I have a question, how many of you guys hunt by the moon phase? For those that do, is it a strict rule for you guys? Or more a guideline? I've never really hunted by the moon phase I've always just gone out in the woods when I had the time. I'm curious about it so I thought I'd ask. Thanks for the help.
I personally feel that the moon has no effect on deer movement. I've hunted during the middle of the day as suggested in some hunting articles on the subject and not seen a single deer. I've also done the same thing during other moon phases and seen lots of during the middle of the day. I really only let weather dictate my hunting setups. Ultimately I think it boils down to being in the right place at the right time.
the only thing that I have noticed over the years is, if the moon is visible in the day time, I have saw more deer that day...not real scienctific, just fact....
theres something to the moon phases, (but im not gonna not hunt) just because the moon phase is wrong for that particular day.
What arrow30 said. I hunt when I can, but the moon does affect deer movements.
Thanks guys, I've still got a lot to learn about a lot of things lol. So thanks for the help.
i have the book hunting whitetails by the moon. and its good read but i have not personally seen the findings. esp hunting around full moon. it says its about the best. but i find its usually worst. they will stay in there beds later. the book is very believing though. but i dont see it. maybe on undisturbed penned deer idk.
Weather and season have to be figured into the equation where moon phase is concerned. Quickly rising or falling barametric pressure will trigger activity and is a more reliable indicator.
QuoteOriginally posted by Knawbone:
Weather and season have to be figured into the equation where moon phase is concerned. Quickly rising or falling barametric pressure will trigger activity and is a more reliable indicator.
I agree. I pay more attention to the weather forecast than the "rut calendars".
I dont have the successes around a full moon like I do with the other phases. My 40 years worth.
I dont have the successes around a full moon like I do with the other phases. My 40 years worth.
2X on the full moon, I don't waste my time during the day and night hunting is not allowed here.
I do believe the moon can be a factor, but as said, there are other things like weather, rut, etc. that I think are more important. I hunt anytime that I can and don't factor the moon into it. About the only time I take it into consideration is if I am planning a trip out of state. I would prefer not to have a full moon fall during the middle of the trip. But I wouldn't stay home because of it either!
I agree Whip, It is well known that the moon affects us on earth, from the tides, to certain spawning fish, to the critters and even us, Work in the public sector or directly with people and you can see this every full moon.
The word "lunatic" is an old moniker regarding the moons (bad) effect on some folks that lose thier mind during the full moon.
Exactly HOW it affects critters like deer may be less known for certain, but there is an effect.
All of that aside, I hunt when I have the chance and try not to pre-load the hunt with bad information (wrong moon phase, bad time of month etc), I just go...
ChuckC
My Dad gave me a book "Moon up-Moon down". It was written by John Alden Knight.It is a very good read. He also published a booklet, The Solunar Tables, that one could purchase on a yearly basis. It may still be available.
David
i do think there is something to the moon phase and animal movement, but of course the weather plays a much bigger part. Just to kinda check it out i will see what the "peak" movement times are listed for and full moon vs 1/2 moon etc and i have noticed a marked increase of general game movement around these times .. and i see less movement in the mornings on a full moon but more mid day activity.. i do take it all into consideration when planning a hunt, but of course i hunt anytime i can
The only rule I stick to is to spend as much time in the woods from November 1st through the 20th. Regardless of weather or moon phase. Of course thats up here in New York. I've shot my share of deer when weather or moon phase was supposedly not ideal.
I hunt when I can also, but the last few years I have noticed increased sightings and success for me with a full moon at the beginning of rut. Years ago I would avoid the full moon at that time, but becoming a better hunter and learning my area better increased my success with the full moon
Down here it helps to hunt late morning and mid-day during the full moon. It's a good excuse to sleep in and have lazy hunt. What I do depends on cold fronts and weather in general more than the moon, though. Hunt when you can is rule #1, esp. during the rut. TG
I started using a solanar app last year, and it was surprisingly accurate. Could've been total coincidence, but when I did see deer, it was within the high activity time window. My friend who turned me on to it doesn't bother going into the woods until an hour before peak, and he's been very successful.
I have a full time job, and a family, so I like knowing that if I'm gonna take a day to hunt, at least one factor may be favorable. I do agree that weather is probably a bigger factor, but I'm convinced moon phase matters too.
I do believe moon phase has an effect on deer movement..example..they will feed more at night on a full moon when they can see better. That will effect when they get hungry and move again and that time will again on through the month.
But, that's in a place like Eden, when you put human predators in the mix everything is relative. When they get hungry and feed again, it may be on the browse next to their beds.
I keep up with it all, go when I can and keep my eyes peeled during prime times.
I have hunted the moon phases extensively, even scheduling my vacation for that time. As we know, the primary rut begins of the second full moon following the Autumnal Equinox (in the mid west). If I may suggest some good resources on this subject, for those interested in learning more on this subject: One is Charles Alsheimer's Deer & Deer hunter article Assessing The Moon's Impact On The Whitetail Rut. Two is the book Moon Struck by Jeff Murray and Miles Keller.
Been a firm believer that when the moon is directly over head(full) or directly underfoot(dark)that deer movement is best mid-day. It has always been true for me. Shawn
The weather, and other variables previously mentioned, have a significant impact of the rut. These factors can cause what is commonly referred to a Trickle Rut, which tends to postpone or completely disrupt the chase phase of the rut. The Moon phases, taking the other variables into consideration, can aid you in predicting when the rut will begin, and whether the rut may fall into the Classic Hard Rut.
I haven't seen the correlation between deer movement and moon phase that some others do, but it really doesn't matter...I hunt when I can. I would certainly never stay home because of where the moon was in it's cycle.
I think weather has a lot more affect on their behavior than moon phase.
Wow thanks again guys.
I'm not a deer researcher, just playing the Devil's Advocate...
Alsheimer and other's theory that the second full moon after the autumnal equinox is what triggers the whitetail rut is based upon moonlight triggering the pineal gland?
What if it's cloudy?
What if it's cloudy for several days?
Are does not going to come into estrous?
Seems to me that here in northern Wisconsin fawns are dropped about the same time every year, (first week of June give or take), meaning that the does are bred about the same time of year assuming a normal gestation length.
Wouldn't it stand to reason that the continually decreasing amount of daylight which obviously registers cloudy or not is what triggers this?
Occam's Razor: The simplest solution is usually the correct one.
Just my take on it.
yes the moon plays a factor
I hunt whenever I get the chance. I dont care what phase it is.... I hunt.
I run alot of trail cameras and when there is a full moon I always get mid day pictures of deer. 11am-2pm
I had a pictures of a really big deer 160+ in 2010. that is huge for my area. i got mid day pictures of him in sept, oct, and november during the full moon days. and pictures of him almost every other night on other moon phases. he was only moving at night besides on a full moon. just before christmas our neighbor pulled up showing off this big buck he killed on his place. it was my buck! i was depressed! i smilled and said "great deer". the whole time it was eating me up inside. i never told him i had over 300 trail cam pictures of him. he shot the buck walking to his shooting house one day about 3:30. the buck ran across the road chasing a doe. shot him with a rifle!!!!! BUMMER!! im still sick over it.