Big buck beds will measure at least 48" During the rut their tarsal glands will leave quite an oder in the bed. If there's snow it will be stained. Buck bedding areas will have less beds and won't have any fawn beds. (tiny liitle beds). Often buck will even lay their head down and leave an antler impression in the snow.

Walk your property and keep track of all the beds and their sizes. You should be able to find where the bucks and does are bedding.

I've got a book written by Jeff Murray (think that's his name) and Myles Keller regarding hunting moon phases. There's alot of good info in there, makes alot of unexplained stuff make sense.

I always thought deer travel more on full moon nights too

That's a theory anyway. I can't say it's wrong, but I'm of the belief deer a going to eat whether it's dark and gloomy, or a full moon, and mature deer are nocturnal little buggers, until the rut. I've spotted dozens of deer in fields (hay, peanut, soybean)both with a moon and with no moon. I've seen them in orchards at 2PM munching apples. Personnally, I think it's all about the weather, how far they have to travel to eat, how far they have to go for water, and how much hunting pressure is in a particular area. The moon thing is wives tales to me. Too many people see too many deer throughout the ENTIRE day. Just MY opinion

killed a doe at 11:00am opening day of firearm

About 10 years ago or so it finally clicked with me that deer do not move as much during the full moon in the evenings. From my experience's mid day and late mornings have been the best times for me to be out hunting during the full moon, even all day sits seem more productive during the full moon.

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Not tohijack this thread, but yes Magic, I've got three of their books. The pride of my mini collection is an original (1973), signed by Larry himself, copy of "How To Bag The Biggest Buck Of Your Life". I e-mailed one of the family members, and was told they are getting up to $700 for one of those copies, depending on condition of course.

Good read guys,

My 2 cents...It has been my experiance that deer movement is low in the mornings and evenings around full moon nights, all else being equal. Moon position plays a significant role in deer movement in summer and early fall, and to a much lesser extent other times of the year. Glass for deer offseason when the moon is right overhead in the evening or morning and you will be amazed.

As for the original question, I hunt all day during the rut, other than somtimes taking a short break around 10. I have never killed a buck in an unpressured setting around mid-day, but have seen a few eight years bowhunting. They generally are up and moving early afternoon. It has been my experiance deer during the rut seem to take a break 10-12, then get back on their feet in the early afternoon. Its just a general rule though.

Another reason mature bucks avoid doe's and move later in the day. During the winter doe groups or herds attract predators, which are looking for the old and weak. Then they attract predators again during the spring and summer because they are dropping fawns and nursing. When fall comes around they attract a new predator, which is about 98% of all deer hunters. Some are meat hunters and their doing exactly what they should be. Some claim to be trophy hunters, because they hold out and let deer walk, but they still hunt doe groups, doe patterns and doe schedules. They were taught that this is how you deer hunt by generations of meat hunters. If your hunting where several slick trails come together, the area is scattered with rubs and a couple of big scrapes, don't climb down right after the doe's move through, you never know when the biggest buck of your life will show up to scent check between 10 and 2. Oh, those are also very aggressive all year long and bucks are gentle giant Jan to Oct.