Does moon phase affect deer?

Does moon phase affect deer?

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. Deer activity neither increased nor decreased significantly during all three moon phases.

What moon phase is the best time to hunt deer?

Also, deer movements were greatest at dawn during new moons, with some increased activity shortly after daylight. In addition, deer movements were greatest during late afternoon during the last-quarter moon. These were minor activity upticks, however, and not major increases over other moon phases.

Is a new moon good for deer hunting?

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). It just might be the first confirmed BIG DEER kill as relates to this latest moon study.

Why is a full moon bad for deer hunting?

Some hunters feel a full moon isn’t favorable for hunting because the deer spend the night feeding and rutting. Others argue that the light of the full moon can actually spark activity and get mature bucks moving earlier in the evenings. Many believe moon phase and the rut are linked though the QDMA says it’s not.

Is a waxing crescent moon good for deer hunting?

But with the moon dark and waxing crescent, expect deer to be move mostly from daylight until 9 a.m. or so, this year especially if temperatures in your area are seasonal. Get on stand extra early and hunt especially hard that first hour. An important note about the temperature here.

Should you deer hunt during a full moon?

Does Moon Phase Affect Deer Movement? 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.