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Full moon and rut

triple_duece

Ragin Cajun.
9,126
159
I know or think I know there is some correlation to the rut and moon. Also feel that the time of year is just as important. My question is this, what happens when the full moon and date really don’t aline?

This year the full moon was around the 23rd and again in November around the 23rd. I’m just guessing but the rut usually kicks off good around the first week of November.

So with what I have observed, is the rut kicking earlier this year since the moon is late in November?
 
A resounding NO. Lol. I love this debate cuz it revolves around a lot of anecdotal evidence. But, the moon has not been proven to have any effect on the rut at all. It happens the same time each year, in a given area, within a 7-10 days of the previous years. Science. Lol. To truly know when. "your" rut will occur, you have to find out when Fawn drop is and count backwards. It's the only reliable way of determining peak breeding in your area. Now, with that said, weather plays a huge factor in deer sightings and movement during these times. Obviously, cold dry weather will tend to increase sightings of Rutting behavior, not only because the deer move but also because there are more hunters in the woods to see it. Deer still move fine on rainy days, but less hunters brave the elements. Hot days will tend to push deer movement to the night hours and deep within thick breeding areas, so less sightings. Deer still move regardless of moon, it's just where they're moving. Just my two cents.
 
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triple_duece

Ragin Cajun.
9,126
159
I can agree with that. There are/can be other contributing factors that make nothing an absolute.

Where I am peak rut according to gestation is dec 15, but very rarely will you see any kind of rut activity except for ribs and scrapes. This is because the ratio is way off. We have way more doe than bucks, not even taking about mature bucks. So generally we do observe a rut which is actually the second rut where the ratios are better and that time is first 10 days in January.
 

dante322

*Supporting Member*
5,506
157
Crawford county
Personally, I pay attention to the moon. Deer dont have calendars, they dont know it's the beginning of November. What they do know is the days are getting shorter, there is less daylight than there is darkness. That also know that the food sources are disappearing. They also know that the leaves that gave them cover and security are turning yellow and falling to the ground. There may be no "scientific" evidence (except the 20 plus years of observation by Charles Alsheimer) but it's hard to deny the effect of solar and lunar cycles on all wildlife... whitetail included.
 
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Outdoorsfellar

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
I'm going to go with Photoperiod. That's the only constant that deals with the rut. Look at northern states & Canada. There is a marginal time period when they breed, regardless of the moon. That then trickles downward. That's why it's pretty much the same time period here.
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I'm going to go with Photoperiod. That's the only constant that deals with the rut. Look at northern states & Canada. There is a marginal time period when they breed, regardless of the moon. That then trickles downward. That's why it's pretty much the same time period here.
I can get on that train. Makes more sense to me. Granted I only have my arm chair degree in this, but I like that direction.
 

Cogz

Cogz
1,360
70
TX
IMO it may not directly affect when a doe comes to estrous, but full moons provide a more well lit environment at night, so there may be more night time activity and less daytime activity during that period. Probably less impactful during the rut as they move anyway.
 

dante322

*Supporting Member*
5,506
157
Crawford county
Photoperiodism is why the rut starts. It is not only the reason the leaves yellow and fall, the sap runs in the trees, the food sources start to dwindle because of the lack of sunlight, but the stimulation caused by the bright sky at night is what triggers the cycle in the does.

I dont care what the calendar says, what the temperature is, whether its dry or raining,... the only thing that is consistant from one year to the next are solar and lunar cycles. It's been that way since the beginning of time and will stay that way till the end.
 
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