Activity on a full moon night

bcturkeynut

Member
Been lurking on the site for while trying to gain as much knowledge as possible and finally decided to start my first post... I would like some feedback from the experienced night hunters as to whether, or not, they have noticed any increase, or decrease, in predator (coyote, bobcat or fox) activity on a full moon night. I understand the added difficulty of ensuring your are hid well in the shadows but just wondered how well they have historically responded to your calls during the night of a full moon.
 
I can tell you historically I have been totally convinced coyotes have been conditioned/educated towards less movement on full moon nights in my state. Traditional moonlight hunting in my state has continued to get tougher and tougher which had led me to this conclusion. It was this extra hunting pressure, I was attributing to the coyotes changing their behaviors.

I did track this data the last few years. There are so many other factors including cloud cover, barometric pressure, etc that it is hard to say it is totally dictated by phase of moon. My data has been inconclusive. Last year, I had two of my worst hunting nights of the season during a full moon phase, so felt like I was confirming this hypothesis. However, as snow conditions changed, I hunted a lot more towards the end of the winter season. The last 2 full moon phases of our night season, I had very good success.

My gut tells me there is more predator activity right before the full moon rises and after it sets on full moon nights. However, I have killed lots of coyotes on bright nights and if you can go on a full moon night, why not.
 
Originally Posted By: bcturkeynut I understand the added difficulty of ensuring your are hid well in the shadows but just wondered how well they have historically responded to your calls during the night of a full moon.

Being seen easier is one of the only disadvantages I've seen during the Gibbous and Full Moon Phases. We have killed just as many or more on bright nights, but I usually camo up very well, and paint my face.
 
Ever since this question has popped up from time to time I have paid more attention to it and I'm leaning more towards the "it's tougher" theory. I've come across more of them just napping in a field then any other moon phase also. Just before this phase I killed 3 in one spot (missed a 4th running, came in directly behind the call I set on a music stand till it got there and found out it wasn't what it thought it was) and a single at 2nd and final spot. A night later 2 in one spot and another single at 2nd and final spot. Nothing going out a couple nights after the moon was at least half moon. Seems to get a lot quieter on moon lit nights also. I know they're there but it's quiet as can be a lot of times. I've gotten a little less gung-ho on moon lit nights.
 
Last edited:
Full moon report last night. First spot walking in spotted one mousing in valley I was going to call from fence line and took him from the fence line resting on post about 100 yds. out. Decided to set up anyway. Called 2nd in on a rabbit series of sounds and took him at about same distance. Thought about keeping is going but decided to try move. As I got up and scanned before leaving 3rd appeared by fence line by road and I think was aware of me standing in the bright light but didn't bolt. Sat down and he disappeared in fence line and ditch next to road. Tried a little lip squeaking but 0. Moved to 2nd and final spot for the night and quiet as the grave there. Friend and avid coyote hunter I know thinks moon lit nights are the best as they can see better to hunt and he has had great success on those nights.
 
I too have had mixed results on full moon nights. I have had nights that were horrible and also some killer nights... Just last Saturday (full moon) they were crazy vocal and we killed 8. All but one came into Shelterbelt (rabbit) which was a change of pace as vocals have been deadly this year for us. I have just about given up trying to patteren coyote. We have killed anywhere from 80-110 each of the last 3 years and I have tracked all of these kills. I can not get a repeatable result using barometric pressure, moon phase, PM major-minor. Following PM Major and Minor has been the most succesful although last saturday we were outside of all of "Prime hunting hours" and obviously we had a decent night.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top