I was aske to resspond to this.
If you want the truth about moon phases and peak breeding read the " Does the Moon Affrect Peak Breeding" thread on the " T.R.' s Tips" board. And then lookat the dates when deer biologists say peak breeding occurs in each state by looking at the Rut Dates Charts on either my site, Kiss Scents site or other sites on the net. You' ll also find deer breeding activity graphs on the net. I hae the conception dates of 1600 whitetail does from 1980-1987 that shows peak breeding ALWAYS occurred in MN during the second week of Nov.
A study by Dr. Karl Miller, of over 2500 does in 11 different states, concluded there is no corrleation between peak breeding of whitetails and ANY moon phase. Karl is good friends with Charlie Alscheimer, and he told me he told Charlie he was WRONG.
I received the following e-mail last month.
Dear T.R.;
I ran across an article of yours while trying to find some contact names for the Southeast deer study group. I began to read with apprehension, but was pleasantly surprised to see you had reached the same conclusions I have with respect to deer rutting behaviour and moon phases.
I recently purchased several books by the so called " Dr. Deer" (James Kroll). I read quite intently his writings about moon phases/positions and its influence (or not) on deer breeding activity. I was surprised that he does concur that the moon has an effect on rut timing, but was more surprised that the very data he uses to support this (both a chart of NA breeding dates, AND Pennsylvania breeding data) could very easily be used (to me) to disproved his theory. If deer are breeding at different times all over eastern NA, and we all experience the same hunters moon, he has just destroyed his own theory.
However, I also am a deer biologist and have access to good data for our area. Being an avid hunter as well, I have been looking at our breeding dates and timing here in New Brunswick since I began this job in 1997. Again, I found absolutely NO pattern here with our dates and the so called " hunter' s moon" - the theory he purports. In the fall of 2002, after 6 years with no correlation, the peak breeding here did line up with the moon, but then again, if our deer continually breed last 2 weeks of November, first week of December, sooner or later it will - by mere coincidence - wind up on the same time as a moon.
I have written for two reasons. First, I have data on date of death of female deer (Jan.-June) along with fetal ruler measurements by which I calculate conception dates for New Brunswick since 1997. I have compared daily numbers of breeding does with moon phases, and also with actual buck harvests. I have yet to statistically compare the second set of data, but looking preliminarily at the data, hunter effort has more to do with when bucks are shot than any moon phase, etc. I' d be more than happy to share additional data from the eastern end of the country with you to further substantiate your case.
Second, I wanted to encourage you to continue to tell it like it is. To that end, you can use my name when you mention our data here in NB and that I have found the same results. Day to day weather, as well as hunting pressure & hormones influence what a deer does much more than the moon. Look forward to getting to know you.
All the best in WTD management
Rod Cumberland, CWB
New Brunswick Deer Management Biologist
If I can be of any help, let me know. Hope to see you on my board.
Good hunting and God bless,
T.R.