions to be pretty darned good for where I hunt. The hunter's moon is early this year, so he predicts early chasing & such. It does seem to be kicking off here a bit earlier than normal, and I'll find out in Canada next week.

I'm lucky to be able to hunt about when I want. There are some big "ifs" to the rut/moon phase coincidence, though, as Alsheimer states. The big one here in MI is hunting pressure. The big one in Ontario is weather; if it is warmer than about 45F, buck sightings & movement decrease drastically. They are there, but just don't move as much. In both cases above I move to even thicker cover for less pressured deer & cooler temps.

I consider any hunt a good hunt, and many nice bucks are taken before the rut even gets underway, and in every imaginable weather. So hunt when & where ya can.

Full Moon, Temperature, Wind, Rain, Snow.......My thinking is none of it matters.  

Lately, my hunting days have become very limited and I can't worry about good or bad conditions. If I can get out on Wednesday, I go hunting on Wednesday.

I only get so many days in the woods and I have to maximize those days regardless of the conditions.

If you can get out, get out.  If the conditions are optimal, GREAT.  If Not, your still hunting   :)  

That's the way I have to approach these days   :(

the book, "Moon Struck" is a great read. I have seen more deer on stand when paying attention to the moon phase and position, and planning my hunting time accordingly. DB

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Originally posted by Whip:
I wish I had the time to hunt moon phases.  Unfortuantely, I am driven to hunt work phases instead.   :banghead: