Moon Phases and Hunting

[Diamondrock]

How many of you pay attention to the phases of the moon when hunting or planning your hunts?

[Dsotm223]

I pay attention to them, but I do not plan hunts around the moon. I feel the brighter the moon at night the more the animals move at night, but I don't believe it kills an entire hunt.

[MLN1963]

In my very limited hunting experiences, anything near full moon has resulted in seeing zero deer out during normal hunting hours. It could depend on location and food supplies to I suppose.

[mudslinger]

Weather will play a factor in sightings during a full moon also. If it is hot during the day, most movement is at night, but cold during the day, they will move more. I have never planned any hunt around a full moon or dark moon. If I can hunt I will hunt regardless of the moon or weather. Only so many days of hunting during the year. Gotta make the most of it.

[tigerhunter]

I don't plan my hunts around the moon phases. I am like mudslinger, I take what I can get. This does not mean that I do not believe that it has a pronounced effect on the movement of animals however. I believe it has tons to do with the moon phase, and a whole lot to do with the weather conditions. For instance, this past Saturday, hunting was supposed to be mediocre at best. Bad moon phase, moon in a bad location, however you want to look at it. Deer activity was to be slight at best. I saw over 40 deer on this morning and 5 of those being bucks that I would mount. And they all stayed just out of range, not just the bucks.

[Mark Land]

I hunt when I can hunt and don't pay much attention to the moon phase although I do believe a full moon does keep deer moving more at night, but I believe weather has more of an effect on deer movement then anything else and the worse full moon hunts seem to be when it get's to high temps during the rut, this seems to make for alot of all night chasing and not as much action during the day.

[Leo]

Weather and hunting pressure trumps moon phase in influence in my experience. Given good weather, it depends what you're hunting and how you are hunting.

Examples of "What" and "How":

1. Turkeys don't care about moon phase period. They are active during daylight hours only.
2. High pressured whitetails often become strictly nocturnal. A new moon phase limits their night time activity and increases daytime activity. Also, if it is overcast all night masking the full moon that may spur more daytime activity.
3. If you are stand hunting you depend on daytime animal movement to succeed. If you are stalking, nothing sleeps through getting it's butt stepped on.

Sometimes the moon phase is a factor and sometimes it isn't. I take it into account and if I can schedule a particular hunt around it when it might be important, I do.

[tigerhunter]

Originally Posted by tigerhunter

I don't plan my hunts around the moon phases. I am like mudslinger, I take what I can get. This does not mean that I do not believe that it has a pronounced effect on the movement of animals however. I believe it has tons to do with the moon phase, and a whole lot to do with the weather conditions. For instance, this past Saturday, hunting was supposed to be mediocre at best. Bad moon phase, moon in a bad location, however you want to look at it. Deer activity was to be slight at best. I saw over 40 deer on this morning and 5 of those being bucks that I would mount. And they all stayed just out of range, not just the bucks.

I missed my whole point in this one, haha...It was extremely cold for this time of year in South Carolina...Mid 20's in the woods. We all know what kind of effect that can have on deer.

So, yes, I hunt weather more than moon phase...but I do still think it is a major factor.

The truth is, I think the BAROMETER is the most important factor in VISIBLE deer activity.

[Fabbri]

the barometer? could u please explain that ?

[tigerhunter]

Originally Posted by Fabbri

the barometer? could u please explain that ?

Well, for simplicity sake, and the fact that I am no meteorologist, just keep your eyes on the the barometric pressure. When the barometer is moving, up or down, you will likely see more deer activity. Some believe that when the barometer is rising, the activity is best. I happen to think that as the barometer is dropping (barometric pressure), the greater the deer activity.

[UrbanDeerSlayer]

I too am no meteorologist, however, doesn't barometric pressure movement indicate an imminent change in weather conditions?? In other words, low pressure systems usually indicate rain, storms, etc... while high pressure indicates clear skies. Are you implying that when barometric pressure is changing, that we are going to have a change in weather either good or bad? So that deer movement is related to changing weather conditions??? I don't know. I can't seem to pattern whitetail deer very well, period.

[MLN1963]

I'll make it simple. If someone says their arthritis is acting up and there is a change in the weather coming, go hunting. If it is hunting season of course.