From my experience, deer movement for a few days before, up to a few days after a full moon is during the night. with deer being able to see at night they tend to not like to take chances feeding in any open areas during the day, during a full moon. all of my best deer have come a few days before, up to a few days after a new moon. for the obvious reasons that they need to feed before they have a hard time seeing at night. if you notice any solunar calendar, the 4 and 5 star days always surround new moons!!!
Too right and this year the 15-16 opener is looking good. Long range forecast showing high winds; hopfull they will revise the wind forecast downward as we closer to the 15th.
While that is an interesting calendar, I wouldn't base my entire hunt on it. October 15th of last year was the best day of hunting I have ever seen, I was absolutely covered in deer. This is the night that I shot the deer in my avatar and had another just as big in the field in front of me, along with just about every other deer in the county moving. According to that calendar, it was a 0 star day. If I had taken that day off because of the moon I would have never shot this deer.
Nice Buck drop-tine, Your point is well taken and there are many factors that go into a critters decision to feed or get up and move. My own personal observations on the hunt and watching my dog, indicate that the solunar tables are very accurate in predicting feeding times for animals. As luck would have it the 15th opener (for us lucky folks) is a five star weekend, as is the weekend of the first; so there is an additional incentive to get out there.
That's kind of how I look at moon phase, more of an additional incentive rather than a deal breaker. If it is a really good day and a crappy moon phase, I will definitely still be out. But if it is kind of a crappy day, but an excellent moon phase, that may be just enough incentive to get me out of bed and in the stand.
The only thing that keeps me out of the stand is a pouring rain or temps like we have had this summer.
I sure hope that calendar is wrong. If not, the rut looks like piss poor hunting this year. I think I'll just take my chances and be in the stand waiting for Mr Big to walk by. I'd hate to miss an opportunity because that calendar said it wasn't a good day to hunt
Not for nothing... This past weekend, peak feed was ballpark 6am-8am and 7pm-9pm... In the morning, I saw deer from 7am to around 8:15 and then it died WAY DOWN... And in the afternoon, right about 6:45pm, I had 2 Doe's and 3 fawns walk right out of a swamp and brouse in an open oak flat..... That is when the moon was overhead and underfoot.. I downloaded "Hunting Calender" on my phone, it gives all the moon phases, positioning, major and minor feed, etc.. Now, please don't throw stones, I am one of the believers in moon positioning, and as stated and proved again to me this weekend that I usually see more activity during these times.. Now, don't get me wrong, I have seen deer outside of these times, but the bulk or majority I see when the moon is overhead or under foot.. Just my 2 cents and observations, hunt when you want, where you want, and how you want.... Everyone believes in different things, not trying to convince anyone, just how I feel..
Just did another dating back test. This time I looked at a trail cam pic from the guy I lease from. Note the improbable time that this buck is up and walking around. According to the table, this pic was taken on a five star day on 07-18 2012 at 12:26 pm. The table list major feeding time between 10:26 and 13:26.
I looked at the Solunar Calendar for for Nov 1st through Nov 11th, 2012. Highest rated day is a 2 star day. This is my favorite week to use vacation to hunt. I wonder if I should change some of my vacation time to the last week of Oct so I can hunt the 29th and 30th which are both 5 star days.
The way I view this is: I have seen deer move on full moons, new moons, half moons, quarter moons, waxing, waning, underfoot, overhead, horizon to horizon, sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy. I have also not seen deer under all of these conditions. Deer are going to move every day, in all directions, you just have to be in the right spot at the right time. I do believe that all of these factors have an influence on deer movement but it does not have "control" over deer. They need to eat and drink every day, therefore they will move every day. I'd say deer movement is a more "local" thing. I used to call a hunting buddy and complain "such and such condition caused no movement today" or vice versa and he would respond with the complete opposite observation. Years of this has taught me deer hunting is about 80% luck, 20% planning. ETA: The moral here is hunt when you can hunt. The worst conditions could turn into the hunt of your life. There is really no way to predict deer movement.
I like walking to that tree stand during a full moon in late Oct or early Nov. Coyotes howling, the sound of animals moving through the timber, unexplained noises, etc... Man that gets your blood pumping.
Almost nothing better than a slow walk in the hardwoods during a cold November morning with a full moon. Man I can't wait.
The storm moved in the night before a sudden drop in pressure can be the best of times, in the woods, or even on the lake fishing for that matter.
