full moon

[Fridaythe13th]

I see the full moon is Sept 8 the year, which is a good day my B-day. Is that a good week to hunt or would most people wait a week.
Why does full moon effect elk so much? or is that a myth?

I see on elknuts tips, Paul doesn't mind hunting full moon.

[elkaholic]

Your going to get a lot of opinions on this but here is mine. Get out and go when you can go, regardless of moon. They do seem to move more at night on full moons but the rutting activity seems to pick up a bit in the early morning and late evening. This can give you a chance to locate the herd early in the morning and be ready to move on them at first light. The added benefit is they seem to get up, stretch, and move a bit in the middle of the day during a full moon. Other factors to consider is the weather, timing of the month, pressure, and temps. I think those factors have more of an influence on the elk than the moon.

[Fridaythe13th]

thank you elkaholic: Just trying to pick a week to start hunting, the 6th or the 13th and seen the full moon was the 8th.

[Screaming_btf]

I think if it is good weather and clear skies the ELK are much more active at night, and I think less active in the days. Depending on your style of hunting this can be a good thing.

[stringunner]

Other factors to consider is the weather, timing of the month, pressure, and temps. I think those factors have more of an influence on the elk than the moon.

+1 I agree with elkaholic on this statement completely.

However if you are trying to decide on which dates are better, I hear the rutting action is better mid to late September and have experienced this myself. If your styles is ambush, which is how we hunt them primarily, I like earlier dates so the elk have not been as pressured by other hunters.

[Swamp Buck]

Moon Phase is the LAST thing that I think about when planning an elk trip. WAY more important things to consider.

If you are really trying to decide which week to go, then you need to analyze your hunt a little more, or what you want to get out of it.
Where are you going?
How long are you going for?
What is your hunting style?
How much pressure are you expecting?
Do you want bugling rutting bulls or quieter sneaky bulls?

[ElkNut1]

Yes, hunting the Full Moon can be productive! Here's 3 reasons why we like this time frame! (grin) These bulls were taken on Sept 6 - 8 - 11 ---- The Moon was Full on the 8th. Of course the sky is every bit as bright 5 days before & after the peak Full Moon as long as skies are fairly clear.

These bulls were located 45 min to an hour before light. The 1st one was located with a location bugle & heard about a mile away, we went right after him to get into their feeding area by daylight. We made it there & nearly called him in but he became very cautious & headed towards bedding. We dogged him in light rain for 45 min with no calling on our part, we ended up in his bedding area & called him out to 14 yds on Sept 6.

The 2nd bull was located as two bulls had bugled on their own before daylight up a very steep incline. We headed towards them for 30 minutes in the dark stumbling our way towards them! (grin) My son bugled at them once to plant the seed there was a bull below while still dark. We moved up the mtn towards their bugling but could not catch them, about 1/2 way up my son started with some very annoyed cow calling & the herd bull went irate, he started coming towards us from several hundred yds away straight down the mtn. My son continued the cow whines & retreated away from me & brought this bull to 14 yds from me.

3rd bull was taken on the 11th. We'd heard this bull well before light but he was already on the move with his cows in some real steep thick & nasty stuff, again there was a light rain fall. We looked for this bull for 2 hours to no avail, we even setup with a couple Blind/Cold Calling setups but no cigar. We headed out of there & as we were nearing the bottom of the mtn we heard a very distant bugle well above where we had just come from. I called to this bull 1/2 dozen times in a 10 minute span as we sat there working out a plan & if we wanted to go back up! (grin) We decided on a Call & Stalk, I'd stay back as caller to keep the bull vocal & the boys went up after him, 45 min to an hour later Clayton kills this bull at 35 yds as Paul II calls him in.

Anyway yes we like Full Moon times, we've taken many more bulls as well at this time frame throughout the month of Sept! It's a good time to be in the elkwoods!

ElkNut1

[Toby]

We have had good luck during full moon as well. I would allow other factors to determine my hunt time.

[Trophyhill]

I love being in the elkwoods on the 8th. Cows are nearing or going into the second estrus cycle around this time and the bulls know it!

That first picture in Paul's post illustrates picture perfect shot placement IMO.

[ferris bugler]

I like hunting the full moon. Seems like there is good hunting in the middle of the day for me at that time. I also like just after the full moon because it seems like elk stay active for longer in the morning. No science to it but just what it seems like to me.

[BRazz]

Looks like the full moon has been productive for some of you... I can't say the same, though I don't pay a ton of attention to the moon phases. I've had slow hunts with a new moon, too, so go hunt whenever works best for your schedule.

[Fridaythe13th]

Thanks for the reply's,
It is up in the air yet, last year we left on the 6th and hunting was awesome, this year we talk about either leaven on the 5th or the 13th. seen the full moon on the 8th. Just wondering how much the full moon effects the elk hunting.

[ElkNut1]

Very little! Basically elk will bed earlier but it's not a big deal. The thing to look for is their night activity, this can give away their position & make them very huntable come daylight. If the rut has kicked in at the same time as a Full Moon it's game on, nothing like it!!!

ElkNut1

[Swamp Buck]

I have to agree with Paul. Very Little will the full moon affect your hunt.

The biggest factor IS and always will be where the elk are and getting on them. The old cliche of the elk are where you find them works on so many levels. If the elk are there the full moon is not going to affect them or what they do very much. Think about what time of year it is and what they are thinking about ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT. One thing brought them out of the sanctuary of their little hiding hole that they stay in most of the year. The urge to breed will have them restless at any time. I took my fist bull last year during a moment of opportunity when a bull was pushing a cow or cows late morning, the couple days after the full moon. The biggest factor will be getting on them and then it can happen at ANY time.