I have heard that during a full moon deer are out feeding more in the middle of the night and are also more active mid day. What about when cloud cover or snow showers occur at night? It seems that would negate the light and therefore the belief that you will see deer activity mid day.
I was really going to try sticking it out in my treestand all day today, but didn't due to a storm that rolled in early last night and hasn't let up yet. Went out before first light and am back in to dry my clothes before heading out again. Real wet heavy snow.
Do you think enough moon light penetrates the cloud cover and the movement pattern for a full moon holds true no matter the conditions?
I think the moon movement is more about the position of the moon and not so much the amount of light. I have set many a day hunting with moon over head at night with no moon light and no deer activity in the day light. It had never seemed to me that they waited for daylight to do this business.
Never mind the moon. As soon as the storm stops, they will be moving plenty.
If I've already got some hunting in, I'll take a break during the full moon. Catch up on chores or whatever. I always feel like I'm wasting my time when the deer movement is off.
If I've already got some hunting in, I'll take a break during the full moon. Catch up on chores or whatever. I always feel like I'm wasting my time when the deer movement is off.
I wish I could explain it but this week with the moon reaching to near fullness my wife and I have had more early activity than we can remember even when the moon is dark. Deer are showing up at 3:30 in the afternoon.
This morning at 8AM, a lone doe was running around in circles in our front field, 4 were feeding in a side field and 2 were in the yard under an apple tree. At 8:30 I walked out to retrieve my trail cam and find a fork horn on it 5 minutes before I got there. Bumped him on the walk back into the house.
Cloudyish last night, foggy this AM, 40F. Seem to be moving OK early in the day. Things are pretty hot here right now. No hunting on Sunday here.
I should add that this week will see my most concerted effort as some real magic seems to happen here every year around the 20th. Not always successful, but plenty exciting.
It's the rut. Try and grunt it out. Only takes 1 minute! Be a grunt, a grunt can take it. A hard headed grunt kills deer. I'm am a living testimony to that. Public land, low deer population. GRUNT IT OUT! You will be blessed