I was wondering if anyone uses and or relies on the lunar charts. What experiences have you had. I had read that Texas State University did a study and found no correlation between deer movement and lunar movement. Up until then, I believed in it.
They probably work if you can only pick one or two days to hunt. But I find the best time to hunt is every chance I get, and if the deer aren't moving - I do.
I had a farmer today tell me that he has always noticed that the deer rut at the same time his goats do....always on a waning moon.
The next waning moon is just before Thanksgiving which is about when the rut kicks off around here.
But, like mentioned above, I just hunt as much as I can.
I have mixed emotions on the subject.
I'll be watching this closely!
It's only one of a lot of variables. I wouldn't let just the chart dictate whether or not I was going to hunt on a particular day.
What stumpkiller said x2
I'll agree with what's already been posted. In my experience, yes, they do work to an extent. But there are many other factors that influence deer movement. The biggest factor around where I hunt, is the weather. If it is unseasonably warm or cold, if it is raining or pouring, if it's breezy or really windy, will all effect where the deer prefer to be, or move. Hunting pressure, and availability of food and relative location to security cover are also important factors.
So in a more direct answer to your question, as long as there are no other factors suppressing deer movement, yes they do work. I have noticed the biggest so-lunar impact when the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the earth, and during the full and new moon phases.
Of course there is absolutely no ryme or reason during the rut. When a doe is in estrus, or a buck is feverishly seeking and chasing, movement can and will occur at anytime during the day or night, even with minimal suppressing factors.
In both cases, stand location is the most important thing to a hunters success. You have to be where the deer want to be.
I have found the moon to determine many, many things, including animal movement. I have never used a chart. I simply figure out when the moon is directly above or below the Earth for the best hunting and fishing. The daily news paper has the moon rise and set times, from there it's easy to determine the moon's position.
Like most, I hunt when I can but I will know where the moon is and take advantage of it. Back when I coon hunted a lot I would take advantage of the moon phase. The coon hunting nights proved out the moon phase was way more than just a theory for me. Quarter moons were and are the best time to get some early coon hunting done. This lead to trying the moon phase for all types of hunting and fishing.
Of coarse there's no guarantees but in my mind the moons helps more than a little. The next time you hunt a full moon try a mid-day hunt. Good Luck!!!
Well I am not sure, I hunt when I can. However, I have a brother in law, that swears by them. He only hunts when the lunar charts say it is the best time/days. He really only hunts a few days a year. His success is very hard to argue with as he takes about 130-150 inch bucks every year. he is a xbow and rifle hunter though. Could just be coincidence, but sure seems to work for him.
I got the app on my phone just a few weeks ago called isolunar. I have been paying attention to it. It will be my first year watching.
I have Alzheimer's book on hunting whitetailed by the moon. Only thing he says that I don't agree with is hunting is best on full moon. I have found that to not be very true for me. Except for this year. Big ol nanny hit the ground. But have heard numerous times as stated above about hunting mid day on a full moon. I'm going to try it here on the hunters moon coming up.
I don't really use the chart but I have seen a disproportionate number of deer on mornings following a new moon.
I just do not see how hunters can determine movements by the lunar charts unless the deer is fitted with gps and the hunter is monitoring it. :dunno:
Just because a hunter does not see a deer on a certain day does not mean the deer was not up and moving or feeding somewhere else.
One thing is for sure...you will not see deer if you're home on the couch.
I agree Blackhawk.
There may be something to it, and it surely can hurt.
But you cant kill um on the couch!
i read an article recently that tested some of those factors, and the one that seemed to affect deer movement the most was barometric pressure. deer tend to move, regardless of any other factor, when barometric is within a certain range (can't remember exactly what it was), or when it is rising. low or falling pressure slowed them down tremendously.
i'll try to find the link.
This is a good article. Love the last paragraph...
http://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/cuzs-corner/2012/11/20/the-effect-moon-phase-has-on-hunting-deer
If you google "moon-phase deer movement research" you will not find an scientific research based article to support the concept that moon phase has any appreciable effect on movement. But if you google "moon-phase deer movement" there is all sorts of opinions and stuff to "buy".
Loved what Blackhawk said too...that pretty much sums up lots of what we think works or not....
I have been watching this for a few years. I really do see increased movement when moon is overhead or directly underfoot. I have seen enough to have no doubts but I hunt when I can anyway.
found it.
http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/big-buck-zone/2011/10/how-barometric-pressure-affects-deer
I have the Isolunar app on my phone and look at it mostly for fun but I will say that on days they call for more activity I see way more deer while driving(I drive a lot for my job) than on days with low movement predicted. Very "unscientific" but when I have to drive at night I pay attention and slow a bit on predicted high movement days.
No.
JMO
No
QuoteOriginally posted by Bobby Urban:
I have the Isolunar app on my phone and look at it mostly for fun but I will say that on days they call for more activity I see way more deer while driving(I drive a lot for my job) than on days with low movement predicted. Very "unscientific" but when I have to drive at night I pay attention and slow a bit on predicted high movement days.
agreed. i use it too, and it is dead on about the major and minor movement times. if it says they're gonna move, they do. i'm constantly amazed at how right it is.
I have used solunarforecast.com and usprimetimes.com the past 3 seasons during my Kansas hunts and I am absolutely convinced that they indicate peak periods of movement. I will not head out this year without the forecasts. All you do is put in the zip code and the dates of your hunt and it will give you the needed info for free. Give it a try, there is nothing to lose.
Moon influence on deer movement was proven wrong more than 15 years ago.
Bowwild is right...controlled studies have shown that the moon has little influence on deer movement.
Very simply put...it's the temperature more than anything else.
RULE: If it's a full moon and a cold front hits, they move. If it's a full moon and weather is warm, they do not.
Its bunk I just ask my dog. I go any time I can go. The game is still there just might not be doing what you want them to be doing. Go out and make them do what you want them to do.
I hunt whenever I can. Weather is critical to movement and I try to hunt the best conditions. But, if I have to plan way ahead for my time on vacation, I go with the noon phase to narrow the choices. I have seen enough correlation between movement with the moon being right and all other factors being good not to miss a predicted peak activity time.
I do keep a eye on it fairly closely and have for years, but also hunt every chance I can, I do see a very strong increase in game movement, (everything in the woods), during "peak times" I have a friend who plans his hunts around it and will sleep in on days where the peak times hit late morning or mid day, then gets to stand a hour before.. he kills as many if not more deer than anyone I know , but I just cant do that, Im in a stand way before daylight regardless. the only time my friend deviates from this is during the run when anything can happen..
It is only one factor. I dont care where the moon is - if the deer are feeling pressure, especially the older deer (bucks and does) they are not going to move very far from their sanctuaries until the they feel safe - usually under the cover of darkness. One of the things that I have to deal with on public land is scouting early in the year, doing all the prep, staying out of my stand areas only to have the flood of dove hunters and nwebie bow hunters walking all through the area and really turning the deer nocturnal. Some people really don't have a clue and mess up the hunting season before it ever begins. I scout long range all year and I never see anyone out and about (except during turkey season) until dove season and the two weeks proceeding archery season.... then you see a massive rush of people. Guess that is the downfall of living in a state with few public land options (TX). Just part of the puzzel have to learn to pattern the deer hunters like mos tof our deer do :)