You may or may not believe that the moon affects deer movement, then again you might. But either way here is a gift for you deer hunters and my friends who I have never seen across the great whitetail hunting grounds.

I spend many hours in the tree, in the floor and on the computer, over the last several years so this is not just a spur of the moment gift.

With me out of a job, my kids football, baseball, and wrestling on the weekends this year, I may not see if things hold true as much as I would like if at all. So this is my gift to you from me.

Before you go, no matter what the activity of Deer are, when you get a chance to hunt is still better than the chance you have sitting in the house. Plus the fact some of us only get to hunt the weekends.

DEER ACTIVITY INDEX
BY ALLEN “horntagger” MORRIS

Pre-rut starts from the second full moon from the fall equinox and last for about 8 days with the Main Rut starting at the last quarter moon phase and lasting 6 more days to the New Moon with the Post Rut lasting for 7 more days during the New Moon.

Definitions:
Pre-rut = (Seeking/Rubbing/Scraping) Bucks chasing Does.
Rut = (Chasing/Tending) Bucks Tending Does
Post-Rut = (Breeding Complete) Bucks Searching for Does

THE DEER ACTIVITY INDEX
Deer Season FY 2003
Daytime Movement Only
Based from 317 Daylight Deer Sightings in Missouri of 100% Free Ranging Whitetail Deer
NEW MOON – FULL MOON – FIRST QUARTER – LAST QUARTER
LOW - MEDIUM - HIGHEST - HIGHEST
13% -------------- 17% ----------------- 35% --------------- 35%
Highlight the days below that you see deer for your own records.

September 23rd Fall Equinox
Deer Activity Index for October =
A. Sparring and rubbing peaks last few days of the month through the first few days of the month through the first week of November.
B. Majority of rubbing activity starts, bucks of all ages.
C. Most Scrapes Opened by end of the Month.
D. False Rut October 18th thru October 24th.
E. Cooler Temperature’s from the North will also increase activity this time of year.

October 1st New Moon – Low
October 2nd First Quarter – Highest
October 3rd First Quarter – Highest
(Sat) October 4th First Quarter – Highest
(Sun) October 5th First Quarter – Highest
October 6th First Quarter – Highest
October 7th First Quarter – Highest
October 8th First Quarter – Highest
October 9th First Quarter – Highest
October 10th Full Moon – Medium
(Sat) October 11th Full Moon – Medium
(Sun) October 12th Full Moon – Medium
October 13th Full Moon – Medium
October 14th Full Moon – Medium
October 15th Full Moon – Medium
October 16th Full Moon – Medium
October 17th Full Moon – Medium
(Sat) October 18th Last Quarter – Highest (False Rut under way , Open Mock Scrapes Don’t Forget Overhanging Limb.)
(Sun) October 19th Last Quarter – Highest
October 20th Last Quarter – Highest
October 21st Last Quarter – Highest
October 22nd Last Quarter – Highest
October 23rd Last Quarter – Highest
October 24th Last Quarter – Highest
(Sat) October 25th New Moon – Low
(Sun) October 26th New Moon – Low
(Daylight Saving Times Ends)(Move Clocks Back)
October 27th New Moon – Low
October 28th New Moon – Low
October 29th New Moon – Low
October 30th New Moon – Low
October 31st New Moon – Low (Halloween)

Deer Activity Index for November =
A. Does in estrus 24-hour period.
B. Peak of rut – Dominant bucks tending does, subordinate bucks trying to.
C. 80 to 90 percent of does breed during first rut.
D. Bucks lose up to 25 percent of body weight during breeding season.
E. Some rubbing activity will continue until January.

(Sat) November 1st First Quarter – Highest
(Sun) November 2nd First Quarter – Highest
November 3rd First Quarter – Highest
November 4th First Quarter – Highest
November 5th First Quarter – Highest
November 6th First Quarter – Highest
November 7th First Quarter – Highest
(Sat) November 8th First Quarter – Highest
(Sun) November 9th Full Moon – Medium
(Note Second Full Moon) (Pre-Rut Starts)
November 10th Full Moon – Medium
November 11th Full Moon – Medium
November 12th Full Moon – Medium
November 13th Full Moon – Medium
November 14th Full Moon – Medium
(Wife’s Birthday send Gifts)
(Sat) November 15th Full Moon – Medium
(Sun) November 16th Full Moon – Medium
November 17th Last Quarter – Highest
(Rut Starts)
November 18th Last Quarter – Highest
November 19th Last Quarter – Highest
November 20th Last Quarter – Highest
November 21st Last Quarter – Highest
(Sat) November 22nd Last Quarter – Highest
(Sun) November 23rd New Moon – Low
(Post Rut Starts)
November 24th New Moon – Low
November 25th New Moon – Low
(Firearms Season Ends)
November 26th New Moon – Low
(Second Half Bow Season Opens)
November 27th New Moon – Low
(Thanksgiving Day)
November 28th New Moon – Low
(Sat) November 29th New Moon – Low
(Son’s Birthday send Gifts)
(Sun) November 30th First Quarter – Highest

Deer Activity Index for December =
A. Second estrus by does not previously bred 30 days from first rut.
B. 10 to 20 percent of does breed during second rut.
C. Some rubbing activity will continue until January.
D. Turkey’s will be in large groups during this time of year.
E. Some gobbling will take place.

December 1st First Quarter – Highest
December 2nd First Quarter – Highest
December 3rd First Quarter – Highest
December 4th First Quarter – Highest
December 5th First Quarter – Highest
(Sat) December 6th First Quarter – Highest
(Sun) December 7th First Quarter – Highest
December 8th Full Moon – Medium
December 9th Full Moon – Medium
December 10th Full Moon – Medium
December 11th Full Moon – Medium
December 12th Full Moon – Medium
(Sat) December 13th Full Moon – Medium
(Sun) December 14th Full Moon – Medium
December 15th Full Moon – Medium
December 16th Last Quarter – Highest
(Second Rut Starts)
December 17th Last Quarter – Highest
December 18th Last Quarter – Highest
December 19th Last Quarter – Highest
(Sat) December 20th Last Quarter – Highest
(Sun) December 21st Last Quarter – Highest
December 22nd Last Quarter – Highest
December 23rd New Moon – Low
December 24th New Moon – Low
December 25th New Moon – Low
(Christmas Day)
December 26th New Moon – Low
(Sat) December 27th New Moon – Low
(Sun) December 28th New Moon – Low
December 29th New Moon – Low
December 30th First Quarter – Highest
December 31st First Quarter – Highest

Deer Activity Index for January =
A. Third & final estrus by doe deer not previously bred 30 days from second rut could occur from January 15th – January 21st
B. Movement is limited
C. Deer switch to daytime activity, moving around when it is warmer.
D. Bedding and feeding on southeast exposures.
E. Yarding Activity ongoing.
F. Antler shedding by younger bucks.
January 1st First Quarter – Highest
(New Year’s Day)
January 2nd First Quarter – Highest
(Sat) January 3rd First Quarter – Highest
(Sun) January 4th First Quarter – Highest
January 5th First Quarter – Highest
January 6th First Quarter – Highest
January 7th Full Moon – Medium
January 8th Full Moon – Medium
January 9th Full Moon – Medium
(Sat) January 10th Full Moon – Medium
(Sun) January 11th Full Moon – Medium
January 12th Full Moon – Medium
January 13th Full Moon – Medium
January 14th Full Moon – Medium
January 15th Last Quarter – Highest
(Third Rut Starts)


Deer activity index is affected by the moon, location, weather (temperature, rain, etc) and hunting pressure which affects it the most. All this must be taken into account when using the following index.

My index is based off 9 years of my personal observation records and 5 years of photo’s from surveillance camera and other resources.

Before you go, no matter what the activity of Deer are, when you get a chance to hunt is still better than the chance you have sitting in the house. Plus the fact some of us only get to hunt the weekends.

Another interesting fact is that.
Based on 317 Whitetail Deer
208 Whitetail deer or (66%) are Sun Rise to Noon Sightings.
109 Whitetail deer or (34%) are Noon to Sunset Sightings.

Another interesting fact is that.
Based on 394 Whitetail Deer
265 Whitetail deer or (67%) moved during the nighttime hours.
129 Whitetail deer or (33%) moved during the daylight hours.

THE DEER ACTIVITY INDEX FOR PREVIOUS YEARS:
Daytime Movement Only
Based from Daylight Deer Sightings in Missouri of 100% Free Ranging Whitetail Deer

NEW MOON – FULL MOON – FIRST QUARTER – LAST QUARTER
LOW - MEDIUM - HIGH - HIGHEST
Deer Season FY 2000 – 100 Whitetails ------17% ------ 19% -------- 29% ---------- 35%
Deer Season FY 2001 – 188 Whitetails ------14% ------ 16% -------- 33% --------- 37%
Deer Season FY 2002 – 274 Whitetails ------14%------- 19% ------- 33% ---------- 34%
Deer Season FY 2003 – 317 Whitetails ------13% ------ 17% ------ 35% ---------- 35%

This Deer Activity Index should be adjusted for Southern Texas and the Deep South so that the noted Second Rut would become the Main Rut and noted Third Rut would become the Second Rut.

Good Luck. Hope to see you in the woods or on the water.
Allen “horntagger” Morris