Full Moon Effect

[rcar]

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on hunting during a full moon in late September. Does it significantly affect the rut/ability to call in an Elk and Moose. I hunted Northern BC pre rut a few years back the week of a full moon and didn't see anything during daylight hours....although it was pretty warm.

[Jelvis]

More activity during full moon at night so less during the day light hours the following sun rise -- hide more during the day after --
Jelly-Elk-Cranbrerry Brook -- that's what I herd waz the reason -- for deer family -- good question tho, some hunters on HBC will know and give us a heads up - :smile: -

[MichelD]

Damn. You're right. I got a moose draw for September and we're going September 20-30. And there's a full moon Sept. 24.

[srupp]

Hmmm was on Teslin lake last few days of Sept.cow..BIG COW MOOSE almost climbed in our 26 foot boat...10 yards away..called like crazy..and loud.
Over 30 some years..hasnt affected our ability to call in harvest moose.
Steven

[weatherby_man]

I've had this happen a couple of times but when deer hunting.... Less active during daylight if the full moon is out and not hidden by cloud cover, find where they are feeding at night during full moon and then find their trails back to their day safe spots and get in between them there before daybreak to intercept them once legal shooting light arises.

[Jelvis]

Bull moose and cows get real horny the last week of September, into October and if you can call half decent, a cow bawl and a Bull whaa whaa.
-- Don't over do the calling, do very little until you are set up. Calling gives your location so keep as still as possy bell ding dong.
Jel - more later on the full moon club -- full moons are mandatory - haha

[todbartell]

During a bright moon phase, there will be more activity by game overnight, come sunrise they can be in their bedding area for hours already. Midday hunting during these times can be more productive though, since they will get out of their beds mid morning and go to water, or do some browsing.

[Jelvis]

-- I had the pleasure of sitting down at a round table discussion with thee top Ministry guys in the Loops at the time, PHD in conservation up the North Thompson and Kamloops region.
-- Clued all of us hunters and locals in on the moose rut time, we mostly thought October generally was thee time, butt no, senior biologist says, last week in September is hot and heavy for moose getting turned on and wanting to get it on real bad like.
-- Mature cows bred first, bred mostly all by October 7 then tapering down a bit and the young ones get attention as they come into heat later in the rut.
Jel -- Water ways are moose places, ponds, marshes - lil swamps etc. -- a moose needs to drink 2 gallons of water a day to be healthy -- mid Sept on 4 calling
---- Whaaaaa whaaaaaa, wha, -------------

[Wild one]

I hate full moons and will never book a hunting trip for ungulates during one

[bearvalley]

During a bright moon phase, there will be more activity by game overnight, come sunrise they can be in their bedding area for hours already. Midday hunting during these times can be more productive though, since they will get out of their beds mid morning and go to water, or do some browsing.

This is good advice.
Mid morning and mid afternoon they usually make a move.
With bull moose you will often only get an antler flash if they turn their head while bedded.
Full moon hunting just means you need more patience, you can still get it done.

[elknut]

Had lots of encounters during a full moon from about 11am to 1:30 pm ..Bulls out and about ..Its a wives tale ..They all feed at night.Full moon might contribute to a little more but their patterns really don't change..The bulls I found are looking for cows and or feeding without a care ...Also it has been really warm ..and sunny..Seen some big bulls killed during this mid day doldrum...Dennis

[BigfishCanada]

Ya i hate full moon, they all move at night. I could hear them crashing during the night through the forest

[Jelvis]

Moose are nocturnal animals, preferring the darkness to hide in, they know they taste good and lots of animals and humans want to eat them.
So they try not to be seen, but 1000 pounds of meat is hard to hide in the light. With a four foot rack on top of it.
Jel -- nocturnal means come out at night or prefer dark over sunshine -- hunt early morning at day break til you had enuff, and or later just after sun down --

[HarryToolips]

-- I had the pleasure of sitting down at a round table discussion with thee top Ministry guys in the Loops at the time, PHD in conservation up the North Thompson and Kamloops region.
-- Clued all of us hunters and locals in on the moose rut time, we mostly thought October generally was thee time, butt no, senior biologist says, last week in September is hot and heavy for moose getting turned on and wanting to get it on real bad like.
-- Mature cows bred first, bred mostly all by October 7 then tapering down a bit and the young ones get attention as they come into heat later in the rut.
Jel -- Water ways are moose places, ponds, marshes - lil swamps etc. -- a moose needs to drink 2 gallons of water a day to be healthy -- mid Sept on 4 calling
---- Whaaaaa whaaaaaa, wha, -------------
I agree with the last week of September thing, I have seen a lot of bull moose in my reg 3 and 8 areas on the move between sept 20-25....I also heard a cow moose bawling pretty bad all horned up nov 2nd last year with a bull grunting back...I guess when it's time to get it on with her it's time no matter what..

[Jelvis]

Moose are regulated by the amount of light that enters their eyes during daylight hours, it's called photo-periodism -- Sun light hours -- not moon light
-- amount and length of day light entering eyes regulate the deer family, and how they feel, react, and breed and drop off and grow antlers all by the light
-- not the temperature or snow or weather but, - amount of day light entering eyes
So this way they breed every season dispite out side temperature or moisture or what ever.
-- Moose talk to each other and to themselves like humans do, moose talk, wha wha wha.
Jel -- September 15th and on is when I use my birch bark moose caller -- Wha wha whaaaaaa --- over here big boyyy come and get me big fella -- your soo strong

[Bugle M In]

-- I had the pleasure of sitting down at a round table discussion with thee top Ministry guys in the Loops at the time, PHD in conservation up the North Thompson and Kamloops region.
-- Clued all of us hunters and locals in on the moose rut time, we mostly thought October generally was thee time, butt no, senior biologist says, last week in September is hot and heavy for moose getting turned on and wanting to get it on real bad like.
-- Mature cows bred first, bred mostly all by October 7 then tapering down a bit and the young ones get attention as they come into heat later in the rut.
Jel -- Water ways are moose places, ponds, marshes - lil swamps etc. -- a moose needs to drink 2 gallons of water a day to be healthy -- mid Sept on 4 calling
---- Whaaaaa whaaaaaa, wha, -------------

yup, late sept. I have seen moose in heavy action already....many times!!!

[The Sandler]

Hi Michel, Im looking to plan a hunt next year at Teslin Lake. How was it up there? Any issues with the Natives?
Any insite would be appreciated.

Cheers