My buddy swears by this stuff. What do you guys think? BILL
They go from full, to quarter, to half, to 3/4, back to full. I have really never payed that much attention to it. I know others if the moon was full and the a cold front was approaching with a favorable wind for their best stand would stay on the couch just because of the moon. Neverliked a full moon when trying to get tight on gobblers on the roost, other than that have never let it affect my strategies. One thing that I have noticed over the years is that I have seen more deer midday while on stand during full moon phases with clear skies. I think deer quit their night time feedings a little earlier on clear full moon nights and head back to bed a little quicker.
I'm certainly not going to sit home during an "unfavorable" moon. Just hunt.
I have studied the moon for many years. I have found that if the moon is directly above or below the earth the critters and the fish move more.
I will hunt during a full moon for instance, but I generally hunt mostly midday when the moon is directly below the earth. I hunt and fish when I can but I do try to use the moon to my advantage.
Deer behavior here in KS is the same every year- regardless; moon, temps, wind etc. With that said- no doubt certain things trigger more movement certain times of day- but the rut is the rut; estrous is the same every year. Depending on the 400 yd. stretch you are hunting on a given day will report "the rut is going crazy!" or "wow- rut is terrible this year." Reality- if you had been sitting 400 yds different- your report when have been completely different! :)
My 2C worth
Dan
No doubt throw it all out when its the rut and just hunt. But the moon does affect deer. When its over head its a major feeding time and 12 hours later when its under feet its a minor feeding time.
I see more game during and around peak times but it doesn't affect my time in the woods. When I have a chance to hunt I take it no matter what the moon says.
Rob
I tend to go out later in the morning but thats about all...I'd rather be in the woods regardless of moon phase so I just go..
I think there might be something to it, not just hunting either fishing for sure; my wife's father even sows his seeds by the moon phases. I don't understand it, but his is the best garden around.
Tom
My time is limited so I too hunt whenever I can. I put more stock in temperature, hunting pressure, and weather fronts. The moon just determines whether or not I have to use my headlamp coming or going from my stand.
I hunt when I can, but have seen some value in this.
If you want a good place to keep tabs on these times, scoutlookweather.com works well.
I have long held the theory that it is not as productive to Hunt when there is a full Moon regardless of the time of Day.
It is only anacdotal, I should have been keeping a Journal but in my 2 favourite Hunting Spots every single time in the last 20 years that my Hunting Mates and I have Hunted during a Full Moon we have seen far less to no Game. We all hold the same observation.
The Critters I mostly Hunt are Feral Pigs and Goats. They do not come out of Cover early in the Morning on Full Moon Nights. Pigs in particular love to be out and about before Sunrise usually. Goats less so. If we spot Game we must work hard and pick through really thick Cover. I am guessing but I would say they are feeding in Cover at Night and bedded through the day. The only predators is the occasional pack of Wild Dogs and us Humans. The cover and terrain they inhabit during a Full Moon is great defence against Dogs.
My 2 spots I love to Hunt are Hundreds of Kilometres apart, one is in the New England Ranges in Northern New South Wales, the other in Desert Country in Western Queensland. Same Game Species Pigs and Goats and neither cooperate during a Full Moon.
The only oportunities I have had to Hunt recently have been on Weekends that had a Full Moon. The only Game we saw in the open was the same Fallow Deer Spiker. He is well protected by the 50 head of Cattle he lives with. This is why I feel he is so bold and does not take cover with his Mates the Pigs and Goats
As a ground hunter and stalker, I don't mind if the deer are moving or bedded. I've found many bucks laying down in their beds so the moon doesn't matter to me at all. Just hunt.
I am sure it affects wildlife behavior but I try not to let it affect mine. Gene Wensel was once asked about whether he preferred hunting in the full moon or the dark of the moon. His answer was "Yes".