Why so many deer?
 

I drive big truck for a living and today while out running some of my regular routes I saw more deer between 8-9 am than I ever have all season from the road. What puzzles me is that there's a full moon intonight's sky. According to what I've been reading here, there seems to be an understanding that whenever there's a full moon covering much of the night time hours, deer are more apt to be noturnal and feed during those moonlithours. On top of that, it was very warm outsideand that should've been keeping deer bedded.

So... can anyone offer an explanation as to why I saw 5 deer total on 3 separate ocassions?

I plan to do some season's end hunting this weekend. Can anyone else give methe typicaldeer movementforecast for mid 40's temps in WI?

RE: Why so many deer?
 

It's been my experience that deer move a lot more during the late morning on a full moon. I don't normally even head to my stand until 8:00 or so....

RE: Why so many deer?
 

Could be more of an explanation of moon positioning. I understand but don't fully understand that a moons position dictates more on their stomach than does position. Underfoot or overhead is suppose to be the best time to see deer movement.

Anyone know the position of the moon at that time of morning?

RE: Why so many deer?
 

Rob beat me to it, I've read that as well. I usually see deer movement around that time as well tho.

RE: Why so many deer?
 

Not sure exactly, but at 5:00 yesterday evening it would have been about where the sun is at 10 in the morning......So I guess that theory isn't totally shot.....It wouldn't have been DIRECTLY underfoot.....But not too aweful far from it...

RE: Why so many deer?
 

Some fawns are coming into heat, third rut.

RE: Why so many deer?
 

You got that right Greg. I saw a big 8 today sniffing on two does.

RE: Why so many deer?
 

deer do wierd things sometimes thats forsure

RE: Why so many deer?
 

Rob and Greg may both be right on this one. I Have been arguing the moon phase thing for years, and years, and years,with so called whitetail / moon phase experts. So without writeing a novel, I will try to explane. When the moon is in position to have the Strongest Gravitational Pull on the planetit Causes an Uncontrolable Urge to Eat in both Humans and Animals. Don' belive me? Keep track of what you eat for 2 month's, then let me know what you think!! The Moon's Gravitational pull moves Oceans!!! And in the northern states, in areas were the Doe to Buck ratio is high, you should start seeing signs of the third and final rut. But hay, I'm just a slightly over weight, middle age bowhunter, take it for what it's worth!

RE: Why so many deer?
 

Please forgive my ignence but could somebody splain this overhead underfoot theory?

RE: Why so many deer?
 

It's a description of where the moon is, either overhead, or underfoot.

Trae

RE: Why so many deer?
 

OK that explains the position of the moon. How about the theory?

RE: Why so many deer?
 

I have seen some fresh scrapes and a few signs of a little rutting lately

RE: Why so many deer?
 

Anyone in Illinois seeing any sniffing going on. May have to try the estrus can? Or better to stick with doe bleats, grunts?

RE: Why so many deer?
 

I too live in Wisconsin and I Deliver Ice Cream. I was driving around in rural area's between Eau Claire and Rice Lake and today was the first day that I actually Saw deer in the field's since the gun season. I was alos a little confused as to why they were out feeding in the fields. I must of saw 20-30 deer today, with the majority of them between 3pm and 4:30pm. I did see 7 deerin one field this morning at 8:30 just outside of Eau Cliare (private land of course). I was really scratching my head all day long about this. Hopefully it mean's that the deer are starting to get back to there regular feeding habits after the big scare during the gun season. Not sure, but I am anxious to see if more deer are moving tomorrow around the same time's.