Dave at Work

In your experiences, how many days before the full moon before the deer start changing their movements? After the full moon, how many days until they return to normal?

Instinctive Shooter

I feel they start a few days out. I went out this weekend and my hunt was hot and had little deer movement. I played the Lunar Table game and what the Farmers Almanac suggested and still saw only a few deer. I think hunting is best near, during or just after the NEW moon. I feel they are less likely to move at night at that time. However, I took my time to scout and fill feeders. Found one good scrape and a few that looked interrupted or just not into it at the time. Found a couple of nice rub lines too.

WildlifePhoto

According to deer researchers T.R. Michels and Kent Kammermeyer, deer movement peaks during the week of the full moon (1-7 days before) and last quarter (in that order). T.R.tates that he even saw more domimant buck movement during those time frames.

But, he states thatthe weather (espceially), hunting pressure, the rut and available forage will, and does, completely override any influence the moon has on deer. He says that the moon should be your least worry.

Hunt deer based on on the weather conditions each day - not the moon.