ORIGINAL: kevin1
Nearly all of the research that I've read leans toward photoperiodism as being the primary triggering agent, not the moon phase.
Photoperiodism is triggered by the moon
Every year, generally around the last week of October and first week of
November the first full moon after the Fall Equinox occurs, to deer hunters this is often referred to as the "rutting moon." The rutting moon and decreasing amount of light taken in through the deer’s eye triggers a sensory receptor in the brain, kind of like their all-natural aphrodisiac.
ORIGINAL: BetterBirddogs
I don't believe it. I tend to
believe that the length of daylight is what triggers does into estrus.
I also don't believe you can go off one person's study because
everyone's place is different. On my new place for example there are 6
does to every buck so I don't have a fighting phase of the rut. You
can't rattle them in or anything. They don't need to fight. I'm in
the process of doe removal but its gonna take me a couple years. I
think you can't go by cookie cutter research because everyone's hunting
place has different factors.
Alsheimer isn't the only one who studies this; there have been multiple studies completed and I think you'll find most biologists and experts in the field tend to agree that it is, in fact, the moon that triggers it. Most people don't have a "fighting" phase of the rut, actually, I'm pretty positive it doesn't exist, there three phases are the seek, chase and breeding phases and as Rockin' Chair said they do/can all over lap one another. Buck to doe ratio only effects the intenesity of the rut, the overlapping of phases and the length of the rut. It really has nothing to do with the onset of the rut. Deer don't have the thinking capacity to say, "Well,this year there ratio is 3 to 1, I must thus begin rutting early in order to be able to breed all of the does." With rut length, however, a poor ratio is much more of a problem as the rut can be lenghtened from its traditioanl 40 days to nearly 90 sometimes which is very, very hard on the buck's body and can sometimes drive them to death.
Like you said, every place is different, however, it does not affect that onset of the rut. North of the 36'30 line you'll find very consistent evidence and research that the first full moon following the fall equinox triggers the rut. And, let me say, it is far from cookie cutter research
And, even if it were, people like Alsheimer and Lee Rue are two people who I'd go to the bank with when it comes to their studies, they are pure genuis when it comes to whitetials. Have you read much of their stuff, Birddog?
All that being said, what studies/experience has lead you to believe that rutting activity is triggered by the length of daylight? Ya never know, maybe you're on to something~