[HB]

Do you believe that moon phases affect deer movement and hunter success?
Please explain...

[Asherdan]

I hunt public land with decent hunting pressure. The mule deer out here go as nocturnal as they can on opening day. When I was out last week moonrise was 04:08 and that's when they started feeding and watering. By the time sunrise twilight hit at 06:00 they were heading to bed. If you're gonna play the catch 'em moving game you gotta keep moon rise and set in mind.

...ain't the first two poll options saying the same thing?

[Shawnee]

I think it does to some extent but it's just one variable of several so the occurance of a full moon can have different degrees of influence. Weather fronts are usually more influential and the effect of the moon often takes a secondary role.

Sometimes on a full moon deer will "sleep in" and move more near the middle of the day (when many hunters take a break for lunch).

Sometimes on a full moon - in some areas - deer will change bedding areas to be less "exposed" while bedded down.

Often if cattle are bedded so are deer, and likewise if cattle are on their feet grazing (like just ahead of a front) the deer will be browsing too.

The days right after a front has passed or settled in are often times of high activity.

High pressure fronts are usually preceded by windy times and wind will put deer down pretty solid because all the noise made by foliage defeats their senses as they try to stay alert to danger. So they will "hole up" until the winds subside because its' safer.

Curiously, deer often move quite a bit during periods of gentle rains. I don't really know why but my guess is they somehow feel screened or protected by the reduced visibility and maybe the quiter footing.

:scrutiny:
:cool:

[koja48]

But they still get up & stretch their legs & find a new bed around mid-day. Was the demise of a buck this year (the elk is already partially in the freezer . . . portions have been consumed & relished . . . the longbow proves to be effective again.).