Dates not 2 miss?

[Dahitman44]

In one of my sportsman magazines listed a few dates during the hunting season as dates NOT 2 MISS -- wondering if you guys follow this as well? I think the first date is Monday Oct. 22 and they said to hunt hard on the 20-23, if you can.

Do you guys follow this? I might try it. They were pointing to the moon phases, and the expected early rut for older does that might come in heat early.

Any thoughts?

[harvey lee]

I have never had much luck hunting the full moon period. I know that many say its a good time but for me, I don't plan any trips for that period.

Thats just what I personally have seen over the years and I could be all wrong. If I'm hunting that period thats fine but I personally try to hunt the front to middle part of the rut. Action in this period for me always seems to be good.

[Deitz Dittrich]

any time I have time to sit in a tree is a good time... Dont care what the date is.!

[Royce Aardahl]

Quote:

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any time I have time to sit in a tree is a good time... Dont care what the date is.!

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Amen to that! I always heard new moon was better for deer hunting. Probably an old wives tale.

[maros91]

I agree with Harvey. The times I have hunted the full moon has been terrible. I remember hunting in Decemebr over a picked bean field and the neighbors had standing corn that I did not have permission to hunt. The first day I hunted they were in the corn well before dark. Each day they were out there 5-10 minutes later and the day of the full moon they were out there well after dark. Just from my experiences I do not hunt the full moon period.

[harvey lee]

It just seems to me from what I have seen over the years is that these deer dont like to move until later in the evening during a full moon. I have went so far as to tell my hunting buddies that I would rather not even go when its during the full moon as my hunting seems to be the worst for seeing deer movement.

[DeanoB]

I think whenever the wife lets you out is the best time! Watching outdoor channel last night and the Druries were saying hunt the weather, especially the thermals. Anyway, i think the more activity going on out in the field the deer start moving later in the day/evening earlier in the day/morning now that waterfowl and upland game is open, deer are feeling pressured, especially the bucks we are all after. A mature whitewail buck, that has been kicked out of his bed by a pheasant hunter, smelled a bowhunter, seen the farmer picking beans/corn, and heard the waterfowl hunters banging away is more likely to wait the extra 15 minutes till dark before getting out of bed. (exception RUT, but here too i have seen Mature bucks hold tight in cover during peak rut, have to step on them to get them up during gun season) just my .02

[sportfish]

Nov. 8-9 and 10th seem to be when the bucks start moving. thats when we allways get the big ones with rifle.

[CC Hurl]

Any time i can be in the woods during the season i am there.

The only thing that will keep me out is heavy rain.

So many factors are at work when affter the whitetail. The last thing i am going to concern myself with is the moon. I do like a full moon for an easy walk into the morning stand though.

I am out there to hunt under the Whitetails circumstances regardless.

Does the moon play a factor. Maybe , but not for this guy.

Good luck and get out there as i feel the time is here for great memories.

CC HURL

[ozzie]

i hunt the full moon times but it gets hard to make out shapes in the woods!!! HAHAHA I AM KIDDING!!

I hate it when there is a full moon....not much activity from the deer as they are out feeding all night! In our area the last few years if the moon is out the deer are in the fields at night and are not to be seen during the day. But that doesn't stop me from walking the woods and sitting in a stand!!

[harvey lee]

sportfish, I would agree 100% on those dates as that is when I really key in on my rifle buck for the season.

[Gofishleech]

sounds like a good excuse to hunt,,,,,,,, and its not the full moon anyway, full moon the 26th and I agree the evenings around full moon seem to have less day time movment.

[Cheetah]

The dates I really try to get out for deer are the two weekends prior to the opening of firearms season. After that it's really tough, and I don't hunt when the orange armor is out. I switch back over to waterfowl.

So yea, I'm going this weekend and next for sure unless the weather is bad enough to keep me home.

[GoggleEye]

During the full moon period, I exclusively hunt mid-day (11 a.m.-two'ish) or early morning. In my early morning hunts, I try to sneek in to a stand close to where I suspect a big buck is bedding and try to catch him making his way back to his bedding area from feeding all night long. Once in a while, they will stay out feeding right up to when the sun is starting to come up and often times you can catch him slipping back into his bed right at first legal shooting hours. I have also found that some of these bucks will take a short stroll in the mid-day during the full moon to stretch or make a quick check for does coming into heat. Evening hunts always suck during full moon periods....at least for me they have. It seems they don't start leaving bedding areas during full moon periods until well after dark. Just my 2 cents, I am sure many of you disagree or have had different experiences, but then again, not all deer are the same.

GoggleEye