Will deer move the morning after a full moon?

While it's not pronounced, my personal observation from over 40 years of whitetail hunting and study has been that daytime deer activity does seem to decline during the full moon. To be more precise, I see less movement during typical peak periods of dawn and dusk.

Do deer move more after a full moon?

One of the first trail-camera studies on deer movement occurred back in the 1990s. The results concluded there were no significant differences between moon phase and deer movement.

Is deer hunting better before or after a full moon?

“A common misconception is that deer can see better at night because it's brighter when the moon is full,” he says. “But according to our data they actually move less on average at night during a full moon and more during the middle of the day, and also earlier in the evenings.”

Does moon affect deer movement?

Deer were more active at night than day during all three moon phases. Deer activity was greatest within two hours of sunset and sunrise during all three moon phases. In contrast, most hunters probably doubted the third finding: Deer activity neither increased nor decreased significantly during all three moon phases.

Is hunting good after a full moon?

Another theory offers that during the full moon, deer move more at night and less during the day. While it's not pronounced, my personal observation from over 40 years of whitetail hunting and study has been that daytime deer activity does seem to decline during the full moon.

5 Ways To Deer Hunt A Full Moon

What is the best time to hunt during a full moon?

Higher levels of dinner and midnight feeding times diminish the need for deer to feed as much during their early morning time slot. This means that although an evening rising full moon can place low priority on the daybreak feeding time, the intensity of the late morning feeding is often magnified.

What time of day is best to hunt with a full moon?

Even more explicitly, Day recommends hunting in the middle of the day on the three days in the moon's first quarter, when the moon is overhead at 6 p.m. He concludes that movement is largely independent of cloud cover, though it appears that daytime buck movement may be more pronounced during cold snaps.

Does a full moon affect the rut?

The Alsheimer-Laroche theory holds that the second full moon after the autumnal equinox triggers rutting activity in bucks and does. Their guide predicts peak dates for the rut's seeking, chasing and breeding phases.

What does the new moon do for deer movement?

Referring to the New Moon, the researchers said: During this phase, the peak of deer activity is just after first light, and movement diminishes the remainder of the day and night (focus on morning hunts).

What time of day is best to deer hunt?

Deer are most active in the morning and evening, which is why many hunters consider these hours the best time to hunt deer. With some exceptions, deer mostly sleep during the day and move more at night.

Is it worth hunting in the morning after a full moon?

I actually avoid hunting during the evening with a full moon, that may negatively influence a quality late morning stand location the following morning. While I have found that a rising full moon phase can create a negative for an evening hunt, morning hunts can be positively influenced.

What pressure makes deer move?

Illinois biologist Keith Thomas found that greatest whitetail feedings occurred when barometric pressure was between 29.80 and 30.29 inches. When the barometer is falling or rising through this range, deer activity should be greatest.

How do you predict deer movement?

Play the Wind According to Drury, wind direction and speed not only determine deer movement but also where you should hunt—or if you should even venture out at all. He employs these strategies not just to avoid getting skunked but to prevent getting noticed, too.

What does a lunar eclipse do to deer movement?

“Just a couple of body lengths.” Hepner blogged that, “Moon phase has an insignificant effect on deer movement, meaning that none of the moon phases cause deer activity patterns to increase or decrease significantly.”

What affects deer movement?

However, light rains, mist, and fog promote movement. Deer move most when skies are cloudy, although that probably has more to do with temperatures than the fact that there are clouds in the sky – clouds shield the hot sun and make temperatures more favorable for movement.

What should you not do while deer hunting?

How early should you get in your deer stand?

Try to be in your stand and ready to go at least an hour before shooting light, which often means leaving the truck a solid 2 hours before shooting light. This gives you time to cool off from that extra-long hike, get your gear ready and let the woods settle back down before the sun peaks over the horizon.

What time of day are most big bucks killed?

Most of them are specifically between 9:00 and 10:00 in the morning to be exact. It's a proven time, and it could have a lot to do with the common perception among deer hunters that things slow down once early morning is through.

Do deer come back after being spooked?

Spooked deer will return to their bedding area, but when they return depends on how much the intrusion frightened them. If they can't pinpoint the threat, they'll likely return sooner than if they saw or smelled you.

Do bucks chase does all day?

A great all-day stand for gun hunting is a point-to-point crossing. Hang a lock-on or ladder just inside a strip of trees that juts out into a weed field and creates a pinch with the timber on the far side of the field. Bucks trolling for or chasing does will move all day in this type of cover.

Do deer come back after being shot at?

“Yes, a mature buck will come back to the area where he was wounded,” says Kip Adams of the Quality Deer Management Association. “Depending on where it occurred, maybe in an open food plot or field, a buck might not move in during daylight hours for a while, but he's not leaving his home range.

How long should you sit in a tree stand?

During all times but the rut, I like to plan for a solid, 3 hour sit. Because of blocked and hidden access there are certain stand or blind locations that I can easily slip into an hour to two hours before dark, even with deer in front of the stand location.

How long should I deer hunt in the morning?

Have put about 85 hours in the tree. I can usually sit for about 3 hours on a morning hunt and about 2 hours on an afternoon hunt. I rarely see a deer on an afternoon hunt until about a half hour before dark or right at dark, so the morning hunts are just more fun.