Thoughts on Hunting Full Moon (Deer)

Hunt 10am-3pm

I've killed a couple of good ones hunting 9:00 PM-4:00 AM

Contrary to popular belief, there is no correlation between lack of deer movement and the full moon. Activity increases during the middle of the day and earlier in the afternoon than would otherwise be expected.

Watch the video at this link for a great synopsis of some recent data relating to deer movement and moon phases: Does the Moon Affect Deer Movement?

ETA: Also, the deer move LESS at night during a full moon, not more. The idea that they feed all night and bed up all day due to the full moon is a misconception.

A couple of observations I've made over my years in the woods.

Hunting the full moon is not great because they feed all night... except during the rut. The full moon is a great time to catch a buck slipping up. There is so much light with the full moon the sunrise will slip up on him running does and he'll be away from his bedding area when he should be back hiding.

Also, we had a lunar eclipse about 2 years ago and an old timer told me that that makes them act crazy. Sure enough someone killed a big buck that morning, the eclipse happened about an hour before day break.

Isolunar iphone app during these times and you will be fine.

I became a true believer in this 2 seasons ago during a full moon. The app said that the major activity was between 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM that day. I got on the stand at daylight with lunch and was prepared to stay until 2 PM. I didn't so much as a leaf fall from daylight to 10:20ish. At 10:30, the woods opened up and saw numerous deer that morning. I killed a buck, doe, and a coyote in the same stand between 10:30 and noon that day.

quote:

---

They can call them crepuscular all they want. Some mornings, and some evenings, they just don't move.

---

Not debating that, but the notions that either A) they don't move because they fed all night or B) hunting a full moon morning is futile because there will be absolutely no deer movement is foolish and incorrect.

Needless to say, during the rut all bets are off. Spend every minute in the stand you can, whatever time of the day you can make it.

quote:

---

Not debating that, but the notions that either A) they don't move because they fed all night or B) hunting a full moon morning is futile because there will be absolutely no deer movement is foolish and incorrect.

---

ok.

quote:

---

Needless to say, during the rut all bets are off. Spend every minute in the stand you can, whatever time of the day you can make it.

---

I hunt mostly during the rut, or at least when I think the rut should be. The one thing I've noticed over the years is, the evenings may have more movement, but the chasing is almost always young bucks. All but one of the true trophies I've seen during rutting activity have been on morning hunts. And I hate morning hunts.

quote:

---

Hunting the full moon is not great because they feed all night


This just isn't true though.

---

From what ive seen first hand id say it is true. I worked nights riding back roads for 8 years. I can say without a doubt that on full moons I saw way more deer out feeding. Now did barometric pressure, temperature, etc have anything to do with it? Possibly.

quote:

---

Tclayboy99

---

Ive heard the saying that the sunrise will catch deer far from their bedding area during a full moon and also read an article where one guy claims to have killed 3 mature bucks lathered up with sweat at first light because of this.

Full moon or no moon im on my stand prior to daylight and stay till about 11 unless other weather factors come into play or im seeing enough movement to justify staying.Evening hunts Ill get on the stand a little earlier for a full moon in the evening though.

quote:

---

daylight to dark.

---

No way my cell phone battery would last that long and fat people with diabeetus like me need nourishment