DO MOOn PREDICTORS WORK????
Again this was a reply but, I'll also post it.
To answer the question:
I've got over 4,000 deer sightings over a 7 year period from my research, all on graphs, with the ovehead/underfoot positon of the moon plotted. When I looked at the times of the deer sightings, most of them were at dawn and dusk, just like the graphs produced by several deer biologists. Peak deer movement times in the fall are at dawn and dusk, and they are not correlated with the position of the moon; in my study, or any deer biologist's study.
The books and predictor's are a way to get you guys to buy products. Not one of the several deer biologists I talk to on a regular basis believe they work. They may work on fish, because fish are suspended in water, and they feel gravitational pull of the moon, through tides, even in lakes. Deer aren't suspended in water. Ask any person or table designer to show you scientific proof that they work. I tried. They can't do it, because they don't have any proof.
YES, my contention (and belief, of me and several top deer biologists, based on scientific research) is that the overhead/underfoot moon position does not cause deer to move more than normal. Nor does it determine when they will get up or lay down.
The only predictor that APPEARS TO WORK, is Jeff Murrauy's Moon Guide. He says that when the moon is overhead/underfoot between 5AM and 9AM look for deer at a food source, when the moon is overhead/underfoot between 9AM and 11AM look for deer in transition zones (going from feeding areas to beddng areas), when the moon is overhead/underfoot between 11AM and 3PM look for deer in their beddding areas; etc, etc. Well, DUH. How can you be wrong when that's where most of the deer are going to be anyhow. I could just as easily say the deer are going to move when I have to use the bathroom
at those times.
Peak Breding
The data provided to me by the Minnesota DNR, of over 1,600 does, between 1980 and 1987, shows that peak breeding in Minnesota occurs during the second week of November. During those years the moon occurred most frequently during the and third and fourth weeks of November. In other word, no correlation with the moon and peak breeing. Dr. Karl Miller's study (and several other researchers) of 2,500+ does in 11 states, from VT to MN and from GA to MI, showed no correlation between peak breeding and ANY lunar phase.
Now, think about this. Those studies were down BEFORE any of the peak breeding/moon phase theories were out there. The studies weren't done to disprove the theories; the studies were done to find out when peak breeding occurred. The PREVIOUS studies disproved the theories. Karl Miller told me he told at least one writer he was wrong. When I told one biologist/writer about Karl's study, and asked him what he thought about it, he sad, "He's probably right, photoperoid (of the moon sic.), determines peak breeding." I've asked several writers and researchers to proof their theories. Again, they can't do it. If they could they would present a research paper on the subject to the scientific communtiy, but NO ONE has ever done it.
Yes, it is my contention (and the belief of me and several deer biologists, based on scientific research)that the phase of the moon has NOTHING to do with determining peak breeding of white-tailed deer.
Geez,
I hate when I have to write this much, but I don't want to state a position on something like this without some good, hard evidence.
There is evidence that the moon affects deer activtiy, but not in the way that the daily/hourly or breeding predictors/tables imply. Don't waste your money. If you want to hunt when the deer are most active, hunt near food sourcesin the mornings and evenings; hunt transition zones in the late morning hours and early evening hours; hunt bedding hours at midday; don't hunt at night, because it ain't legal.
Hope that clears that up.
T.R. Michels
[email protected]
T.R. Michels
Edited by - trmichels on 10/20/2002 10:03:47