To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

What is the concensous on hunting the phases of the moon? Would you or wouldn't you want to huntthe full moon?

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I think most hunters put too much emphasis on the full moon. Full moon or not, I will be out there hunting. Why would you not hunt during a full moon? I've killed deer before 8:00, mid-day, and late afternoon during a full moon. Bottom line is deer movement is not a guarantee, so even during a full moon they can move anytime during the day. Granted, most movement is going to be at night and maybe mid-day, but that doesn't mean they won't move any other time. Most deer movement is at night regardless of the moon phase anyway. Most hunters have a limited time they can be in the woods, so I highly doubt one will miss an entire weekend of hunting just because the moon is full. Don't worry about the moon, just hunt.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I would hunt any and all days possible, regardless of moon phases. How are you supposed to shoot anything if you count out this day or that based on something that really isn't proven to keep the deer from moving? It's always better to sit there and not see anything than to just hang your hat and sit of the sofa. All of us has a lucky day now and then.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

i would still hunt the same way but stay in the stand a little longer. I found that 10 am or so they start to move around again....good luck

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I hunt whenever i get the chance full moon or not!

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I hunt later in the morning and see most of my action between 10 and 2. I hunt deeper in the woods farther from food sources.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

Don't forget this......;):D

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I have harvested two good bucks on full moon hunts - both with early am, so it is definately worth being out there

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

When I was younger...in the 60s, I asked an older gentleman to teach me how to fish for flounder, while fishing I asked when was the best time to go he responded.."Whenever the wife lets you!"

Same is true for deer...I usually see plenty of deer feeding in the fields during the night of a full moon...Less so the week following..So I adjust my stand position and move closer to the bedding area...Now, during the rut, you could see a buck chasing or looking for does during anytime of the day...

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I like hunting anytimebut, the weather dictates alot of my hunts more so than the moon. I like to hunt the 5 or six days before the full moon an the 2 or three after the full moon.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I've never have been able to take it into account. For me it has been a change in atmospheric pressure that would trigger deer. Right before or after the storm.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

i really dont care if i can im going to hunt

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

For planning a hunt, I pay as much attention to moon phase as I do my horoscope, or whether the stock market is rising or falling, or if G.W. has favorable opinion polls, or if the Cowboys are on a winning streak.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

Last year was so warm, the animals were nocturnal for most of the season. The moon had a big impact on the number of animals I saw in the daytime. That said, there's no way I'm going to stay home on a day I could hunt based on the moon. I'm certainly not going to wait on the Cowboys to start winning!

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

Allright guys, it isn't that helpful to say be in the woods at all times, as most of us would probably hunt all the time if we didn't have jobs, family, logistical problems.

I've also been interested in this "moon phase" stuff, just figuring out if it is like a horoscope or valid. The only way I've seen the moon used is as an excuse - if nobody in the camp kills, well it must be that darn full moon.

So let's assume that you only have a limited number of yard passes and the distance to your hunting grounds means you can only go 1-2 weekends a month, other than the rut, what would be the most important factor in picking weekends (weather, moon, etc.). Personally, I have not used the moon, but have made decisions based on the weather.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

as far as weather goes i seem to see more deer during rain.. as far as moon.. i havent ever payed attention to it really..

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

The full-moon is not ideal for me. The deer do all theirfeeding at night with the additional light. I have always seen less deer during thefull moon and have not noticed increased activity with mature bucks. I thinkI have readthat deer activity climaxes a week after therutting full moon.(usually in late october/early nov. here in MN)

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I like hunting just about a week before full moon, with a north wind blowing in a 20 degree drop in temps. I will huntall theway to full moon if I can an a few days after full moon. I think that the full moon is not the controling factor that gets the deer hyped for the rut, but a contributing factor. I look for these conditionsfrom around the middle of Oct to about Thanksgiving with the shorter days. That is when I would hunt if my days were limited.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

Personally, I would rather hunt a full moon than any.....I know that goes against the grain but I always see WAY more deer during a full moon phase......I really have no idea why.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

If there was only one choice as a weather factor, I would still choose the changing of atmospheric pressure. Check out the barommeter. Deer will feed more before bad weather sets in and start feeding just as the front moves out. Give it a try.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

jbeste and bowhuntert,

my experience has been similar on moons. I'm probably not going to hunt the moon, but I will pay attention to it, and it may help in a coin toss.

whitetaildreamer, appreciate that about barometer. I know a lot of fishermen like to fish the barometer. I personally have seen a lot of deer right before rain or during a slack in the rain. If I know it has been raining a while (especially all night), I want to be on the stand when the rain stops. One, you are in there undetected, and two, if they have been hunkered down during rain, there is more chance of movement. That's me trying to think like a deer ;)

I do have 2 places to hunt, but the better place is the weekend/long distance place, so I want to reserve those points with the wife for my best opportunities. I'm about to have to give up watching football just to be able to seriously chase the deer. [:@]

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

Just happenned to see the program, "Deer and Deer Hunter", last night and they were talking about how the atmospheric pressure plays a key role in deer movement. It stated that when the barometer is between 29.4 and 32.6 the deer are most active. The program also stated that when the pressure is going up or down in this range the deer will most likely be moving. Just dumb luck to see a program on what I learned from my grandfather decades ago.

RE: To hunt or not to hunt the full moon
 

I took the biggest deer of my life during the week of the full moon ...however it was in the 4th week of the rut .... I think he had poon-tang on his mind more then the moon phase ....


dd