Dr. Robert Sheppard, Jerry Simmons and Horace Gore on...

The Deer Rut and the Influence of Moon Phase

Comments Off on Psychological and Physical Effects of the Moon on Deer Deer Hunting

Psychological and Physical Effects of the Moon on Deer

Show This to Your Friends:

2Psychological Effects of the Moon on Deer:

Most of us concern ourselves primarily with moon phase and the amount of moonlight in the woods the night before we hunt. However, another determining factor of deer movement may be the times at which the moon rises and sets. Is there a correlation between when the moon appears and disappears in the sky and deer movement?

“I believe deer movement is determined as much by when the moon appears as to how much light the moon gives off at night,” Horace Gore, a trained wildlife biologist reports. “I think the moon may have a psychological effect on deer. When the full moon is shining, but clouds cover its light, deer still will move, even though the night is as dark as if the moon is in a dark phase. If the moon comes up at 3:00 pm or is up in the daytime, then I think you should hunt during that time because I believe the deer will be active.”

The Effect of the Moon on Deer According to Location and Air Temperature:

According to longtime deer hunter and outdoor writer, Charles Alsheimer, who conducts deer-hunting seminars throughout the country, location and temperature are two key ingredients which must be factored in when you’re considering the effects of the moon on deer movement.

“I find the effect of the moon on buck movement depends on where you’re hunting,” Alsheimer explains. “If you’re hunting whitetails in Texas, usually not much animal activity occurs during the day after a full moon the night before. However in the Northeast, especially north of the Mason-Dixon line, I haven’t observed that moon phase affects deer much. Providing weather conditions allow for deer movement, I still see deer movement during the day after a full moon in this region. I tend to believe temperature is much more a factor in causing deer movement than moon phase.  For example, in the Northeast during hot weather, no matter what the moon phase, because of the deer’s heavy coats, they won’t move as much as they do during cold weather and when there are high winds.”

3To get John E. Phillips’ eBooks and print books on hunting deer, including his newest deer-hunting book, “Whitetail Deer and the Hunters Who Take Big Bucks,” available at http://amzn.to/2bYwYOK/, click on these books to learn more, “How to Hunt and Take Big Buck Deer on Small Properties,” “How to Hunt Deer Up Close: With Bows, Rifles, Muzzleloaders and Crossbows,”PhD Whitetails: How to Hunt and Take the Smartest Deer on Any Property,” “How to Take Monster Bucks,” “How to Hunt Deer Like a Pro,” and “Bowhunting Deer: Mossy Oak Pros Know Bucks and Bows,” or to prepare venison, “Deer & Fixings.” Or, go to www.amazon.com/kindle-ebooks, type in the name of the book, and download it to your Kindle, and/or download a Kindle app for your iPad, SmartPhone or computer. You also can find John’s books on Nook at www.barnesandnoble.com.

For free information on making jerky from your deer to provide a protein-rich snack, you can download a free book from https://johninthewild.com/free-books.

Next: The Deer Rut and the Influence of Moon Phase

Comments are closed.