Moon Phase

BigHungDog · Aug 15, 2006

Hey Guys,

The BigHungDog is back. This time I don't have a super cool story to keep you dreaming pleasant thoughts at night. Sorry. But I do have a semi serious question.

What do you think of the moon phases and how it affects deer feeding patterns?

I haven't given a ton of thought to this but I am curious. It would seem to me that deer are more likely to feed and move at night if they have better moon light. And conversely, they would be more active during sunrise/ sunset if they don't have much moon light.

Let me know what you think. Any and all comments are much appreciated.

BHD

Freedom isn't free. This is the land of the free, because of the brave. Support our troops. It is only because of them that we can enjoy our way of life.

utaz · Aug 15, 2006

The moon really affects the deer behavior in the two areas that I hunt.

When there is a full moon, they feed alot at night and return to their beds much earlier in the morning. They also tend to wait a little longer in the evening before they come out, since they know they can eat pretty much anywhere with the full moon.

I personally prefer no moon, they stay out later in the morning and they come out ealrier in the evening. I pray for no moon and lots of snow.

There are times that with a full moon, I find that the deer stir more during the noon hour, not sure if it is just the fact they get more rest in the morning, or if I just get lucky.

Utaz

Blueoak · Aug 16, 2006

I have found the deer move a lot more from 10 till 2:00 during a bright moon. I just experience this last weekend when I was hunting blacktails. I also think they go to water during this time as well. Just my observations

Salmonfg · Aug 16, 2006

Research I'm aware of with radiocollared animals indicated either no correlation between moon phase and diurnal movement (whitetails in midwest) or some increase in daytime movement during full moon periods (mule deer in CO).

BigHungDog · Aug 16, 2006

Thanks for the info. Are you a wild life biologist. I wonder if there are any wild life biologists out there who are willing to chime in.

Freedom isn't free. This is the land of the free, because of the brave. Support our troops. It is only because of them that we can enjoy our way of life.

Salmonfg · Aug 17, 2006

Sorry, yes, regional wildlife manager for Salmon IDFG. If you google "moon phase deer activity" you'll find quite an array of sources/info, but I have a hard time deciphering how much is based on rigorous research.

HiMtnHntr · Aug 17, 2006

I have found that a full moon will decrease feeding activity in mule deer at dawn and dusk, the time when most hunters are looking for deer. IMO, the deer have fed during the night in the light of the moon and are bedded at daylight. Deer activity will increase at seemingly odd times of the day, say, the mid-day hours. Now, since they've been up feeding, deer will be bedded during the evening hours. All other things being the same (ie: weather, pressure, etc..), I use this theory as a general rule in the area I hunt.

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 17, 2006

During a full moon phase the elk will come out later in the day and return to the bedding areas earlier in the morning. Sometimes before light. With this in mind, they also need to water and cool off more in the middle of the day and therefor are more active on water and wallows during the middle of the day during a full moon phase. I wish I could remember the articles that talked about these wildlife studies. They may have them in the RMEF library archives online.

www.awholelottabull.com

searcher · Aug 17, 2006

BHD:

I don't know much about the moon phases but I really like your signature block! I grew up believing that the best time to deer hunt was when there was no moon. Everyone said that the deer would feed longer in the daylight hours (dawn and dusk) since it was so dark at night. This was not based on any science, just old hunters tales. If a deer can see in the dark like all the research says, then the moon phase shouldn't have much effect on deer. My GPS has a "best hunting/fishing time" option and I killed by deer last fall on a poor day (according to my GPS). Go figure.

Tim
Searchin' for a 4X4

AZWALKER · Aug 17, 2006

I don't have the reference but I read a very good artical once that explained that deer have more cones than rods or vice versa and besause of this they see the best during low light periods. Hence all the movement at dawn and dusk. With a fullmoon you basically have prepetual dawn all night long so they would logically be more active. Now I'm not sure about then midday feeding during full moons BUT it does make sense!

Donnie