POSSIBLE PEAK RUT BUCK SIGHTINGS

[T.R. Michels]

Before you all get carried away, these are just predictions. After 10 years and counting, of keeping track of deer sightings, here in MN and in AR, with other person's sightings in TX and in GA, I can say this about deer movement in relation to the moon.

There are three different lunar cycles, with a different number of days in each cycle. Research has found peak sightings of deer (and I've found peak sightings of dominant bucks) to occur during at least two of those cycles. And it appears that when two of the cycles occur at that same time, increased sightings do occur.

SO - I may have to give you the dates of two of those cycles (which will be about 7 days long), and the dates when two cycles overlap (which may be as long as 14 days).

BUT - I really do not think there is enough conclusive evidence to say this is a fact, because: 1. deer activity is governed to a great extent by the amount of light available each day (which is affected by clouds and precipitation), barometric pressure changes, temperature/windhill/heat index, wind direction and speed, predatory behavior (dogs, coyotes), hunting pressure, the availability and distance to current food sources (which affects how long it will take deer to get to the food), and the rut.

What I really look at is the weather each day, and use it with my knowledge of wheer the deer are feeding that week. Then I look for times when the rut will occur, because I know that peak buck sightings often occur along rub lines/scrape routes leading to and from food source.

THEN - if the Moon Indicator days overlap the dates of those 1-2 weeks prior to peak breeding (Peak Rut), then I might just think about hunting that day, or scheduling my hunt for that week.
But, always remember the weather, it is one of the biggest factors determining when and where der will be active each day.

Here is my axiom - "If it is too hot, too cold, too windy or too wet, the deer aren't going to do what they would normally do." If they aren't, it is your job to figure out where and when they will move that day.

No matter what, look for bucks during daylight hours, except during peak breeding, in or near their daytime core areas/bedding sites. Because it is where bucks often are during daylight hours - it is where you should be near.

2010
September 1-11
October 1-10
November Oct. 28-Nov. 9 and Nov.23-Dec. 1
December 19-25

Since peak breeding occurs over much of NA during the 1-3 weeks of November, I'd look for bucks during daylight hours all through the rut, but also during that Oct. 28-Nov. 9 period, not leaving out the whole last week of October when they might be running rub lines and checking scrapes.

God bless,

T.R.

[deadeye]

First off, thanks for the information.  I'm always open to information on deer movement.  Could you expand on your axiom that "If it is too hot, too cold, too windy or too wet, the deer aren't going to do what they would normally do".  Specifically, what do you define as too hot, cold, windy, or wet?  I understand those conditions affect me (or the hunter) but deer live out side all the time and I doubt the weather has much affect on them.

[T.R. Michels]

First ff, let me say this - You will never even see me mention something in relation to animal behavior - unless I have pretty solid evidence, which I believe in, to show that iit has something to do with aninmal activity. You do not have to believe me, just never doubt my sincerity.

Now, I've only got 10 years of data, regarding deer activity in relation to temperature,windchill, dewpoint, heat index, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, type and amount of precipitation, and available amount of light/cloud cover. They all affect deer, sometimes for your good, sometimes not so good for you - because they interact with each other.

Just like any other animal or humans, deer are affected to a great extent by the weather each day. I've shown it to be true with elk, ducks, geese, and turkeys too. In fact, weather is the number one thing you need to think about each day, because of my axiom. It is just common sense. There are weather conditions that are not cnducive to good deer movement. There are times when it is too hot, or too cold, or to windy, or to wet, and that is why you do not see a lot of deer on certain days. 

Because deer live in such a wide variety of latitudes, where the weather is different, I cannot give hard and fast rules for your answer. Only semi-specific predictions for north, central and south locations. I've got it all in one of my Deer Activity Indicators. And it is in my Complete Whitetail Addict's Manual. It may also be on my site in the deer graphs section.

God bless,

T.R.

[Go Big Red!]

I love the fact that the Nov 23 date coincides with Wis gun deer opener.....  SWEET!!!!