How much does moon phase effect deer movement do you think guys? any tips wpuld be great we just had a full moon and nothing has been around.
I never hunt the mornings on a full moon phase. I mainly get into my stand around 10 and stay until dark. My experience is that the deer move more during the middle of the day, and mainly to and from water sources. I definitely use the moon phases when trying to figure out the deer in my area.
wouldnt mornings be good during this phase since they move more at night?
Have I seen deer in the mornings during a full moon phase? Yes, but not many. And from my trail camera pictures, they seem to be moving most of the night, then bedding down an hour or better before first light. Then they seem start to move around 10-10:30AM. Once I killed a truly nice 8 pointer along a small creek in October at 12:30PM during a full moon phase.
whats the difference in the bark in a white oak versus a red having hard time with this?
If you aren't hunting you aren't killing anything, so I hunt when I can.
I'm no moon expert, so my 2 cents arent worth much. But i think it depends what area your hunting.
I've got a spot where the deer eat on a wheat field at night and move by my stand before sunrise. I usually don't see much activity after the sun is up. There's about a 30-45 minute window of deer movement. I think the deer leave the field sooner if they can see with a full moon. Essentially shifting that 30-45 minute window earlier in the morning. In that case a full moon hurts me. I also think the deer may move later, but I think their movement is initiated by the reduced lighting of the sun setting and before the moon starts shining.
But if you are hunting a loitering or meandering area I'm not sure. I haven't found a good correlation there yet.
https://www.google.com/#q=hunting+whitetail+deer+during+full+moon
Red oaks, referred as "pin oaks" have pointy leave as to where the white oak leaves are rounded at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTzC7T_uxxs
so its not good to hunt red oaks?
I find that game moves more in the week before or after full moon. As noted, I don't think that they lay still during the full moon - gotta eat and drink. Your greatest odds are in the stand.
White oaks tend to have shaggier bark ,thin layers usually light colored. Red oaks have heavier dark rough bark. The leaves on white oaks will be round like fingers. Hope this helps!
I think the moon position has more of an effect on feeding times than the moon phase. When the moon is straight overhead or straight down below the earth(aka Moon South) it is the main feeding times of the day(an hour or 2 before and after). When on the horizon, it is the secondary feeding time.
I believe this is called the Solunar Table and it affects fish and wildlife feeding.
Deer have to eat and usually do every 2 hours or so no matter what phase the moon is in.
Deer love accorns!!!!! The White Oak accorns, are sweeter, and Deer prefer them over the more bitter tasting Red Oak accorns... Only real difference is, they'll eat the White Oaks first, if they are available.
So how do I find out the moons position?
Unless you want to "slap leather" to plan an hourly itinerary, just google the current year's moon phases. The waxing and waning quarter phases will roughly be when the moon is directly overhead near dawn and dusk, and I like hunting those. I've also found good hunting on the dark (new) moon phases. Like others, I've found midday hours more productive on full moon, but it's absolutely the best time for rutting bucks on the second one after the autumnal equinox...they don't call it the Hunter's Moon for nothing. My state gave that week to muzzleloaders several years back Basically, get in the woods anytime you can!
When is the second one this year?
When is the second one this year?
huge full moon this weekend and I was jumping deer going in and seeing them feeding in the afternoon, no difference with these urban deer on the East Coast.
Nov. 14, if I remembered how to read it.
There is an engine here called 'search'....if you search the word moon you will get tons of answers.
My answer is...9 to 2 during full moon is best ...IF the weather is stable....fronts can change that......some of my best deer hunting memories were during a full moon during the rut....if I were to tell you about them you wouldn't believe me.
moon phases by month (http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml)
QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B:
I think the moon position has more of an effect on feeding times than the moon phase. When the moon is straight overhead or straight down below the earth(aka Moon South) it is the main feeding times of the day(an hour or 2 before and after). When on the horizon, it is the secondary feeding time.
I believe this is called the Solunar Table and it affects fish and wildlife feeding.
Deer have to eat and usually do every 2 hours or so no matter what phase the moon is in.
This is the same thing that Byron Ferguson swears by in his book "Become the Arrow" and he still does to this day. He does also mention that there are several other factors that may affect movement, like pressure and weather. He also mentions that tidal charts for your area will tellyou the same times regarding moon rise & set, overhead & underfoot. I fully intend to try these theories out myself, as long as I remember to.... :knothead:
I agree 100% with Pat B. I have hunted with regard to moon position and phase for about 15 years now and I am a believer. Don't get me wrong I hunt any time I can get in the woods. (which is every day of bow season thru Dec.) I just think movement is more prevalent at these times from my experience. Moon directly over head and under foot!
http://www.solunarforecast.com/solunarcalendar.aspx
The "hunting and fishing times" in the Farmer's Almanac, your gps unit, and various other hunting mags are based on the moon position (not phase), like Pat B said.
does this solar chart really work?
Yes. It's nothing new, either.
Never heard of anyone using it
I used the soluner tables for my hunting area for years and I found them to be very reliable. Like others here I believe in hunting anytime you have the opportunity. It is like fishing, you ain't gonna catch any fish if your lure ain't in the water.
That being said, whatever times the soluner tables said were the major and minor feeding times for my area I tried to make sure I was either in my stand or still hunting. The only thing that I found that would effect a change was weather. I found that deer would become more active prior to an approaching storm or front.
My grandfather taught me about them when I was a kid. He primarily used them for fishing, and always had a little reference booklet on him. I remember him telling me that his grandfather had taught him the same thing.
Next time your in the woods, take note of when you see the most activity (squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, etc) Odds are those times will coincide with those tables.
I will be out in the morning thanks alot