hunting with the moon phases

Blaino · October 21, 2011, 01:43:00 PM

i don't know if many people put a lot of stock in hunting by then moon... i have been experimenting with it for the past few years. i think that their might be something to it....

take a look at the last week of the month

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml

TIM B · October 21, 2011, 02:06:00 PM

That's a neat site.
Lotsa people been talking about the last week of October!
It should be a good week if the weather cooperates!
i sure like pitch-black nights!
TIM B

MIKE WIRT · October 21, 2011, 02:07:00 PM

I believe in it. I have always seen increased activity during the dark of the moon. I was in Kirksville, MO bowhunting 10/10 thru 10/13 and the deer activity was slow at best, because of the full moon.

October 21, 2011, 02:13:00 PM

ive noticed activity is starting to pickup now, wasnt much happening during the bright moon,.

30coupe · October 21, 2011, 02:20:00 PM

I always hope to hit it right, but frankly, I'm going to hunt whenever I have the chance.

Ragnarok Forge · October 21, 2011, 02:25:00 PM

I use it for fishing and hunting. I have found it to be very accurate.

Blaino · October 21, 2011, 04:19:00 PM

yea i'm going to hunt no matter what. well, except rain.
we are getting our first "cool" snap down here and the moon is right and the last week in october has been good to me before.

it would be intresting (to me atleast) to have everyone pay attention to the moon phases and record their findings on this site......

Todd Greenwald · October 21, 2011, 08:09:00 PM

That is why I am off for the next 9 days. . .

Terry Lightle · October 21, 2011, 08:11:00 PM

I believe in it and have for many years,seem to see more deer when moon is right but hunt when I can no matter where the moon is.

stevewills · October 21, 2011, 08:37:00 PM

i dont put much faith in it,if it says its gonna be bad youll have a poor attitude about the hunt,i hunt every chance i get regardless....

frank bullitt · October 21, 2011, 09:34:00 PM

Blaino, I think it helps to pay attention to all that's going on!

I have paid attetion to the moon, this morning especiallly, here in the Midwest. The moon was half, and just about overhead at the 8-9 o'clock position. We had 3 days of steady rain, much needed!

When there is a change, I like to be in the woods! At 9:30 a.m., had 7 does moving in my area! They seem to be looking to feed at this time.

I was there, but no shots! Great morning, seeing all God has to to offer, I was happy to be in the picture!

hova · October 22, 2011, 12:28:00 PM

fishing i notice the solunar and tide make a difference . i dont hunt enough to know about it...

koger · October 22, 2011, 12:33:00 PM

I have wathced this for close to 20 years, nothing is fool proof, but this seems to be on about 80% of the time or more. Me, the wife and brother in law, several co workeers all watch it closely. It said in my area, last weekend, ML weekend, was worst 2 days of the month, and buddy it was. Hot temps did not help either.

danderson · October 22, 2011, 12:39:00 PM

I'm sure it has an effect, but i don't check the phase till after i'm out of the woods. so far haven't seen any connections

Hud · October 22, 2011, 05:02:00 PM

I believe it has an affect. I think the season and weather has as big effect on deer movement.
Good site to check. Thanks

jsweka · October 23, 2011, 11:27:00 PM

I'm not sure it has an effect or not. Lots of hunters claim so, and I was starting to buy into it to. However, the PA Game Commission and Penn State put out the results of a study that monitored the movement of radio-tagged deer a couple years ago and they found no effect of moon phase on deer movement. So, if it makes you feel more confident about your choice for time in the woods, then great. Otherwise, hunt when you can and enjoy it.

Stone Knife · October 24, 2011, 06:25:00 AM

Yep when the moon is full they run at night and mid day.

Blaino · October 24, 2011, 09:48:00 AM

well i hunted saturday morning untill 11:00 and didn't see a deer. went to town to eat luch and listen to the football game on the radio.... got back in the woods at 4. sat until dark and didn't see a deer again....
my dad was just a few hundred yards from me on both hunts and had deer all over him on both hunts... go figure.
the jury is still out on the moon for me.

Bill Turner · October 24, 2011, 03:19:00 PM

Jeff Murray wrote an interesting book in 1994 entitled "Moonstruck". I've been buying his Moon- dial for several years. I find it to be a very handy tool, especially when scheduling hunts around vacations, etc. It doesn't keep me out of the woods but it does help when determining movement patterns. Jeff died last year but his wife has continued the business. If your into the moon and its affects on game movement I highly recommend "Moonstruck" and the Murray "Moondial". "Keep'Um Sharp".

LeeBishop · October 24, 2011, 03:28:00 PM

Im not an expert on this at all, but I see more activity when there is less of a moon too. It' pretty obvious.

When they don't have as much light at night, they stick around eating in the morning and evening.

I don't believe in the effects of the moon on mammals though. That is hocus pocus. The gravitational force of a pillow lying on your head in bed is about 100,000 times stronger than any lunar pull.

I think it comes down to a lighting thing and being able to get more eating done with more light at night or less eating due to lack of light with their vision capabilities.

So, my opinion is that it's not just a lunar chart. A very cloudy weather pattern over your area could affect the movement of feeding deer just like a new moon. Cloudy and stormy nights are the ones I like to hunt after.