That's within 4 days either way of Perigee (which happened just after the new moon on the 5th). I had the 3rd-13th marked as days to try and get out in October for Afternoon-Evening hunts if weather and work allowed. I use Bill Vale's calendar though and he differs from some other Moon Guys...to each their own as they research and such. However, I'll admit when you know what a buck is doing and interacting with certain winds and food conditions the moon is just another factor that can assist but not stop you from capitlizing in my opinion.
IMO nothing is ever 100% spot on when it comes to deer hunting. Sometimes people want to write stuff just for the sake of having something to write about. I personally haven't had many "good" hunts during the full moon with last year being the only notable exception. Last year's full moon was 10/29 and I had some of the best hunts of the year on 10/26 and 10/27. This year's full moon was pretty dead for me - 3 deer from the stand in 3 sits. With good weather conditions and favorable winds for the stands I sat it was a bit disappointing.
Year after year we debate the cause and effect of the moon. Last year my best day in the woods the whole season was 10/27 so I agree with Justin on last years timing. The activity should start at the same time again this year which leads me to think that the length of daylight in each day is more influential than moon phase. I DO believe that it is easier for the deer to move at night on a full moon but don't think that it triggers the rut. Regardless i will be in the tree for every single minute that I can get there for the next three weeks. The biggest bucks that passed my trail cameras last year were on 11/1 to 11/3 which happens to be when I took some vacation time this year. Good Luck to all and lets post the dates when we start knocking them down!
I don't believe moon phases effect when does come into estrus. I do believe moon phases have an effect on deer behavior regarding times of day/night they are most active. I think it's funny that people who aren't seeing much action from their stand assume the rut just isn't happening.
I agree with you 100%. Its frustrating when the deer are on the opposite side of the property during what should be the peak of the rut. That happened to me a lot last season, I barely saw the rut in action.
I don't get too hung up on moon phases but I do love the first new moon after the Autumn Equinox. You always hear reference to the first full moon but I'm not a fan of full moons. To me what's more important than the phase of the moon is the rise/set times. Any moon that rises and sets during the day or is overhead at some point during daylight hours is good with me. For example this year that 1st autumn new moon is nov 3, so basically a few days before and after there's minimal moonlight. Plus from nov 1 through nov 7 the moon rises early in the morning and set at or near dark. Just means lots of dark nights and prolonged darkness leads to spikes in melatonin output in whitetails which leads to "brown chicken brown cow"... Just my .02
If it is possible... I will do my best to be out hunting when the moon is over head. Haven't had much luck hunting a full moon until last Friday evening. Deer were moving like crazy a half hour before sun down. Had a great buck on it's feet and moving my way at sun down. At 60 yards he was following my plan to a T. At 50 yards he was still on the right plan. At 40 or so yards he change the plan and veered off. DAMMIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The next evening it was dead for deer movement. This time of year... I am hunting any chance I get. Nothing is written in stone when it comes to deer and when they decide to move. With the colder temps and rut not too far off... the only thing I worry about is the wind. Tim
2011 I killed my buck on November 11th, full moon. 2012 I killed my buck on November 13th, new moon. Both were morning hunts. I think the rut was the driving factor, but I do believe that deer tend to be more active around both the new moon and the full moon. During the new moon, they tend to have good early morning activity and during the full moon, they tend to have more activity when the moon is underfoot. All just parts to the overall puzzle though.
I've said it before but I think the key thing to remember with any forecast is that it is a prediction not a certainty. I strongly believe that the moon plays an important role in wildlife activity. I also think that weather, time of year, hunting pressure, stand location, scent control, and luck play a role. But, I think that good hunters have lots of tools available to them and this is one of them.
I agree that moon phase doesn't effect when does come into heat. I've hunted in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan and in all those northerly ranges the does come into heat, on average, a couple weeks later than here in WI. It has led me to believe that it has absolutely nothing to do with moon phase.
DDH writes articles to sell mags many being hotly debated topics. The trickle rut prediction( Charlie from DDH? Zero science to back it up BTW) this year is comical. I believe moon phase has Zero effect on peak breeding. It's been 11/7 in central Wisconsin for my 40 years regardless of moon phase, temps, the price of gas or the Packers record. otherwise we would have fawns born 6/15 vs. 6/1 with all these late fawns in peril of winterkill the next year. I see maybe 1 spotted fawn out of 70 every year which was bred in the second, Dec. 7th phase. Could moon phase increase feeding activity? probably but so does weather changes.
Bottomline for me is it's not the be all, but it's a valuable tool or factor which can intensify or decrease activity levels in feeding, seeking and breeding.
I was told by an old timer in GA that big bucks move during the day if it is close to a full moon as they lay low during the night as the predators are up and moving more. Never really looked further into it but I know we had a lot of movement Saturday
