Does Solunar periods really effect deer movement?
Solunar activity
- Thread starter RobbyW
- Start date
BSK
Well-Known Member
I tracked the solunar periods for years and could not find a correlation between predicted peak times and increased deer sighting rates by hunters. I don't believe tidal pull has the same influence on mammals as it does on aquatic species.
TheRealSpurhunter
Well-Known Member
I follow it, but have NEVER seen any improvement in deer hunting. I also play the lottery 3 times a year and think I will win. LOL
jlmustain
Well-Known Member
I've found that there's a bit of logic involved in a correlation of moon phases, but only tied to the amount of light available at night. A full moon may increase nocturnal activity such that there may not be as much morning movment. I doubt there's a gravitational issue on the overheads/underfoots, but it's no secret that hunters don't prefer full moons.
On the other hand, there's a superstitious side of me, and given the choice between two weekends, all else being equal, I'd pick the one that has a better solunar predictor.
According to John Knight, the theory extends to fishing, too. I've not seen much discussion on this in the fishing threads, but I'd love to hear their feedback. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of them will not have paid any attention to it. I know I've never looked at it when I'm fishing. I'd say that's because it is for fishing as it is for deer: time on the water is better than timing the water, and time in the woods is better than timing the woods.
On the other hand, there's a superstitious side of me, and given the choice between two weekends, all else being equal, I'd pick the one that has a better solunar predictor.
According to John Knight, the theory extends to fishing, too. I've not seen much discussion on this in the fishing threads, but I'd love to hear their feedback. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of them will not have paid any attention to it. I know I've never looked at it when I'm fishing. I'd say that's because it is for fishing as it is for deer: time on the water is better than timing the water, and time in the woods is better than timing the woods.
TheRealSpurhunter
Well-Known Member
According to the solunar tables, the best time for me to hunt or fish is....when I am not working. 
jlmustain
Well-Known Member
TheRealSpurhunter said:According to the solunar tables, the best time for me to hunt or fish is....when I am not working.
This.
BSK
Well-Known Member
jlmustain,
The only problem I have with the night-time moon theory is, most data on that topic finds no difference in night-time deer activity based on the amount of moonlight. In fact, I've seen one study where night-time feeding activity actually increased during the darkest nights.
All that said, my own data does display differences in hunter observation rates of deer under different moon conditions, but for the life of me I can't come up with a physical explanation as to why it occurs like it does.
The only problem I have with the night-time moon theory is, most data on that topic finds no difference in night-time deer activity based on the amount of moonlight. In fact, I've seen one study where night-time feeding activity actually increased during the darkest nights.
All that said, my own data does display differences in hunter observation rates of deer under different moon conditions, but for the life of me I can't come up with a physical explanation as to why it occurs like it does.
TheRealSpurhunter
Well-Known Member
I hunted Sunday and was excited to see the MAJOR feed period was 8:30 local time, we were in the stands by 6, and out of three of us, never saw he first deer all morning. Not seeing a deer at my place is very odd on its own, but it was a slap in the face to not see one when the tables told me they would be moving/feeding.
It must have some affect. I have found it hard to see deer when it is slap dark unless I use a light. That is the only effect I can think of.
Now, having said that: Solunar and lunar tables can be somewhat accurate on fish feeding times. But since deer live on oite not waddah, it has no correlation at all.
I loint that in sitty years of deer haunting and chaising deer heards.
Now, having said that: Solunar and lunar tables can be somewhat accurate on fish feeding times. But since deer live on oite not waddah, it has no correlation at all.
I loint that in sitty years of deer haunting and chaising deer heards.
jlmustain
Well-Known Member
BSK, data trumps almost everything almost every time. Thanks for that.
I'd always thought that the lack of UV filtering in their eyes made it so that low-light conditions--dusk, dawn, full-moon lighting--were optimal for their visual accuracy.
If there are repeated studies with the same result as the one you've referenced, then we'd have to go back to square one, I guess.
I have a hard time ignoring or adhering to any of the theories on movement. I have a hard time ignoring it because life won't let me live in a stand (ha!), and I have a hard time adhering to it because it just doesn't make sense to me that any one non-biological occurrence would blanketly apply to all game.
For some people, it's a mixture of laziness and ego (i.e. "Just tell me when they'll be where so I can shoot one, get home, and brag"). For me, though, my minimal nods toward some of it are more a mixture of not having the time I once had and not wanting to miss anything in my 19-month-old little girl's life. I want to harvest a deer, I don't have much time, and I want to see her face light up when she sees it in the truck (oh, and I love quality, lean meat!). I only say all that because my brain is just nuts enough to want to know why there's such a strong following to a theory that's shaky, at best, even its strongest presentation.
It's like the Global Warming of the hunting world: someone suggested it, a lot of people loved it, a lot of people disproved it, yet a lot of the "powers that be" continue to publish it as if it were fact.
I'd always thought that the lack of UV filtering in their eyes made it so that low-light conditions--dusk, dawn, full-moon lighting--were optimal for their visual accuracy.
If there are repeated studies with the same result as the one you've referenced, then we'd have to go back to square one, I guess.
I have a hard time ignoring or adhering to any of the theories on movement. I have a hard time ignoring it because life won't let me live in a stand (ha!), and I have a hard time adhering to it because it just doesn't make sense to me that any one non-biological occurrence would blanketly apply to all game.
For some people, it's a mixture of laziness and ego (i.e. "Just tell me when they'll be where so I can shoot one, get home, and brag"). For me, though, my minimal nods toward some of it are more a mixture of not having the time I once had and not wanting to miss anything in my 19-month-old little girl's life. I want to harvest a deer, I don't have much time, and I want to see her face light up when she sees it in the truck (oh, and I love quality, lean meat!). I only say all that because my brain is just nuts enough to want to know why there's such a strong following to a theory that's shaky, at best, even its strongest presentation.
It's like the Global Warming of the hunting world: someone suggested it, a lot of people loved it, a lot of people disproved it, yet a lot of the "powers that be" continue to publish it as if it were fact.
preds1
Well-Known Member
I'm actually curious about seeing deer during the full moon this weekend.
Taking my boy out this weekend for a pre-juvi archery hunt.
Seeing that it's a full moon, not sure if we should sit morning & evening or do a mid-day stint.
Don't recall ever having much luck during a full moon but he's gunning to go.
Taking my boy out this weekend for a pre-juvi archery hunt.
Seeing that it's a full moon, not sure if we should sit morning & evening or do a mid-day stint.
Don't recall ever having much luck during a full moon but he's gunning to go.
What does the moon have to do with deer hunting?
jlmustain
Well-Known Member
Bowriter, that's the research question, indeed.
Eric, there certainly seems to be more impacting factors, but it makes sense to me that the science behind all factors are worth studying. More than anything, I'd just love to be able to completely rule some things out.
Eric, there certainly seems to be more impacting factors, but it makes sense to me that the science behind all factors are worth studying. More than anything, I'd just love to be able to completely rule some things out.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Eric Kilby said:
Having looked at a ton of factors that influence deer behavior, I would put the moon as least influential. Time of the year (the influence of the rut), temperature, and hunting pressure play much bigger roles.
BSK
Well-Known Member
jlmustain,
Obviously, I've always been fascinated with the idea of ascertaining the conditions which influence deer to be most active during daylight. However, after years and years of collecting data, analyzing data, and reading others' research on the topic, I have no concrete answers. Some things are obviously influential, but there sure as heck doesn't appear to be a factor or combination of factors that are a sure thing.
The moon has an influence, but I can't pinpoint WHY it is influential. I don't think it is the amount of moonlight at night. I think it probably has something to do with whether the moon is already up at sunset or up at sunrise (determined by whether it is waxing or waning). For whatever reason, daylight sightings are higher when the moon is waning, and that is true almost throughout the entire waning cycle. And even then, these difference can only be seen when looking at many, many days of hunting and averaging them out. On any given day, the moon plays little role.
However, over years of hunting the various moon conditions, The data indicates that some moon conditions are a little better than others. Looking at my 27 years of data, the best "moon days" are about twice as good for buck sightings as the worst "moon days." That's significant, but definitely not enough to think hunting under any particular moon conditions are a waste of time.
Obviously, I've always been fascinated with the idea of ascertaining the conditions which influence deer to be most active during daylight. However, after years and years of collecting data, analyzing data, and reading others' research on the topic, I have no concrete answers. Some things are obviously influential, but there sure as heck doesn't appear to be a factor or combination of factors that are a sure thing.
The moon has an influence, but I can't pinpoint WHY it is influential. I don't think it is the amount of moonlight at night. I think it probably has something to do with whether the moon is already up at sunset or up at sunrise (determined by whether it is waxing or waning). For whatever reason, daylight sightings are higher when the moon is waning, and that is true almost throughout the entire waning cycle. And even then, these difference can only be seen when looking at many, many days of hunting and averaging them out. On any given day, the moon plays little role.
However, over years of hunting the various moon conditions, The data indicates that some moon conditions are a little better than others. Looking at my 27 years of data, the best "moon days" are about twice as good for buck sightings as the worst "moon days." That's significant, but definitely not enough to think hunting under any particular moon conditions are a waste of time.
TheRealSpurhunter
Well-Known Member
I will test this out on Sunday from a treestand.
