I firmly believe "moon phase" plays a key role in deer movement and activity during the rut, but I will go nuts trying to figure out all the details. So I try to keep it simple. I tell myself, the brighter the moon, the more the deer move by night as well as middle of the day. And when the "new moon" falls in the first week of November as it does this year, (November 3rd), I go by that as the start of heavy rutting activity. Sometimes when it is a full moon, I don't even go in the woods until about 10-11 AM and hunt until dark. I believe that the "new moon" come November 3rd and the 2 weeks that follow is the time to be in the woods in my area. But one thing I do during this time of the year is try to find out where the does are and pattern their movements because that's where I will find the bucks. I also take into consideration weather fronts and surrounding hunting pressure during this time of the year too.  

KS,

Being that this study involves Texas whitetails, it's outside of the study area for Alsheimer. Rut dates, influences on the rut and rut suppressors certainly vary from the extreme north to extreme south and east to west. That said, their results mirror you findings. Hmmm.

Very interesting data though, KS. Thanks for sharing it!

I love walking in moon shadows. That's the only thought of the moon I have during hunting season.

I'll be hitting it hard from now through November 16 in KY and IN.  The great thing about these two states' hunting calendars is IN's gun season starts on the 16th and KY's the 9th. I'll hunt in KY until the 9th and then go to IN for the week before their firearms season.

Nothing against the guns or gunners but I do despise wearing hunter orange when I bowhunt.(Deer don't care a hoot but I do.)

Good luck, Bowwild!

Mature bucks with does tonight in N.E. KS.  1st estrous is upon us.

QuoteOriginally posted by KSdan:
Mature bucks with does tonight in N.E. KS.  1st estrous is upon us.

thanks
ksdan      

I saw 2 sets of lonely twins this weekend.....

No Bucks, No Does... Maybe the Bucks have Mama in "lockdown" already?????