Full moon=Rut?

Striper69 · Oct 28, 2020

This weekend is going to be the October full moon. The "Blue Moon". Do you believe that deer come into estrus due to the full moon around this time of the year? I've seen guys on tv claim that this is the case and read some articles about it.

I think a lot of guys where I live believe it because I've started seeing a lot more hunters here.

Sundazes · Oct 28, 2020

I drove to Myrtle Beach on friday and back on monday. I saw a lot more road kill than usual. That is usually a sign as well.

dink · Oct 28, 2020

And Halloween....double goodness?!

gwchem · Oct 28, 2020

I think the next few weeks will look like the rut. It's not a one day event. I haven't been able to hunt until this coming weekend, but will be hitting it hard starting Saturday morning.

Striper69 · Oct 28, 2020

sundazes said:
I drove to Myrtle Beach on friday and back on monday. I saw a lot more road kill than usual. That is usually a sign as well.

I've only seen one roadkill this fall and I think that was because of the snow this weekend.

Brychan · Oct 28, 2020

Don't know about the deer, but I suspect something will come out on the full ( blue) moon, and it will probably not be pleasant.

outrider58 · Oct 28, 2020

Does will come into estrous within 2 weeks after the full moon(second full moon after the autumn equinox).

Mini14tac · Oct 28, 2020

Over the years me and a buddy that bow hunted and between the 2 of us had eyes in the woods a good part of the rut, came up with Halloween was a great time to hit the grunt call as the bucks are on the prowl and the rut was in full swing between the 5th and 15th of November.

outrider58 · Oct 28, 2020

Mini14tac said:
Over the years me and a buddy that bow hunted and between the 2 of us had eyes in the woods a good part of the rut, came up with Halloween was a great time to hit the grunt call as the bucks are on the prowl and the rut was in full swing between the 5th and 15th of November.

This is key. It doesn't really matter when the does come into estrous. Bucks ALWAYS start prowling at the same time every year. End of October, beginning of November. They respond to diminishing daylight.

Don't hunt the rut. Hunt the pre-rut if you are looking for trophy bucks.

44man · Oct 28, 2020

I watched s nice 10 pointer for an hour last evening and this evening

He’s ready

Neck swelled up and looks like he’s sweating

Nose up and flared out

Chasing all the small bucks like a lunatic and trying to gore them

And sniffing every doe in the field

He’s ready but the girls weren’t ripe and it’s driving him mad

BigCountry14 · Oct 28, 2020

outrider58 said:
This is key. It doesn't really matter when the does come into estrous. Bucks ALWAYS start prowling at the same time every year. End of October, beginning of November. They respond to diminishing daylight.

Don't hunt the rut. Hunt the pre-rut if you are looking for trophy bucks.

I watched a huge one last night at 545 from the road headed right toward my dad and my buddys stands. Of course neither was in the woods. They are definitely on the move right now.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Striper69 · Oct 29, 2020

outrider58 said:
Does will come into estrous within 2 weeks after the full moon(second full moon after the autumn equinox).

That's pretty much when I think it'll happen but I'll do a lot of pre-rut rattling.

eshoremd · Oct 29, 2020

There have been NUMEROUS studies done on the moon and when does go into estrous. As far as I know there is no correlation between the two. Does generally go into estrous within the same 48hr period every year.

Just hunt as much as possible between halloween and turkey day.

Archeryrob · Oct 29, 2020

eshoremd said:
There have been NUMEROUS studies done on the moon and when does go into estrous. As far as I know there is no correlation between the two. Does generally go into estrous within the same 48hr period every year.

Just hunt as much as possible between halloween and turkey day.

Winner, I don't think the moon has much to do with deer activity except allow them to see better at night when its full and avoid humans more.

Female deer are short day breeders, so they generally come into estrus in the fall, from October to December (Dewey). This is triggered mainly by a decrease in photoperiod. A hormone called melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in response to the onset of darkness. When it reaches a certain level in the blood plasma it induces estrus

Wsanner · Oct 29, 2020

I am 100% convinced that the moon plays a major part in the rut. I have kept a log for over 20 years of my harvests and the deer activity Ive witnessed from mid Oct thru the end of Nov. In my late teens I met Charles Alsheimer and talked to him for a couple hours. He introduced me to his theory. I read his book and really started paying attention and keeping track. He had it figured out. His rut predictions for the last 20 years have been pretty spot on. Even with a couple odd ball years that were in his forecast. I still read his book every year in early Oct just to refresh my memory.

outrider58 · Oct 29, 2020

Wsanner said:
I am 100% convinced that the moon plays a major part in the rut. I have kept a log for over 20 years of my harvests and the deer activity Ive witnessed from mid Oct thru the end of Nov. In my late teens I met Charles Alsheimer and talked to him for a couple hours. He introduced me to his theory. I read his book and really started paying attention and keeping track. He had it figured out. His rut predictions for the last 20 years have been pretty spot on. Even with a couple odd ball years that were in his forecast. I still read his book every year in early Oct just to refresh my memory.

This is the same theory I go by. I believe Charlie had it right. :thumbsup:

Striper69 · Oct 29, 2020

Wsanner said:
I am 100% convinced that the moon plays a major part in the rut. I have kept a log for over 20 years of my harvests and the deer activity Ive witnessed from mid Oct thru the end of Nov. In my late teens I met Charles Alsheimer and talked to him for a couple hours. He introduced me to his theory. I read his book and really started paying attention and keeping track. He had it figured out. His rut predictions for the last 20 years have been pretty spot on. Even with a couple odd ball years that were in his forecast. I still read his book every year in early Oct just to refresh my memory.

So what is his prediction for this year?

outrider58 · Oct 29, 2020

Striper69 said:
So what is his prediction for this year?

He's dead. My prediction is based on Alsheimer's theory.

None of this matters as much as people think. Like I've said repeatedly, the bucks get on the move the same time every year. Their actions are governed by the shortening of the daylight. That never changes from year to year. Who cares what day the does enter their estrous cycle.

HUNT THE PRE-RUT!!!

Striper69 · Oct 30, 2020

Gotcha!

eshoremd · Oct 30, 2020

https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/big-game-hunting/whitetail-deer/tail-rut

Full moon=Rut?

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