My experience over the last 5 years in particular has been that I see no/or less deer when there is a full moon and clear skies at night. For instance, I might hunt this one stand location and see some deer and have some opportunity to shoot a deer. The very next Saturday with all things being the same, I might see NOTHING. When walking out I wonder why that is...and more often than not it's because there is a full moon and the deer were moving and feeding good during the night's light. A good hunting friend clued me in on this about 15 years ago. I never really believed him...but like I said, over the last 5 years or so, it's been my experience that hunting drops a notch or two when there is a full moon.

So, yeah, still go out and hunt anytime you can. I used to do that, but now I have a family and demands on my free time...so I defer hutning on full moons and head out another time. My wife doesn't know and she thinks I am being considerate to her and the kids...when it's really the moon phase that I am being loyal to! haha

Personally, I don't believe, for one second, that deer need more light to feed at night. I can see just fine at night in the woods without any moonlight, so I know that deer don't need a "nightlight".

I feel that animal behavior has more to do with moonrise and moonset than on fullness.

I see plenty of deer the day of the full moon...Its the day or two after that I seem to see less...So I usually move closer to the bedding area to hunt...Especially during September...by the October/November full moon, doesn't seem to matter as much, as you may see a buck looking for does at anytime of the day, full moon or not....

That being said, I always see more deer while out hunting than staying home... With a wife, 3 daughters and a widowed mother-in-law...I go whenever I get a chance....If you hunt expecting to kill a deer every time out...You are hunting for the wrong reasons...Heck, most times I go, I don't really want to kill a deer, I'm just happy to be out there...

i have noticed deer in the fields at noon on full moon days. Seems kinda odd. I have read books about hunting the moon and there is some correlation between the two. The moon charts seem to have some indication as to whether deer will be moving early or late. The second full moon after the harvest moon they say kicks on the rut and it seems to be right around the beg. of Nov. I kinda pay attention to the moon but i never deter hunting because of it. good luck!

me too

I had the opportunity to put in 450 hours, give or take a few, of hunting. When there was a full moon I can't recall ever seeing a deer right after daybreak. Normally the first deer would show up at 8:45 or so, then there seemed to be a lot of action until about 1:30, especially during the rut. I watched several chases in this time frame, most chasing was around 9:30 and 12:00 though. Then there would be a big lull until dusk. Then activity would pick up again. During the rut, full moon or not, The bucks will chase and search for does a good portion of the night and then bed just before daybreak. They will usually nap a few hours before getting back at it.

I Agree whole heartedly!! with pj hunts.

As well do I. I'm no wildlife biologist, shoot, I can barely even pronounce it, but in my experience I don't see as many deer moving and the ones I do see are later in the morning up till early afternoon, say around 1:00 or so. We sure do see 'em in the fields at night during a full moon though. No, we aren't spotlighting. We're scouting.

My experience with the full moon phases is I see more deer in middle of day and at dusk. when we have a full moon I sleep in a little longer and hunt late morning to end of day.

I saw 4 deers yesterday.Unfortunately they were John Deers