Here ya go buckeye

Thanks again Belle. You know, I don't get lost in the woods, but this place gets me turned around and going the wrong way all the time?????

Buckeye,

I am going to be in the woods regardless of whom predicts what. I don't decide to hunt because of the moon phase, or because it's warmer than I like, or because it's windier than I like, or because of someone elses predictions. I hunt when I get the chance and I let the deer take care of the rest. The two things that I have figured out about hunting are:

1. I can't predict when deer are going to move. Sometimes they lay up on "perfect" days and move like crazy on days that you wouldn't expect them to.

2. You can't kill deer on the couch.

My point is even if I thought Alsheimers was a flake (which I have no idea) I would be hunting either way.

Charles Alsheimer has written some excellent articles
in regards to rutting activity. I have read his predictions
the past few years and must admit, I now pay much
closer atttention to the moon's phases. That being
said, most of us base our opinion on the type of
rut going on by the amount of activity that's
gone on while we're on stand. Some of my
best years have occured during so called "poor
rut years", I just happened to be in the right place
at the right time - not on the couch. This year
was supposed to be great for rutting activity -
for me, it was the slowest rut in the last 5 years.
However, if you talked to my 2 bowhunting partners
they would tell you it was the best in the last
5 years. Though we were often less than a few
hundred yards apart, our seasons were as opposite
as you can get...that's hunting[&:]. That's also why
I'm gathering my cold weather gear in preparation
for the late bow season Dec. 22.

After all that, I guess I could have just said predictions
are a nice conversation piece, and possibly, something
to look forward to, but they are certainly not a
guarantee.

Silentassasin and Two Beards you both make good points. My buddy and I hunt the same spots on public land and up until November 1 I had seen 7 young bucks and a couple doe. During the same time period he didn't see a single deer. I was able to get out about twice as often as he was so that probably had more to do with it then any predictions. Obviously predictions don't gurantee deer movement. However, if there is a small chance that the time table for the prediction will increase my odds of seeing deer, then for me it is worth knowing. Also, if you read his articles he does explain that the rut and all that is involved is very complicated and there are several factors that affect deer activity. All things being equal, it can't hurt to put a little more emphasis on the predicted timeframe. OBTW his research spans nearly 14 years and involves close to 200 other hunters.

TBO

I will be in the woods of WVa on all of those dates!!!!!!!!!!!!