Moon Phase

[Deertick]

We had some trouble this year (compared to years past) hearing bugles where I hunt. I\'ve hunted roughly the same week now for 4 years. I was wondering if moon phase had anything to do with it.

2012 ... waning moon, great action

2013 ... waxing moon, best year

2014 ... waning moon, good action, but only hunted 3 days

2015 ... new moon, waxing, worst year

I\'m not convinced that I see a true connection. I now have a bias against a new moon, but I\'m not sure if that is really signifies causation. It might be just a coincidence (correlation).

Did anyone else notice that the week of the 13-19th this year had poor bugling?

 

[Anonymous]

...

 

[iccyman001]

I\'m usually just told \" to just hunt and dont worry about it\" when I mention moon phase on here, but I do firmly believe it will have an affect on the elk and their patterns.

Growing up on whitetail, they always acted different around full moons and no moon.


Lots of the old timers believe the moon plays a part in the rut activity as well.


I am one of those believers.

 

[cnelk]

Moon phase.... ehhh....

Greater contributors for not bugling are

1 - Hunting pressure
2 - Weather
3 - Early season
4 - Moon phase

But who really knows?

 

[colorado russ]

I wouldn\'t attribute the moon phase to lack of bugling. There hasn\'t been any bugling on the private land I\'ve been hunting all season. It might have picked up this past week but nothing first 3 weekends - Full moon, 1st quarter, New moon.

However, I do think it throws their feeding patterns off with a full moon - at least it does on whitetails I\'ve hunted.

 

[cohunter14]

You guys are getting me excited with the fact that the rut might be pushed later this year. I have heard a lot of similar reports this year as well, so I don\'t think it is just a random occurrence. The thoughts of potentially hearing some bugling during rifle season is getting me going

 

[iccyman001]

The thoughts of potentially hearing some bugling during rifle season is getting me going

That will just be me teasing you.

 

[Swede]

Years ago I read an article about the affect of moon phase on Whitetail deer. The conclusion from monitoring collared deer was, the change in activity during the day is insignificant. I have noticed there is more of a difference due to location. Elk bugle in one area and are quiet in another. The elk were sure bugling on the ranch, this week near where I hunt. I enjoyed watching them.