During the week of July 22-28, 2009;
The New Moon occurred on July 22, The Perigee of the Moon ws on July 21.
Single adult bears, and bears with cubs, were sighted most often between 6 AM and 8 AM, from 11AM to 1 PM, and from 3 PM to 10PM.
Large adult bears, without cubs, were sighted most often between 6 AM and 8 AM, and 1 PM and 8 PM. Total Sightings 28. The 2 largest bears were seen 5 and 7 times each, at the same location each time for each bear, but 2 at different locations.
Deer were sighted most often between 3 AM and 7 AM, 12 AM and 1 PM, and again between 5 PM and 8 PM. Total Sightings 175
Smaller racked bucks (under 120 inches, presumably 2 years old or younger) were sighted most often between 3 AM and 7 AM, an again between 5PM and midnight. Total Sightings 35. There were no "spike" bucks noted.
Larger racked bucks (over 120 inches, presumably two years old and older) were sighted most often between 3 AM and 6 AM, and 7 PM and 8 PM. Total Sightings 41. The 10 pt 170 class buck and the 8 pt 150 class buck were sighted 5 times each, all at the same location.
According to this data the 3 year old or older buck to doe ratio, of this non-hunted population of deer, was approximately 1:6, the overall buck to doe ratio was approximately 1:2 (1 buck for every 2 does).
Most deer left open feeding areas within an hour of sunrise (some were still feeding an hour later), in the evening they began moving an hour before sunset.
Deer were still seen feeding in "wooded areas" a half hour after sunrise.
Turkeys were sighted most often between 8 AM and 6 PM. Total Sightings 100
Squirrels were sighted most often between 6 AM and 8 PM. Total Sightings 179
Raccoons were sighted most often between 8 PM and 7 AM. Total Sightings 340
There was no correlation between the activity times of any of the species of animals, and the predictions of the Solunar Table. Since most of the game activity tables available to sportsman use the gravitational pull of the moon when it is either directly overhead or underfoot, as the primary factor that affects the hours of the day when game animals and fish will be most active, the predicted times of those tables will all parallel each other, with the result that none of them will accurately predict peak activity or feeding times of terrestrial animals.
Abnormally high numbers of raccoons (9+) were noted on July 20 at 21:00 and 22:00 hours in the meadow by a pond at one site. Abnormally high numbers of raccoons (10+) were noted on July 21 at 20:00 and 21:00 hours at the same site. Normal sighting numbers at those times during the prior week were between 3 and 5. In the following two weeks, no sightings of raccoons occurred at any hour. The increased number of sightings of raccoons was correlated with the week of the New Moon, and the week prior to the Perigee of the Moon.
It is possible that less moonlight during the New Moon affected whatever it was that the raccoons were foraging on. It is also possible that predator avoidance strategies by the raccoons contributed to their increased sightings when there was less light during the New Moon, in the open habitat of this site. Jon A. Yunger et al. found that Dune Hairy-footed Gerbils used this strategy while foraging.
It is also possible that the electro-magnetics associated with the perigee of he moon affected the raccoons. And it is possible that the combined effects of the New moon and the Perigee of the Moon contributed to the high number of sightings of raccoons on those two dates. However, since it was noted the raccoons were foraging, it is likely that whatever they were foraging on contributed, to some extent, to the high numbers of sightings during those two days. The meadow by the pond could have produced large numbers of insects, worms/nightcrawlers, crustaceans, frogs/toads or some form of plant matter may have matured on those dates. Research data during the following months may provide more insight into these occurrences.
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NOW - what would I do with this information. If it was the hunting season for either deer or bear, I'd figure out where the bigger bears or bigger bucks were coming into the three meadows (with feeders) they are coming in to, set up a stand or blind, and wait for them to come by. Often, in the evening deer, (not bears) are coming from their daytime core areas, and use the same travel routes on a semi-regular basis.
Although the deer were coming in during the night, they did come in in the early morning too (they may have spenf the night there). In that case, I would figure out where they were leaving the meadows, and set up there. Usually, in the morning, the deer are going back to their daytime core areas, and often use the same travel route, on a semi-regular basis, as they leave early morning food sources.
God bless,
T.R.
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Topic: New Wildlife Research Project; deer, bear, turkey (Read 1383 times)
