Elk and a full moon

[Clay Hayes]

I've hunted whitetails my whole life, and I know that the moon can have a huge impact on their movements.  But what about elk?  Will they tend to stay in cover at morning and evening when they should be out feeding.

[Whip]

Some say yes, some say no.  I won't pretend to try to know, but if I had a choice I would prefer not to have a full moon.  However, to me, I put far more thought into trying to time a hunt to correspond with good bugling and rutting activity.  I love to hear them scream, and would much prefer late September with a full moon than early in the month without.  But that's just me.  

[d. ward]

I think they do move around at night a far amount anyhow.One thought pending on weather conditions too.If it's really warm during the season and the full moon.They love to roam around at night when it cools just a bit.bd

[d. ward]

at least this one does.bd

[elknut1]

New here but thought I'd give my .02 here! (grin)

  Bowdoc, nice photo, I've been toying around with a camera as well lately but so far just cows! I'll work on that by re-locating!!

  Here's some info I've written in the past that has served us well when hunting elk during full moon times! Hope it helps out!-------

  This is one of the biggest questions many out of State & in State bowhunters have these days, that is, should I pick my hunting days during a Full Moon or just before or after or avoid this time frame completely? Hunting the full moon phases can be very productive when you approach it with the right attitude & knowledge of an elks activity at this time! Even in non peak rut times bulls & cows alike can become very vocal & nocturnal come Aug.--Sept. --Take advantage of these times, hunt elk in a manner you can take advantage of.
If you think about it, when elk are vocal at night they're in their feeding/watering/wallowing & nightime bedding areas. Calling after dark can be productive! When you find vocal elk in areas at night be rest assured they'll be there come morning & if not severely harassed, they'll be right back there the following evenings. It's a desired feeding/breeding area & it's tough to push them out of these types of areas. Hunt smart & you'll be able to hunt them a good while! Always hunt with favorable wind!

You can hunt them come morning knowing full well they are there! At times we get to these spots an hour or so before light & sit & listen, elk are generally vocal at this time & you can really narrow down right where they are, moving in towards them with good wind & getting good positioning will give you an edge come daylight. It's up to us as hunters to use the best possible methods to either ambush them or lure them in with calling that fits the encounter! At this time I personally like taking care of business while they're still in their feeding areas. You have about one hour generally to get in there & get it done before they head off to their daytime bedding areas, after that time you'll find yourself "dogging" the herd! If it doesn't pan out then, do your best to keep tabs on their movement as they head to bedding areas, many times bulls will bugle their way to them with the lead cow leading the way & avoiding possible confrontations with other vocal bulls. Finding those bedding areas is a great key to our success. If not real sure where they are or where the elk bedded, we then stake out the  higher  peaks within reason  & sit & listen, many times for a couple of hours, elk love getting up midday/afternoon  for light feeding & watering if it's hot especially & we like being within earshot. At this time bulls will sound off including the herd bull, this will not only give away his immediate position but also his aprox bedding area as bulls will bugle right from or very near from their beds at this time! Make mental notes of bedding areas, they use the same ones yearly. Be willing to use Location sounds early afternoon if need be to get them sounding off. Hunting near bedding areas is another subject! (grin)

Too, knowing they'll be back to these same feeding areas come evening, now you can get into that area in the afternoon while they're bedded elsewhere & find those trails they're using to enter that nightime area. It's a great place to set a treestand/ground blind or just "setup" in a good area near their trails. You may want to setup further up the draw or ridge or whatever you need to do to intercept them on their way to this pre-determined spot! Get in there scout it out & do what's best for the area. We do things like this everyear. Remember, "hunt smart" take advantage of these very vocal nights!!  Some of the best elk hunting occurs during these full moon phases especially from Sept. 8 & on into Oct. Keep a positive attitude! Consider pop-up blinds & a decoy as well for selective setups!

  ElkNut1

[Dave2old]

A waxing moon does seem to cut down on daytime elk activity, but as soon as it passes full and begins to wane the trend reverses. It took me years to be convinced of this but I now am. However, as others have suggested, it's the least of influences on rutting activities compared to human disturbances. A sudden influx of ATV sounds carrying lots of people is the first and worst impact, proven by scientific studies as well as our own eyes and ears to drive elk away to non-motorized areas with fewer or no hunters, sometimes on private land where few of us can hunt them. And here in CO where black powder season overlaps mid-September and archery season, it's murder. For some reason the bp folk tend to come in big groups with lots of ATVs and hunt very aggressively, running around and bugling constantly. This "bugle pollution" combined with ATVs and rifles going off combines to really shut 'em down, no matter the moon. This year was the worst in my area, stopping bugling completely, day and night, for 10 days or more. Thus, my strategy for finding undisturbed bugling elk is first to get beyond all motor sounds, second to not bugle at all, and only last and hardly of significance is the moon stage. dave

[beachbowhunter]

I would say we just got quite an education from the real professors of Elk U. Welcome Paul. I always wondered why you weren't around here. I hope you didn't put your longbows away for good!

[elknut1]

Dave2old, I couldn't agree more when one meets your particular circumstances! It's definitely important to penetrate when possible to get away from such pressure. Things like this invariably will happen on OTC units which unfortunately is what most of us hunt!
  Here in ID we too have a cow muzzle loader season from mid Aug to the end of Sept on much of our hunting country, it's up to us to find different methods that will raise an elks curiosity to come check us out. Bugling with selective sounds is one way or creating excitement is another we use in certain setups. This requires patience at times. Too, wallows/water sources from stands can be productive in heavy hunted areas the first 2 weeks of Sept.
  It's all a challenge anyway you look at it! (grin)

  Fortunately bugling at night in selected areas can be very productive for location of bulls. It doesn't always work out but is an option we do use on a yearly basis. At times a bull will sound off well over a mile away but that's good enough for us! At least we now know elk are over there & that's all we ask!
  This year & last year alone we took 5 bulls between 3 of us during full moon phase, all were took with locating them at dark 1st! If it will work in ones area go for it, it's just another option to consider! Good Luck all !!!

  Beachbowhunter, thank you for the welcome!!!

  ElkNut1

[Whip]

Dave makes a good point.  First, and most importantly, to have good elk hunting you need to get away from other pressure somehow.  I won't even consider an area that has ATV's running all over the country.  Where I have hunted and had success there may be ATV's on the road, but I have never seen one off of it.  

In over the counter units I think there are unfortunately only two good options.  Hunt private land or be willing to get back in far enough to get away from other pressure.  I have read that 90% of the hunters never get more than a mile from the road.  You need to leave them behind.  

I know this is getting away from the original question of hunting during a full moon.  I guess the real answer is that a full moon isn't a big factor compared to these other things.  Don't worry about the moon - worry about the things that actually have a big impact on finding bulls.  If it comes down to all the other factors being in place and you have a choice of hunting either just before or just after a full moon, pick after.

[Gehrke145]

I agree with the above, and my .02 is getting away from people doesnt mean you have to walk miles away!  Hunt smart as well as hard

[acolobowhunter]

Have been chasing elk for 35 yrs now.  We don't always get them, but I have found out a few things.  Elk seem more active during the full moon. You can hear them all night.  OTC areas, as mentioned can also be a problem - ATV's.  However taking all this into account - all animals need water everyday.  I try and get away from the roads as far as possible, then look for streams, wallows, etc.  These can be very productive.  Bedding and feeding areas are everywhere, but water can be found in isolated areas only.  That is where I focus my hunt.  Just my .02 worth.

[d. ward]

Another thought,is what works good in some places does not always work well in others.All things being equil would be different for sure.I hunt public land and do have to hunt some areas where ATV's do have the legal right to use as well as hunters.But you must work around certin things in order to enjoy your hunt.I do not and will not spend time worring about those guy's on ATV's as mush as I go about my business of looking for elk.You've gotta make the most out of what you have to work with.I would be first to admitt full moons hunting presure and ATV's all do play some part.Please remember some elk live in those areas all year around(they have no where to go).When the hunting presure gets hi or ATV's are running around all over the place.Those elk are still very near thier range.Now the hard part is to kill one during this time.I know speaking for myself and please note I did say for myself.I actually prefare a little outside presure.It makes me just a little better hunter then the next guy.But what works for me here in my state may not work for you in your state..bd

[FerretWYO]

I have taken my last to elk when the moon is full. Gene mentioned above that they tend to be more active then. Its true. They are a bit tricky but bed hard. If you can get  abig bull up then his cows holding tight. You could have it made.