The New Huntmastersbbs!: Full moon and your success rate

This is topic Full moon and your success rate in forum Predator forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.

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Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on December 05, 2006, 04:47 PM:

Alright, so does your day time calling success rate suffer during the full moon? And if not, do you use different tactics or the same o same o?

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 05, 2006, 04:50 PM:

This time, it did. Boy, the hunting here just sucks right now.

Posted by stevecriner (Member # 892) on December 05, 2006, 04:52 PM:

Lance, Im telling you what. Me and Rshaw worked our ass off for the two we got saturday. We seen 7 in 9 stands but for the conditions and the spots we hit you think we would of seen more. Ive made 7 stands since saturday with nothing. I think its the moon surely? Nice cold wheather with snow and no coyotes....

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 05, 2006, 06:44 PM:

I've spoken with ppl across the state and east as far as IN this week and daytime calling is a bust everywhere. It will get better, but it's amazing how when it goes south, it goes south everywhere at the same time.

Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on December 05, 2006, 06:52 PM:

I was ashamed to say anything. It has sucked here big time. I was pumped too. I guess things suck all over the midwest....

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 05, 2006, 07:30 PM:

I guess it's time to invite Leonard back to Kansas. [Wink]

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 05, 2006, 08:06 PM:

Yeah, right! It was miserable at the World Hunt for a lot of us PAK MEN, right Higgins?

I don't know why, but we hunted our asses off and it didn't do any good?

Of course, I have always been against full (or near full) conditions, day or night.

I can't prove anything, but I do know why I like to hunt on a new moon. Simple. I seem to do better.

Good hunting. LB

edit: Congrats, Lance! I just noticed your elite status!

[ December 05, 2006, 08:07 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 06, 2006, 04:28 AM:

Thank you, Leonard. You need to update yours.

Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on December 06, 2006, 05:06 AM:

Daylight calling during a full moon has always sucked for me.

But some of the best night hunting I've ever had was under a full moon with snow on the ground. It seemed as every predator was out and running to fill his belly.

Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on December 06, 2006, 05:15 AM:

I made a couple stands the other night on the snow. Nothing. Just like during the day. I think maybe we got a bit much snow right now. I know its a bitch to get around in and the rabbits arent out much either. We got 2+" of ice and 14-16" of snow on top of it. Its a bitch. I was excited about the full moon, it looks like daylight, shadows and all, at midnight. But damned if I could call anything.

Of course, I only made a couple stands. Maybe should have kept going. Maybe later on would have been better?

One of my favorite times to call is coming up. This snows starting to melt, a little, and its going to warm up. Thats normally when I do very well.

Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on December 06, 2006, 05:17 AM:

Well, I'm glad you pampass ass's all have troubles with the full moon too.
I had gone out last Friday, I've been looking for some new honey hole on the eastern plains. Well, I did 6 stands on Friday and saw nothing. Then finally on the 7th stand of the day, I had one show itself, but no shot. Then on the 8th through the 12th stands, I called in 7, bumped 4 others. SO I thought I had finally found a higher density coyote area.
What confussed me was that I went back on Sunday to the same area, and only saw two, and they weren't coming to the call. Called all day, and not one to show for it!
Seemed like about the same moon phase, very similar weather, but total opposite results.

Posted by varmit hunter (Member # 37) on December 06, 2006, 12:05 PM:

One of the best hunts I was ever on was during the full moon. Three of us killed 28 in 2 1/2 days. Off course it was the Texas Panhandle where they carry the Kamikaze gene.

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 06, 2006, 12:56 PM:

Well there was this one full moon night in back seat of my 1947 Plymouth-----Oh, you mean coyote hunting? never mind. [Embarrassed]

Posted by Lungbuster (Member # 630) on December 06, 2006, 02:01 PM:

How has your luck been hunting at night with no snow? I ussually stay home in these conditions..... just wondering about everyone else?

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 07, 2006, 03:54 PM:

I love to blame a day of poor calling on the full moon, and do it often; however.....the best day that I have ever had was during a full moon. Go figure.

While callers will blame the full moon for poor success because the coyotes move all night, the trappers generally favor the new moon as when the most movement occures. Makes for great campfire discussions.

What I have to wonder is; maybe it's not the effect that the moon has on the coyote, but the effect that the moon has on the local prey species.

Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on December 07, 2006, 04:51 PM:

Kokopelli,

I started to make that same comparative statement in my post, but left it out.

My theory is the trapping picks up on a new moon, because the coyote has to move slower and rely on his nose more during the new moon nights. Therefore he is more prone to picking up the scents of the lure.

I think the daytime calling is better at this time, because the coyote didn't get his belly filled over night in the dark, and is out hunting later into the day.

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 08, 2006, 12:47 AM:

Tim,

Your theory makes sense to me. If a coyote feeds on a full moon night it wouldn't be as likely to respond the next day. If the same coyote moves all night on a new moon and doesn't successfully feed (or get caught) it should be hungry come sunrise and answer to calling.

However; this brings us to the next question, which is....How long does a coyote's belly stay 'full' after feeding? If our coyote feeds at night during a full moon and doesn't respond well to calls the next morning, wouldn't it be at least starting to get pretty hungry by that afternoon?? Calling should be better during the afternoons of the full moon.

Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on December 08, 2006, 07:02 AM:

Kokopelli and Tim. How do we explain calling coyotes off of a deadpile or a fresh carcass? I have had coyotes come running to the call still covered with "soup" from being inside the carcass. We have called the same areas during a full moon with no takers. Two weeks later they are running to the calls again.

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 08, 2006, 07:45 AM:

Okay, first, hunting at night, under a full moon is very difficult, but mostly because the coyotes can see you real good. Are they more active during that phase or not, or at least hunting more, I can't say, for sure?

Now, exactly why daytime hunting during a full moon phase is poor, that's a good question. Some people don't even agree that it is more difficult hunting. Well, that's fine, but I happen to think the moon has an influence, and at times it is negative and other times it has a more positive effect.

I assure all of you, night hunting under a dark moon is better hunting. Not because they are out and more active, but because they can't see you, as well as when there is a moon. Actually, as a guess, I think they are probably a little more active during those times when there is a bright moon, and they can see their quarry a little better. It just seems to make more sense, but it is something that doesn't matter to anything or anyone other than hunters on message boards. [Smile]

Good hunting. LB

Posted by foxcaller53 (Member # 958) on December 08, 2006, 08:26 AM:

Here in PA, I hunt fox 100% at night. I can tell you that a full moon is my enemy. The fox are spookier when coming to my calls and I actaully have to set up in a different fashion as not to be seen........in comparison to a new moon.

A new moon is definitely my friend. Easier to set up and fox seem to respond better. It's also much easier to see eyes with your lights under a new moon. Was out one night several weeks ago and called in 11 reds and shot 5. There was no moon that night, but right now, it's harder due to the bright moon.

Well, there you have it...my 2-cents.
Dave Kaprocki

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 08, 2006, 08:47 AM:

Rich Higgens;

I explain it all with the following example,

Women will be women.

Cats will do as they please.

Coyotes will adapt & survive.

There's not a damn thing that men can do about any of it except come up with theorys to make ourselves seem wise.

That should be clear as mud. (Insert one of those smiley things)

[ December 08, 2006, 08:59 AM: Message edited by: Kokopelli ]

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 09, 2006, 06:06 AM:

Rich, that last post may have come across as a bit more acerbic than I intended. To much EverClear in the Eggnog perhaps. The truth is that I have no idea why coyotes will do some of the things that they do, like being called off of a carcass. Makes about as much sense as someone leaving a steakhouse 'cause they smell french fries next door. I'm just glad that coyotes continue to mystify us. It keeps us humble & it's more fun when we succeed.

Posted by JoeF (Member # 228) on December 09, 2006, 06:45 AM:

What do they call animals like coyotes and deer that are active to some degree both night and day - diurnal?

Whatever, with a full moon and moderate weather (>40-ish) I try to satisfy some other habit because the daytime will typically be dead. I believe the effect is less certain in real cold weather.

In the days before legal lights I used to drool over the idea of snow cover and a full moon. Now I dread them.

Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on December 09, 2006, 07:56 AM:

quote:
There's not a damn thing that men can do about any of it except come up with theorys to make ourselves seem wise.

I didn't think your post was ascerbic at all and I agree with it completely.Apparently I'm not too concerned about seeming wise with some of my theories. I explained one such to Major Boddiker at the campout and he graciously replied "Well that is interesting."
Leonard, however turned to someone and said "That was off the wall." [Smile]

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 09, 2006, 08:00 AM:

I work on my diplomacy every day. Thanks for pointing out that it still needs a little polishing.

Good hunting. LB

Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on December 09, 2006, 09:43 AM:

I wasn't thinking about diplomacy, Leonard. lol
I was pointing out that I'm obviously not concerned about making myself look wise. [Smile]

Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on December 09, 2006, 09:52 AM:

Rich,

My theory of why dead piles are good areas to call or trap coyotes:

Those things are magnets for coyotes to get an easy meal and a full belly. But a coyote with a full belly won't want to travel far before shading up and sleeping it off.

Then you set up a half a mile away and wake the coyote with the sounds of a dieing rabbit. That easy fresh killed rabbit sounds pretty enticing to those who have spent the last week eating half rotted beef or pork.

I like to keep the dead pile itself left alone as a safe zone for the coyotes, I never shoot or trap next to one. I want them to feel safe while there. But the most traveled passages coming and going to it, are wonderful places to make a set!

Kokopelli, The wife asked me the other night why her cat seems to do things just to piss her off. I responded that cats are nothing more than little women in fur coats. She's still mad at that comment, I guess the truth sometimes hurts?

Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on December 09, 2006, 11:48 AM:

Tim, I enjoy your posts so much. You are a study in contradictions.
You share knowledge gained from years of close observation which demonstrates high intelligence and attention to detail in one half of your post and then you share this incredibly stupid comment to your beautiful and loving and vindicative wife in the last half. Very entertaining. For me. Maybe not you.
I know that this woman that you royally pissoff cooks your meals and feeds you. I know that you have chronic problems with your digestive tract. Have you ever considered that there may be a connection?

Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on December 09, 2006, 03:51 PM:

quote:
Tim, I enjoy your posts so much.

LOL

Yours aren't too shabby either Professor. I'd love to here your off the wall and interesting theory. Please share and don't worry about sounding wise or otherwise. [Smile]

Posted by stevecriner (Member # 892) on December 09, 2006, 06:49 PM:

quote:
I explained one such to Major Boddiker at the campout and he graciously replied "Well that is interesting."
Leonard, however turned to someone and said "That was off the wall."

That was a good one i remeber that.

Anyway has anyone seen BS's vol 4. he talks about the moon and says."well i just dont pay attention to it" And he put on the box," BS shares info on the moon phases" I needless to say fealt shafted.... Im a sucker i guess for neat DVD covers.

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 09, 2006, 07:06 PM:

Steve, that is so classic Byron! LB

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 09, 2006, 07:40 PM:

FWIW,

My major professor in college was Donald F. Kauffman (not that his name is important, but the arrogant bastard sure wanted all of US to remember it) and his research specialty was small mammal population studies. he had written several papers on movements of such wonderful and mysitfying little vermin as deer mice and cotton rats and one study he did was on their movements relative to lunar phase. I don't remember much about it, but I do recall trying to apply his results to my trapping, and those results showed that small mammal (prey) pop'ns moved much less on both full and new moons. His hypothesis was that the varmints either couldn't see, or were aware that they could be seen too easily and stayed inside where it was safe. Assuming that he was right (Dr Kauffman was always right, dammit), it would stand to reason that coyotes have to hunt harder and more on full and new moons. Under a full moon, they probably enjoy greater success whereas under a new moon, they're still a bit hungry come morning. In any event, hunting the dsay after a full moon just sucks.

Now, why doesn't it get any better even when the full moon sets just before sunset and rises shortly after dawn? The night period is essentially new moon-ish. Isn't it?

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