Canuck2 Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 LIVEWIRE and hoytman, this is really interesting! I did notice you supplied charts with no dates - moon phases only. However, my own experiences, which don't really constitute enough data to be significant, don't support the theory. Using only the 18 whitetails I've shot which have had 9 points or more (if I include down to 8 points, it gets into a lot of immature bucks), only 6 of them have been during the rut. Almost all the others have been in the early part of the season, before rutting is even a passing thought. The breakdown is like this: Sept 1 ... 5x5 velvet, 6x5 Sept 2 ... 8x8 velvet Sept 5 ... 5x5 Sept 8 ... 5x5 velvet, 5x4, 5x5 Sept 11 ... 4x6 Sept 16 ... 4x5 Sept 17 ... 5x5 Oct 12 ... 4x5 Nov 16 ... 5x4, 7x6, 5x5 Nov 17 ... 4x5 Nov 18 ... 7x6 Nov 20 ... 6x6 Dec 4 ... 5x5 Clearly, most of my success has been either during early, calm times or in the rut. Those 6 bucks in November represent 6 different years. Although I don't have a clue as far as what the moon phases were in those years, it seems awfully unlikely they would all have coincided with the appropriate 'rutting moon' activity during that 5 day span(Nov 16-20). I also hunted just as much in the days before and after those 5 days. I know this is not in accordance with studies by the likes of Dr. James Kroll and others, but those are my observations. I guess you can find exceptions to every rule. Oh ya - just realizing this is the archery forum. These are mainly not archery deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Javabird17 Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Mr. Java saw 9 bucks in a 2 hour time span.. Took his 9 pt that day... 10/27/2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I may throw a monkey wrench into the theory. My best buck was killed in Kansas on Nov. 20, 2004. He officially scored 184 1/4" gross and 175 1/8" net B&C and yes I did enter him in B&C. Now...here's the dates of the mature bucks (4 1/2 years old or older) that I've killed in Mississippi just over the past 6 years. 9 point killed on 1/11/03 8 point killed on 11/30/03 9 point killed 1/13/05 6 point (19" spread cull buck) killed 12/15/06 8 point killed 1/9/07 10 point killed 12/17/07 8 point killed 1/5/08 If you really want to know the best time to hunt mature bucks in your area, check with your local taxidermist. He knows when to expect most of the trophy bucks to come into his shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoytman26 Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 LIVEWIRE and hoytman, this is really interesting! I did notice you supplied charts with no dates - moon phases only. However, my own experiences, which don't really constitute enough data to be significant, don't support the theory. Using only the 18 whitetails I've shot which have had 9 points or more (if I include down to 8 points, it gets into a lot of immature bucks), only 6 of them have been during the rut. Almost all the others have been in the early part of the season, before rutting is even a passing thought. The breakdown is like this: Sept 1 ... 5x5 velvet, 6x5 Sept 2 ... 8x8 velvet Sept 5 ... 5x5 Sept 8 ... 5x5 velvet, 5x4, 5x5 Sept 11 ... 4x6 Sept 16 ... 4x5 Sept 17 ... 5x5 Oct 12 ... 4x5 Nov 16 ... 5x4, 7x6, 5x5 Nov 17 ... 4x5 Nov 18 ... 7x6 Nov 20 ... 6x6 Dec 4 ... 5x5 Clearly, most of my success has been either during early, calm times or in the rut. Those 6 bucks in November represent 6 different years. Although I don't have a clue as far as what the moon phases were in those years, it seems awfully unlikely they would all have coincided with the appropriate 'rutting moon' activity during that 5 day span(Nov 16-20). I also hunted just as much in the days before and after those 5 days. I know this is not in accordance with studies by the likes of Dr. James Kroll and others, but those are my observations. I guess you can find exceptions to every rule. Oh ya - just realizing this is the archery forum. These are mainly not archery deer. I dont like to compare gun hunts to this due to pressure on the animal and he is more likely to be spooked and on his feet and you can shoot them from 100yds+ This years rut moon was Oct26 and next year its Nov12 16 days apart. WHAT ARE THE YEARS FROM THOSE 6. Do you remember??? And were any of them during gun season and which ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasDeerHunter Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Look at some of the studies by Al Brothers. IMO the best times to catch big bucks vary widely by region. My best came in Jan of 2007 around 8am and I don't recall moon phase. One thing I do know is that the "RUT" is onset by photoperiods and not cold weather or neccessarily the moon phase. Although the moon is somewhat linked with photoperiods. I know there are alot of theories out there, but there also are alot of variables that have to be input to make the playing field level. Management, Food, Pressure, Location, and yes the Rut.......all of these contribute to a hunters success at bagging a big mature deer and I am not certain that there is a magic time that works everywhere. Just my thoughts, glad to see I am not the only one who has whitetail on the brain 24-7 and sits around looking at data like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck2 Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 hoytman, here's a year summary of the above-mentioned November bucks and the circumstances at the time. The hunting pressure here is quite light compared to other jurisdictions and none of these seemed at all concerned about being out in daylight or of any impending dangers. Nov 17 1988 - 4x5 - chasing does Nov 16 1989 - 5x4 - chasing does Nov 16 1990 - 7x6 - chasing does Nov 16 1991 - 5x5 - tending a doe; other does nearby Nov 20 1994 - 6x6 - tending a doe Nov 18 2005 - 7x6 - nose to ground, on the move Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoytman26 Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thanks. I checked the second full moon after the fall equinox on all of those days and 5 out of 6 were within 6 days or less of that full moon. Pretty cool. In 05' I saw a bruiser on the 15th. Thanks again Canuck2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoytman26 Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 I may throw a monkey wrench into the theory. My best buck was killed in Kansas on Nov. 20, 2004. He officially scored 184 1/4" gross and 175 1/8" net B&C and yes I did enter him in B&C. Now...here's the dates of the mature bucks (4 1/2 years old or older) that I've killed in Mississippi just over the past 6 years. 9 point killed on 1/11/03 8 point killed on 11/30/03 9 point killed 1/13/05 6 point (19" spread cull buck) killed 12/15/06 8 point killed 1/9/07 10 point killed 12/17/07 8 point killed 1/5/08 If you really want to know the best time to hunt mature bucks in your area, check with your local taxidermist. He knows when to expect most of the trophy bucks to come into his shop. Charles Alsheimer also says for the south it is around the 3rd full moon after the fall equinox. So this is also neat to see because this explains why all these deer are so late in the season. Thanks!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoytman26 Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thanks to everyone for the info. I know big bucks can be killed any time of year and any moon phase, but if I can get just a bit of info to help me in the field to have an advantage over a monster whitetail I'll use it. Any advantage helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck2 Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 hoytman, the info is really cool. I'm going to have to pay much more attention to the moon than I ever did before. For me, it seems better to be lucky than good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adrenaline_junky Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 MY biggest buck was taken on November 2nd 2006 in Ohio at 458 PM. He scored 158 6/8 P&Y and had 10 points. I've read that book and agree with the theory, I've always seen the biggest bucks of my carreer right around that second full moon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whttlbucksteve Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 My best came on Nov. 13 174" 9 point 2 years ago also two friends shot 170"s this year one on the 11 and the other on the 13 of Nov. I would not miss that week around 10 nov through 17 nov.I see too many big bucks during that time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 Charles Alsheimer also says for the south it is around the 3rd full moon after the fall equinox. So this is also neat to see because this explains why all these deer are so late in the season. Thanks!!!!! Yes I know that's what he says but as you can see my kills don't exactly coincide with that moon phase either. Also, peak rut dates vary greatly across Mississippi. Anywhere from the 1st week of December to the 1st week of February. Here's a copy of the Mississippi Deer Mean Conception Date Map from our state game department's web site and you'll see what I'm talking about. If you'd like to check out their web site regarding this, here's a link. http://www.mdwfp.com/Level2/Wildlife/Game/Deer/deer_breeding.asp Basically I agree with some other well know deer biologist that believe the conception date for does is basically the same every year for a particular area. It may be skewed a few days one way or the other by the moon phase but not drastically. BTW, according to this map the mean conception date for the area I hunt is Jan. 2nd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogg6 Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 My best was 10-12-06 in WI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVdeerhunter Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Killed 174" on nov.23 2007 and all my bucks have been opening day no later than the 3 day. That is nov.20th to the 26th. WV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn57 Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 my 2 best bucks were both killed November 24, 9 point in 02 and 8 point in 03. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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