Moon phases & Whitetail rut?

[longbow fanatic 1]

I thought I would begin a discussion on moon phases and whether they affect the whitetail rut or not.

Through my years of archery whitetail hunting and somewhat of a trophy hunter, I have paid a lot of attention to moon phases. In my experience, I have found that whitetails are rutting, usually, during the moon phases mentioned below. The reasons for the rutting activity may be caused by several factor, not including or excluding the influence of moon phases. Including factors that influence rut, there are many factors and conditions which diminish or slow rutting behavior, I.E. trickle ruts caused by early moon phases and warm weather.

From my very minimal research, I have found that the second moon phase following the Harvest Moon (Autumnal Equinox), which is Sept. 12, 2011, is the photo period that begins the primary rut in whitetails.

With the Harvest Moon occurring on Sept. 12, the second moon phase following that would be November 10, 2011, as the beginning of the primary rut this fall.

What are your thoughts on moon phases and the rut? Have any of you spent much time trying to predict the primary rut by using moon phases and if so, what are your experiences/thoughts?

I should also mention that since becoming a trad hunter, I have become less concerned about shooting a Pope & Young buck and have focused my time afield with the enjoyment of the experience of hunting. Don't get me wrong, I like to shoot a big buck just like the rest of you but it's not what drives me anymore.

[YORNOC]

I have tried to pinpoint the rut and have failed miserably. I do use trail cameras for this thinking I could come up with a pattern between timing/moon phase information and my cameras. After 5 years nothing makes sense. Very haphazard when it occurs. It has been anywhere from Oct.31 st to the last week of November for peak activity.  This is just based only on deer activity and mature buck sightings, not sexual behavior, scrapes, etc. I try not to poke around too much during this time...so I only see what my stands show me and the camera traffic.
I've got a lot to learn.

[longbow fanatic 1]

David,

I agree that trying to unlock the secret of the rut is enough to drive me crazy.    That said, I have found myself as dumbfounded as you in trying to figure it out over the years.

There is pre-rut, primary rut, post-rut activity, then it is supposed to begin again every 28 days until every breeding Doe is bred. Dr. Kenneth Nordburg has a neat video series on deer behavior and his segment on rut is really interesting.

[YORNOC]

TTT, I'd like to hear more from others on this?

[maxfit]

I have been to several Charles Alshiemer discussions.. Still dont know what to make of it..I know around here Oct 31st-Nov7 is the time i see most chasing..year in and year out.. But i have seen my biggest bucks  the following week around 10:30 in the morning walking by themselves after a morning of no deer activity..as i am usually climbing down my tree! And as soon as the guns go off..Bucks go nocturnal immediately.of course thats pretty normal for most i suspect..

[SlowBowke]

The rut is triggered by "hours of daylight" and happens the same time each year accordingly. There are numerous sources for that online and most books on whitetail.

What "we see" differs simply because (IMHO) the weather plays a big part as does the moon phases and probably other things as well (herd numbers etc).  Some years it seems to be hammered all into a few days, other years spread out going by our views of deer moving/rutting.

Cold snaps, high winds that carries scent further/faster (oh yes) all seem to have me viewing higher buck movement most days and those days I will NOT miss unless Ive no choice.

Extemely dry falls seems to lower some activity concentrations too. Moisture in the air is needed for their sense of smell to go into hyper drive IMO. Might just be a fluke on my sightings but seems to be a pattern.

ALSO, IMHO...what WE call "the rut" being the most activity is actually the PRE rut when bucks are out and about and I agree with the time frame of it being the first 10 days or so of Nov at least for IN.

When they are actually rutting and WITH does, I see enormously lower numbers of bucks and hunt the heavy cover edges hoping to catch a big boy following the doe out in the wee hours.

Another thing Ive found is when the rut IS IN, sightings of many YOUNG bucks out running their butts of "trying" is pretty common. The big boys got the girls locked up if IN heat.

Those does coming into it late or again or whatever will have a half dozen young ones after her.

Big Daddy shows?........game over.

2 cents

God Bless

PS......a short addition if you would allow please.

TOO MANY, again ONLY my opinion, "worry" about the rut and spend a multitude of hours trying to decode it yet remember, that bucks are out there regardless and while you may SEE more during the prerut and it's pretty exciting, that same buck was there ......somewhere and much more easily patterned in times previous to the rut.  FINDING HIM is the trick and worth the effort.

Once he goes into his nose to the ground, gotta find the girls mode........he may very well be gone or moving too fast for shots.

I hunt all the "phases" of the season, love the prerut and rut but most my efforts are spent finding and decoding a bucks movement prior to that and when he starts moving more, youre there.

Worked great last year.....except I m m mmmmissed.
 
 

[SlowBowke]

Originally posted by longbow fanatic 1:
I should also mention that since becoming a trad hunter, I have become less concerned about shooting a Pope & Young buck and have focused my time afield with the enjoyment of the experience of hunting. Don't get me wrong, I like to shoot a big buck just like the rest of you but it's not what drives me anymore.

     

I couldnt agree more nor have said it better.
God Bless!

[longbow fanatic 1]

Thanks for all your insights. This is interesting!!!

[Shawn Leonard]

I find the actual breeding begins a few days after the harvest moon. That said I see the most rutting activity, chasing and searching the week leading up to the harvest moon. In my neck of the woods the 3rd. of Nov. to the 10th will be the time to be in the woods this year!! As Slowbowke said the  primary rut is when the actual breeding is occuring and my sighting drop way off during the actual rut. One exception is if you actually are lucky and have a hot doe near you during the primary breeding period, than the action can be incredible. Shawn

[Michigan Mark]

The moon phases effect all nature but as far hunting "Deer" during shooting hours, the New moon has more activity during daylight shooting hours. Most of the full moon phase activity is at night when it is as bright as daylight especially when the deer are pressured. There are peak periods during each day as related to the moon phase as moon coming up, straight up, going down and straight down. As far as the rut Mother nature will let you know. Just like the leaves changing colors and the flights of birds, does not always run by the calendar. If you can hunt when the rut is in full swing (usually but not always, here in Michigan it is still Bow season just before the gun opener and so much pressure and activity in the woods from hunters setting up stands/blinds/bait) you stand a good chance to see more activity.