Do you think moon charts are useful tools for predicting deer movement?

[Thunderflight]

Personnaly I think they are use less.

TF

[Basementdweller]

I disagree. I hunt big woods deer and what I have found is that on a bright night....half moon or better go ahead and sleep in. Deer will not be moving at first light because they have been feeding all night and bed down at first light.

On a dark night.....cloudy or quarter or less moon. first light is good they will be up feeding and moving around.


My personal experience is that on bright nights evenings/afternoons are best on the stand.

[Photog]

Deer? I am not sure....but I am having my Sgt tape me a few of the crazy 911 calls I got this weekend..... full moons bring the wackos out. Actually new moon is just as bad

[Duffy]

No, but examining sheep entrails and tarot cards work well.

[Thunderflight]

Originally posted by Duffy
No, but examining sheep entrails and tarot cards work well.

I've done that before too. ;)

[Ohio Sportsman]

My experience with those charts has been this: on the best days according to the chart it seems to be the worst and on the worst days according to the chart it seem the best, you might as well flip a coin to decide. When a front is moving in or out or it's normal conditions you can generally predict when the deer will be moving, just knowing when and where is the key. Studying and learning your adversary under all conditions, is the best chart you can get and you get that chart with experience in the field. Want success, learn your adversary then apply that in the field. Works for me.

[eschatts]

Ran across this article and thought I would post it here for your reading pleasure.

Deer Hunting by Moon Phase

Deer Hunters have long tried to predict how to track their prey. But many have found that the answer may be as simple as understanding the phases of the moon.

Deer Hunting By Moon Phase

In 1926, John Alden Knight, a freelance writer, newspaper columnist and avid fisherman, wrote a book called Moon up – Moon Down. He observed that animal activity had a direct correlation to the phases of the moon, writing that when the moon was at its peak, activity among animals was greater.

Knight dubbed his theory the Solunar Theory, and in 1936, began creating a yearly calendar called the Solunar Tables. This document predicted animal activity periods for an entire year. And, although his tables were more specifically directed towards fisherman, many hunters have found hunting by moon phase to be highly accurate. These tables are still being published annually, and as more research into this phenomenon is done, Knight’s theories seem to be holding true.

The challenge that hunters face is tracking deer and finding areas where they are most likely to assemble. Certainly one’s chance of success increase if travel patterns can be anticipated in advance. Understanding how the phases of the moon affect deer mating patterns seems to be the key to successfully using the Solunar Tables.

Researchers believe that the amount of moonlight has an effect on the period of time when a doe is receptive to mating. That period, known as the estrus, is reset each autumn in relation to a change in the amount of sunlight. But a doe’s reproductive cycle is actually precipitated by the release of hormones from the pineal gland. This process seems to be triggered by a decrease not in the amount of sunlight, but rather in the reduction of the brightness of the moon that occurs during the third quarter.

Increased awareness of the various phases of the moon will facilitate better tracking of both bucks and does. Early in the rut, a buck will begin his search for a mate. During this period, which falls three or four days around the rutting moon - the second full moon after the autumnal equinox - a buck will engage in endless scraping and rubbing. For hunters, this is the best time to track deer since their patterns of movement are highly predictable.

The buck then enters the chase phase, which encompasses a span of three or four days. During this period, the buck will be relentless in pursuing every doe that he finds. This can be frustrating for hunters since they can spot lots of deer but because they are moving so fast, they can be hard to target.

Once the doe has come fully into estrus, and the actual mating begins, hunting becomes more difficult since the doe will generally not move around much, and the buck will only move to follow the doe.

Certainly, there are other factors that must be taken into consideration when tracking and hunting deer. Weather, food supply, and shifts in the deer population can also be determining factors. Being in tune with nature and understanding the animals’ basic instincts may not guarantee success, but hunters who have used this method successfully have become strong proponents of moon phase hunting.

Ed

[Duffy]

Interesting, but in reply I'd offer these immortal words from Han Solo:

"I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other, I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field controls my [deer]!"

(OK, I switched the "deer" part.)

[Woody Wood]

Yeah Duffy, those were the real Star Wars, Han was the man! I don't know what George was thinking about when he came out with those others.

[Duffy]

Well really, the entire 6-part series is all about Anakin Skywalker. I thought the prequels were great stories.

However, the whole Jar-Jar Binks thing....

(I'd better stop now before you guys think I'm a geek!)