Missouri Moon Theory Facts about hunting the moon phase

(Moon Facts and Opinions)
I decided instead of hunters trying to find all this information I have collected over the years I would put it all together in one nice package.
(My statements will be in bold Print)
Broken down into four subjects:

If you believe the Moon has no effect on Whitetail Deer, take this into account. That every living thing revolves around a time of rest and a time of activity. One cannot exist without the other. All revolve around the Sun, or Moon, or both with some type of rhythm.

Reproduction
Over Most of the whitetail range, does come into estrous (heat) in autumn. These does experience several ovulatory cycles if not successfully mated initially. Onset of breeding activity is governed by photoperiodism, latitude, genetics and nutrition. Reproduction is directly controlled by the endocrine system. (Halls. 1984)

The Photoperiodism is the reason I believe the Moon Phases have a effect on the breeding and because of the latitude not all Moon Guides will work in Missouri.

Endocrinology
Follicles in the ovary produce estrogen - the hormone responsible for the doe's mating urge. Another ovarian hormone, progesterone, apparently acts in concert with estrogen to promote optimum heat - the time when a doe will permit copulation. A rise in estrogen greatly increases the secretion of the luteinizing hormone by the pituitary, causing the release of a mature egg. (Halls. 1984)
The corpus luteum, a specialized gland, develops at the site of the ruptured follicle at ovulation. If the shed egg is not fertilized the corpus luteum degenerated in about three weeks, and the entire cycle recurs at regular intervals until conception takes place, or reproductive activity ceases in late winter. (Halls. 1984)

With the three weeks and the 7 days below is the reason I believe we have a false rut, 1st rut, 2nd rut, and even a 3rd rut in some years.

The chart from WHITE-Tailed Deer Ecology and Management shows Follicles in the ovary produce estrogen the hormone responsible for the doe's mating urge. Another ovarion Hormone, progesterone, apparently acts in concert with estrogen to promote optimum heat - the time when a doe will permit copulation. A rise in estrogen greatly increase the secretion of luteining hormone by the pituitary causing the release of a mature egg. (Halls. 1984)

To describe some similarities with the Moon phases. The chart shows a 7-day decline of the progesterone. During the same 7 days an increase of estrogen takes place then a sharp peak in the luteinizing hormone at the end of the 7-day decline of progesterone and the 7-day increase of estrogen, which are characteristics of estrus onset and ovulation in whitetail deer. (Halls. 1984)

I believe the decline and increase of hormones starts on the Full Moon and it takes those 7 days for the doe to be ready. This would put the peak during the Last Quarter Moon. Since all does are not genetically the same is why it occurs during that seven-day window of the Last Quarter Phase of the Moon. 24 hour would also explain the flurry of movement during this Last Quarter Moon Phase.

Melatonin, a substance secreted by the pineal gland (the "third eye"), influences the release of sex hormones from the pituitary. Many of the seasonal effects of the photoperiod are dependent therefore on an intact pineal, since it presumably serves as a mediator of transducer of photoperiod cues into chemical or endocrine information. Pinealectomy dramatically alters the timing of many seasonal physiological events in deer (Halls. 1984)
The pineal gland is located in the brain. This organ - the so-called "third eye" of vertebrates - is a transducer of photic information to the pituitary or "master gland"(Halls. 1984)

Photoperiodism
The rutting season is tied to photperiodism. A diminishing ratio of daylight to darkness triggers the start of the reproductive cycle. Photoperiodism serves as a time-giver for the inherent (endogenous) rhythm, the so-called "biological clock"(Halls, 1984)
Since photoperiodism is related to latitude, the rut progresses more or less as a continuum from November in the North to January or February in far southern ranges. Variation within a region possibly is due to genetic differences or hybridization. (Halls, 1984)

Yearling does generally achieve estrus later in the rut than older females. Doe fawns come into estrous after most adults have bred. (Halls. 1984)

This explains reason for a 2nd and the possibility of a 3rd rut in Missouri.

Does that do not become pregnant at their first estrus will come into estrous again 28 days later (Halls, 1984)

I also ask the question on www.deerfarmer.com a Deer Farmers' dicsussion forum.

How can the light of the Moon not affect the whitetail with the days so close, as noted above?

Texas Tech University biologist Steve Demarais and Whitetail management consultant Bob Zaiglin radio-collared 25 trophy bucks and monitored them from 1984 through 1987 in South Texas. The pair's extensive background enabled them to interpret and express their data in hunter-friendly terms, first published in the September 1991 issue of Buckmaster.

I started keeping records in 1987 but did not have enough detailed information and the resources to keep better records till about 1996 and in 1998 I also bought a camtrakker to help me study the Whitetail better. Taking each year by itself the following numbers have come to be what I live by.
The following number will show which are the percentages of deer movement for that year. The 2000 Moon guide shows all my records since 1987 averaged out and the 2001 will also. The two highest percentages are what I compare the to the Buckmaster article.

1996 = Last Quarter 57%, First Quarter 29%
1997 = New Moon 80%, First Quarter 20%
1998 = Last Quarter 43%, Full Moon 37%
1999 = First Quarter 39%, Last Quarter 23%
2000 = First Quarter 59%, Last Quarter 16%

This is some more information that I have gathered from the book Hunting Whitetails by the Moon by Charles J. Alsheimer. By the way if you don't do anything else get this book. I don't agree with everything but it still the best thing since bread.

Hunting Whitetails by the Moon by Charles J. Alsheimer, edited by Patrick Durkin
	Price: $19.95 ISBN 0-87341-813-1 Softcover 6 x 9 208 Pages 100 b&w photos

He has penned raised deer, the breeding moons are as follows for a number of deer he notes in his book.
1995 = Two Doe Last Quarter
1996 = One Doe Last Quarter, One Doe Full Moon
1997 One Doe Last Quarter, One Doe First Quarter, One Doe Full Moon
1998 Two Does Last Quarter
(1999, Alsheimer)

Radio tracking data indicated greater deer movement during both daylight and dark hours when the moon was in the light phase. (Halls, 1984)

In summarizing activity rhythms, White-tailed deer tend to be most active at dawn and dusk. (Halls, 1984)

Some biologists classify Whitetail Deer as "crepuscular," or low-light animals. Quarter-Moons can provide longer low-light conditions at dawn and dusk. I believe deer use the reduce light as cover. I believe most hunters would agree that the best time to see deer movement is at dawn or dusk.

Typically we deer hunter's believe we know a lot about the Whitetail and for good reason. The person that knows the Whitetail most typically spends more time pursuing them year round. I believe most of us would agree with this.

So you would have to agree that the American Indian would know more about the Whitetail than anyone.

Since the Whitetail Deer were harvested first and foremost for food, clothing, by the American Indian. (Halls, 1984)

The following information I have gathered from these websites.
http://members.tripod.com/~PHILKON/moons.html
http://www.treasure-troves.com

The American Indian gives special names to the full moons in each month. These are examples of the ones that deal with the Whitetail Deer.

I believe the American Indian new more about when deer movement took place and tied it in with what was always there clock "The Moon" because their lives depended on it.

First Predators (Coyote/Bobcat) hunting whitetails.
(Bobcats tend to hunt deer at night, generally by stalking and catching them in their beds.) (Halls, 1984)

Dogs, which can be Predators, also seem to bark more at night during full moons, and Coyotes seem to be more active at night during a full moon.

I talked with Dr. Karl V. Miller Associate Professor with Warnell School of Forest Resources. His area of Specialization is the Physiology Behavioral ecology wildlife habitat and population responses to forest management practices.

Miller, KV and JJ Ozoga. 1997. Density impacts on deer sociobiology. Pgs. 136-150 in: WJ McShea, HB Underwood, and JH Rappole (eds.). The Science of Overabundance. Smithsonian Inst. Press.

Gassett, JW, DA Osborn, JK Rickard, RL Marchinton, and KV Miller. 1997. Stimuli-related variation in urination frequency of female white-tailed deer during the estrous cycle. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (in press).

Karl V Miller and R. Larry Marchinton, Editors, Quality Whitetails, by Stackpole Books.

The conversation I had with him he noted that the majority of fawns where born from 200 to 205 days.

Whitetail fawns more than a 7 to 14 days old they are agile and likely to flee when disturbed, rather than remain immobile, and are faster than dogs. (Halls, 1984)
Typically Mother Nature tries to give all newborns the best chance for survival.

If you look at the 2000 Moon Guide, you will see Bucks started chasing/tending does from November 18th thru November 24th, 2000 waiting for them to come into estrous. These are the best days to hunt this would lead you to believe that they would come into estrous and breed during the New Moon from Nov 25th to Dec 2nd, 2000. This is why the Post-Rut occurs because the chasing is over.

Now if we take Nov 25th, 2000 to Dec 2nd, 2000 the breeding times for does. We add the gestation period of 200 to 205 days the fawns would be born from June 12th thru June 19th.

This would allow the fawns at the latest 15 days before the full moon occurs and predators become more active at night.

Although coyotes in most area feed on a wide variety of items, deer usually is included during at least some seasons. Furthermore, in areas such as Texas, coyotes apparently kill many fawns during summer. Studies employing removal of coyotes or radio-telemetry of whitetail fawns have indicated that coyotes caused up to 80 percent of fawn mortality and that fawn/doe ratios ran up to 40 percent higher in areas where coyotes, and in some cases coyotes and bobcats, were removed (Halls, 1984)

Here are a few Question and Answers I ask some Coyote Hunters from the Missouri Department of Conservation message board.

Do you think when the moon is full coyotes and other predators are on the move more at night? Why? Any experiences that would back up what you think?

Absolutely! Often the coyotes respond better at mid morning or evenings on days following a full moon.(GC, Dec. 13, 2000)

They can see better when the moon is full is what I was always told.(Northstarv8, Dec 20, 2000)

Now lets talk about the Ultimate predator. (The Missouri Whitetail Deer Hunter)

This is the hardest to prove. Many hunters don't keep records. Since I started scoring deer this year I am adding that to my records on the date harvest. At this time I have to few to make any remarks.

With the help from ARCHERY BIG BUCKS OF MISSOURI OFFICIAL RECORDS. (Also a special thanks to Archery Big Bucks of Missouri Club and Claudette Roper Recording Secretary for providing me with these records.) I have results on Record Book Whitetail Deer taken with a bow in Missouri.

Out of 620 record book whitetails taken with a bow from 1990 thru 2000 where harvested by the following numbers.

137 - 22% harvested during the New Moon Phase
154 - 25% harvested during the First Quarter Moon Phase
154 - 25% harvested during the Full Moon Phase
175 - 28% harvested during the Last Quarter Moon Phase

Since hunting pressure is less during Bow season and the False Rut always occurs in bow season. The Main Rut sometimes occurs in bow season, and the 2nd and even the 3rd rut in some years occurs in bow season. Shows the 28% of harvested deer during the Last Quarter Moon Phase. Which I believe Deer activity to be at its highest.

Now you will have to decide if or how they match my Missouri Deer Activity Index, which is noted below for the year 2000.

MISSOURI DEER ACTIVITY INDEX
Year 2000
Daytime Movement
17% daytime activity (Low) during a New Moon Phase.
29% daytime activity (High) during a First Quarter Moon Phase.
19% daytime activity (Medium) during a Full Moon Phase.
33% daytime activity (Highest) during a Last Quarter Moon Phase.

With the help from MISSOURI SHOW-ME BIG BUCKS OFFICIAL RECORDS. (Also a special thanks to Missouri Show-Me Big Bucks Club and Dale H. Ream Jr. Director of Records for providing me with these records.) I have results on Record Book Whitetail Deer taken with a bow and mainly rifle in Missouri.

Out of 1915 record book whitetails taken with a bow and mainly rifle from 1990 thru 1999 where harvested by the following numbers.

450 - 23% harvested during the New Moon Phase
430 - 22% harvested during the First Quarter Moon Phase
579 - 30% harvested during the Full Moon Phase
456 - 24% harvested during the Last Quarter Moon Phase

Deer activity is affected by the moon and weather (temperature, rain, etc). The activity that affects deer the most is hunting pressure. Which any Missouri Deer Hunter Knows.

The numbers show 30% of the deer are harvested during the Full Moon Phase. Which also goes with this statement. (Pre-rut = Bucks searching/chasing does - starts from the second full moon from the fall equinox and last for about 7 days.)

The numbers show 24% of the deer are harvested during the Last Quarter Moon Phase. Which goes with this statement. (Main Rut = Bucks chasing/tending does - last 7 more days during the Last Quarter Moon Phase.)

Again you will have to decide if or how they match my Missouri Deer Activity Index.

Also I ask Missouri Deer Hunter's on the Missouri Department of Conservation Message board to put the Month/Day/Year of the deer they harvested.

Out of 123 whitetails taken with a bow and mainly rifle from 1964 thru 200 where harvested by the following numbers

25 - 20% harvested during the New Moon Phase
22 - 18% harvested during the First Quarter Moon Phase
38 - 31% harvested during the Full Moon Phase
38 - 31% harvested during the Last Quarter Moon Phase

Again you will have to decide if or how they match my Missouri Deer Activity Index.

Before you go, no matter what the activity of Deer are, when you get a chance to hunt is still better than the chance you have sitting in the house. Plus the fact some of us only get to hunt the weekends. Good Luck.

(2002 Moon Guide Link)
horntagger@marz.com

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