Moon

[Lake shooter]

For those interested in the moon, this is really nice. There are many deer "experts" that discount the influence of the moon and suggest that there is little if any verifiable evidence as to it's effect on deer movement. Then again, many if not most of these same folks also say that deer (and especially big bucks) don't move or aren't active when temperatures, wind and humidity levels are way high for the season. My personal experience throws that last bit right out the window!

Sorry if I repeat, but the largest buck I've ever seen in the wild (easy 180+ class) was on his feet on the 31 of December with very warm west wind blowing fairly strong (tree limbs swaying) at about 4:30 PM........ with a halfish moon straight overhead, quartering downwind. Many of the huge bucks that I've seen up and about in good shooting light (not early or late) were in similar situations. Just a thought.

http://www.calendar-365.com/moon-calend ... ember.html

[MC45]

I am in the camp that moon plays a major part in deer movement but not the all in all. Weather,temperature, pressure, rut, and many other things also affect movement so I don't think you can totally go by the moon charts. This is my thoughts from my experiences anyways. It has always amazed me how I can drive to work and in an hour's time see 10 deer and then the rest of the week not see a single deer. I know there is something internal that causes them to move at the same time. Too bad we don't have it completely figured out. I have noticed though many animals move at the same time. Usually when I see deer moving I also see more rabbits,squirrels, and other animals moving more.

[JPjunkie]

If the barometer is rising or falling between 29 80 and 30 20 deer and other animals are on there feet

[Lake shooter]

MC45, I of course agree with you: IMHO, the moon has an effect but takes a backseat to the things you mentioned, and to me at least that's just common sense. Even if the moon was in a position that influenced game to be up and about, high hunting pressure, bad weather and so forth would surely make that moot.

I posted this copy because I believe it to be the best site that I've ever seen at visualizing each day's moon. I have had too many experiences with absolutely dead conditions for hours and then had a flurry of deer movement happen and then noticed that the moon was straight overhead or close to it, (as high as it will get at the peak of it's orbit, not necessarily 12:00 high) then dead action again. Could be dumb luck and coincidence, but I don't have a lot of faith in either one when something happens time and again.

Just like my example of unseasonably warm, windy and humid weather when most deer hunters stay in camp, rake the leaves, watch football and such, you have to be out there when such things are happening......... or when the moon is coming to it's zenith, to be able to tell any difference!!!

[bob watkins]

my son and i watch moon phases pretty closely for a lot of years . every thing said is true.hunting pressure weather changes what i have found is for us 5 days before a full moon and 5 days after full moon i just shot a deer on fri the 13th the full moon is the 17th this is the4th deer this year on this system my son is at least 3 this year twice we shot deer on the same day just my personal findings did lose one to yotes.

[Lake shooter]

You have to be out there to score! That is what I go by. I'll be damned if I'm sitting at home because of some chart! It's like the lottery, you ain't winning without a ticket, no matter what the odds are! If you hunt where the deer are, you are going to see deer. Put a rabbit's foot in your pocket, and get out there.

That was my whole point about hunting no matter this or that deer camp BS (deer don't move when it's warm, windy, etc.) moon phase, whatever. Like I said, I posted it for those who like to take notes and compare this day to that and have a really easy to see moon phase to add to the game. After all, we can't see it on cloudy days or around the new moon.

I've been keeping a hunting journal since 2000, making daily notes on moon phase, wind direction and strength, temperature, humidity and cloud cover/sun. Haven't kept track of barometric pressure because the other parameters can get you pretty darn close, but I need to start.

[Lake shooter]

Ex, once again I seem to be having words put in my mouth, although I don't believe that was your intent. Find anywhere that I said not to hunt unless the moon is in this or that stage or that I personally do the same and I'll pay you any amount of money you wish!!!!! I never said or implied any such thing!

How does this type of thing continually happen, and not just to me?

I'm poor man, I hunt and fish when the time and the gas money cross paths and that's it! Cripes, buying the 380 package was a big expense for me and the wife, as it was in 1998 when I bought my last bow and accoutrements! Are there times when I prefer to be out there? Sure thing, but when the two things above happen at the same time I go as long as the weather and traffic that comes with it permit!

[Kegbelly]

I believe the moon does affect game movement to some degree but I take the solunar theory thing with a grain of salt... I've killed deer on 1-star days and not seen a thing on 4-star days. Other times it's been right on the money. Lots of times I'll check the solunar calendar after the fact, just to see if the predictions match with what I saw in the field. In my experience it's been very hit and miss. And of course I can't see the whole woods from one stand, could be they're moving just as predicted, but just not in front of me. Who knows? Plain old luck plays a big part in hunting success.
There are so many variables though, as others mentioned, weather, wind, humidity, hunting pressure, etc. I work a full time job and run two small businesses of my own in my 'spare' time lol so I hunt when I can, I've never let a poor prediction stop me from hunting, and I've never killed one from the couch. For me hunting is an escape, a way to get away from it all for a while, relax, disconnect, think things through, etc. So if I don't see a deer it doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad day. Just my .02

[Lake shooter]

Ditto that! I hunt for the thrill, not the kill, but the biggest reason is to get away from humanity........ hopefully. Decompressing is the greatest reward I get from hunting.

[bob watkins]

i think as you guys getting out for me is really the whole thing. i deal with a lot of people getting some peace and quiet is a must for me. after 50 years of hunting each year becomes more precious. i do spend a lot of time in the woods i just love it

[Cossack]

Deer move when they move. The factors influencing their behavior are many and varied: weather, hunting and non hunting pressure, food availability, predation, barometric pressure, moon(light), breeding, security and territorial marking, to name just a few. To speculate that any single factor influenced one particular animal to behave a particular way is nothing more or less than a sample of one..of both the factor and the animal.

[JPjunkie]

The only real and natural deer movement has pretty much gone out the window There isnt hardly anyplace where deer movement isnt dictated by human movement

[Lake shooter]

Yes, but they are one of the most adaptable critters out there. In places with relatively high human presence, this adaptability and how they deal with humans becomes their "natural" behavior.

Example: back when I was a kid (42-48 years ago) I remember reading many deer hunting articles on the then fairly new practice of hunting from tree stands that said there was no need to be any higher than 8-10' up, because deer don't look up.......... They by golly DO look 20+' up into the trees where I hunt, most of the time, because that's where their new main predator resides. That adaptation and those who looked up and lived passing on their genes has become their "new normal" behavior.

[bob watkins]

cossak your 100 % right my findings only one part of a puzzle. sometime it comes together sometimes it dont

[fuzzy]

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