Full Moon, hunt or pass?

[lostriverproductions]

This was brought to my attention in another thread that this years Sept 15th opener is during a full moon.

Hunts not completely planned but if I skip I would have to postpone till 2019. I have no clue how the moon effects muledeer. In the midwest whitetail seem to be on their feet less during the morning and evenings but you see them more mid day.

I would imagine that weather would effect them more?

What are others thoughts on hunting mule deer during a full moon?

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I hate hunting deer in a full moon. For me it has really made my hunts difficult.

 

[mntnguide]

I guess it would depend on where your planning on hunting..But mule deer hunting is all about glassing usually, especially in any high-country type hunt. No matter what the moon does, the deer will still get up out of their beds and move a little each day as the sun moves, and it is up to the hunter to be proficient at glassing to find them. I personally do not believe in the hype of the "full moon". I have harvested elk and mule deer in every phase of the moon, and I could care less what it does. I will be hunting no matter what the moon does at night, because those animals still need to eat, sleep, and drink during the day and they will be visible. I personally wouldnt postpone a hunt 3 years because of the moon....just my opinion though

 

[Tim McCoy]

Have taken some dandy mule deer bucks near a pretty full Moon, some with almost no moon. For mulies, I'm pretty much in agreement with Mntnguide. My theory is more about how much light there is from the moon and how that relates to how long deer are up feeding in the morning. Full moon and heavy cloud cover vs full moon and a perfectly clear night for example. If clear with the moon, I'm going to be at my spot earlier. I ignore the moon and plan my mulie hunts around my best guess of when in the season I'll have the best shot based on hunter pressure, stage of rut and when I can go.

 

[bghunter]

I don't like hunting full moon but have taken some nice bucks during full moon. I would rather hunt during full moon than stay home. One suggestion, hunt all day during full moon, not just morning and evening, like many hunters.

 

[Slugz]

I personally do not believe in the hype of the "full moon". I have harvested elk and mule deer in every phase of the moon, and I could care less what it does. I will be hunting no matter what the moon does at night, because those animals still need to eat, sleep, and drink during the day and they will be visible. I personally wouldnt postpone a hunt 3 years because of the moon....just my opinion though[/QUOTE]

What he said x 2. Gets back to the scouting and glassing mantra for mulies and elk.

 

[genesis27:3]

I've always disliked hunting the full moon for 35+ years of chasing whitetails. That is until the '14 season. That year I killed my best buck on the October full moon and 28 days later I killed another one of my biggest bucks. So I have no issues hunting it now.
But this subject has been hammered to death and everyone has their ideas of it. Now I just hunt regardless.

 

[Sawfish]

Go every chance you get. Full moon, or not. You may not be able to make a hunt in four years, or even next year.

 

[Manualman]

You can't shoot a mule deer off your couch. Life's to short to worry about the moon

 

[mnhoundman]

Heck yeah go hunting!! Just like fishing, they say they bite better with steady or rising pressure. Fish need to eat, just like deer, great just to be there!!

 

[Hilltop]

IMO, weather and hunting pressure have a whole lot more to do with western mule deer movement than the moon does. I plan to hunt Wyoming this fall during the week leading up to the full moon (Oct 7th-14th). The season opens Oct 1st (new moon) but I would rather hunt later hoping that the weather and other hunters move deer into my favorite areas.

 

[Finsandtines]

Hunt and enjoy it, never know when it will be your last.

 

[TimberJunkie]

You can't shoot a mule deer off your couch. Life's to short to worry about the moon

LOL. So true. I said something similar today to a work buddy.

Honestly, the moon is just another excuse, weather has way more effect on deer movement and feeding. In Oregon we only get a 10 day deer season for rifle. I couldn't care less about moon cycles.

Go get em.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Moon phases or even wind. I remember years ago when I lived in Wisconsin, guys wouldn't go hunting because it was too windy. If you did that here in Wyoming you wouldn't hunt much, if at all. To hell with the moon, go out and have fun hunting!

 

[CrossCreeks]

Go every chance you get. Full moon, or not. You may not be able to make a hunt in four years, or even next year.

Everyone likes to hunt when the odds are the best for them, I also am not completely locked in on the Moon Phases even though I believe it has a lot of validity. I agree with others and " Sawfish " go when you have the opportunity ! Four years t0o long of a wait for me. ( just my opinion) . Good luck !!

 

[lostriverproductions]

Here in IN on my property I am a firm believer in the moon phases, if its the Dark period, I will see more bucks then, than the season combined, no clue why? Other property doesn't effect them as much

 

[mallardsx2]

Go hunting! There are so many other things to plan around in life how on earth could you incorporate the moon phase into that… LOL

 

[go_deep]

There isn't any werewolves in the west so you'll be safe with the full moon.

Who cares about the moon, HUNT!!!!

 

[Tim McCoy]

There isn't any werewolves in the west so you'll be safe with the full moon.

Who cares about the moon, HUNT!!!!

Don't give the Fed's any ideas, they'll try to introduce them. Now the vampires, they are thick in places. I recommend garlic for the big blood suckers and some deet for the small ones.

 

[B&C Blacktails]

Full moons for me have been 50/50. September full moons have been no issue at all, but for October full moons the amount of deer I spot are drastically less. Especially with warm weather. All the deer have winter coats and a nice layer of fat. But a couple of my biggest bucks have been near a full moon.

I would never pass on a hunt because of moon phases. You just need to hunt a little harder.

GO HUNTING!!!