affects of the full moon on predator calling??

T

Trapper Luke

New member
Went out calling this morning in places I KNOW hold coyotes but could not for the life of me get any to even respond. I've heard talk bout how the full moon can affect them. Have also heard it doesnt affect them? I know its possibly to call them in durning the full moon phase cause I've did it before. I was courious to what all you guys think bout it? Do you guys think your odds of calling something in decrease durning a full moon phase or do you think it really matters?

Thanks,
Luke
 
I absolutely believe that it has an effect on them. You'll call some in, but not near as many, from what I've experienced. You'll also notice a change in other animal's patterns (deer, birds, rabbits, etc...).

Tony
 
I really don't see much difference. Called one coyote right at daybreak this morning. Called another on the second stand about 45 minutes later. I could offer a dozen or more excuses why they are both still breathing, but nobody likes stories with unhappy endings.

I hope I got it all out of my system.
frown.gif
 
Night hunting I like 1/4 to 1/2 moon with good snow cover. More than that and you start casting alot of shadows. But that can be fixed by sitting along tree lines in the shadows. Still call them in on full moons you just got to be more deliberate in you setups and movments. One plus is full moon you can see them at 400+ yards but that means they can see better.

Makes me wonder on a full moon if their prey gets harder to catch with being able to see that much better? Seems to me in a full moon they come to the call hard and don't hang up as much. Maybe alittle more hungry?

To me weather has more to do with seeing more dogs. If it's -15 or colder they seem to slow up a bit for a day or two. Then you start to see more and more as the cold goes on. I have had very good days after 4+ days of -20's then you wake up to go out and it's above zero and it seems like a switch gets turned on.
Deep wet snow will seem to slow them up for a day or so till it packs and hardens.

I'm sure some guys will disagree with me on all of this. But just remember this is where I hunt and in snow. I am sure it's differant the further south you go. Only way you will know for sure is get out alot and start making mental notes.
 
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I've noticed a lot of animals act different during the full moon phase. Even my lab acts different during the full moon. My cousin has noticed the same thing with his dog. I'm not specialist in the area but I think it affects some animals more than others, and it might possibly just be the area you're in. Just my thoughts on it.
 
I use to think that a full moon was best for predator hunting until I saw what a bright half moon did in New Mexico while hunting with Tony. We called and called with little to no activity and only distant call backs until that darned moon set in the wee hours of the morning. When that happened it was game on. We called 5 on the first stand after the moon set not a mile from where we got blanked while it was bright. We know the coyotes were around during the moon because we were finding scat on the tire tracks when we backtracked. I use to think they used the extra light to hunt, but I think they know when they are visible as well and try to use the cover of darkness to their advantage instead. I'm going to avoid the bright nights after seeing this behavior.
 
Well I was kinda more curious if people have noticed if it affects them durning the day morning/evening hunt? I agree with Tony on I belive their still possible to call in just not as good of odds. I noticed this when I went down to AZ last year and the week I was down there happened to be the same week it was a full moon. I still called in some coyotes but for the amount of tracks and scat I came across I figured I woulda had alot more come in. I'm no expert caller by any means this is only my 3rd year of really calling.

Just curious to others thinking of the full moon.
 
From my experience full moons are more difficult to call them in. I have noticed, similar to what ARCOREY said that things picked up as the moon set or waned (is that the right term?) If I had to pick I would go out a couple hours before the moon set in the early morning and get set up. Honestly I think even people act more odd in the full moon! Full moons are neat though especially with snow on the ground. Either way it is nice to be out calling.
 
I went out last weekend, into areas that showed a lot of sign, and near areas that I had called them in with a lot of success the week prior. The area showed a lot of sign and a lot of good cover. 7 stands and I only called one coyote in, and no signs of foxes at all. The coyote came in about 9am, meanwhile a friend sent me a pic when he called one in on the far side of the valley, at about 830am. So, yes it seems to affect them, but not really sure why.
 
predator extreme ran a great article by byron south on the moon phases,

check your charts and try to hunt 3 hours before the rise and 3 hours after the set,
if you can catch the sun rise and set at the same time your in for a good show.

i keep the moon chart with me at all times.
 
I just got back from night calling for a few hours. We had 7 blank stands, 1 stand where a pair of coyotes just barked and howled at us, and low behold, one stand that a pair hard charged right to the hunting rig. My neighbor killed a double on them. Like I said, you won't kill as many as a dark moon, but you will kill a few.

Tony
 
As he mentioned morning in his post, I presumed Trapper Luke was asking about daylight calling on full moon nights. That's what I based my original reply on and stand by it.

If you're talking night calling, disregard my reply. As I don't have a clue. lol
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesI really don't see much difference. Called one coyote right at daybreak this morning. Called another on the second stand about 45 minutes later. I could offer a dozen or more excuses why they are both still breathing, but nobody likes stories with unhappy endings.

I hope I got it all out of my system.
frown.gif



HAAAAAA HA HA HA, Love it. Funny stuff. I feel your pain
 
In my experience, i dont have good luck on a full moon. The yotes are much more vocal, but seem to come slow to the call. If im calling on a full moon thou, i will call in the afternoon, and into the night. When you call where there is no snow, but enjoy night calling, you have to take advantage of the moon as often as you can, but like said before, bright moon, they coyotes seem more reluctant to break from cover.
 
I dont seem to have as many Coyotes coming to the call near or during the full moon phase day or night!

I do know that when when have a full moon or near i am not going to get good results, but, i still continue to chase them.


Oooooooooooooooowwwwwww!
 
This is good scoop. It's hard enough in the southeastern woods to get them out where I can see them as it is.

Sounds like all things being equal, that the full moon phase may pull one's odds down a bit lower. Nice topic.
 
I can't speak for night hunting as it isn't legal here, but when there is a full moon, the day calling is alot slower...the darker the moon, the better the calling for sure for us
 
Yeah, I guess I was thinking more of night calling, than day calling, when I read the original post. We just got back from our morning hunt and called 10 in this am. Moon was full and bright, enough to read a newspaper out there, last night.

Tony
 


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