Experience hunting during the full moon?

M

MCary

New member
Went out the last 3 nights and had some problems. We call in lots of coyotes, but only got a shot at one. The rest came in, turned around and left. They didn't bolt, they just left at the same speed they came in. It was very bright out. Being kinda new at night hunting I don't have a library of experiences to draw on to definitively identify the problem. I think it was the moon.

Our setup, there was 2 of us. We both had thermal rifle scopes and because of the difficulty of scanning with rifles we both used "Caldwell DeadShot ChairPod Shooting Rest System"s Its just a swivel chair with a rest. I just sent mine back and bought a monocular instead since I already have a Photon xt. My plan was to get closer to the ground and limit movement on light nights.

Anyway, do you more experienced people find it more difficult to hunt on moonlit nights?

Thanks

Mike
 
I went out last night during the "super moon" didn't see any but I was wondering the same thing. I'm still new to night hunting so I might not be much help but I'd like to hear what others say
 
Originally Posted By: MCaryWent out the last 3 nights and had some problems. We call in lots of coyotes, but only got a shot at one. The rest came in, turned around and left. They didn't bolt, they just left at the same speed they came in. It was very bright out. Being kinda new at night hunting I don't have a library of experiences to draw on to definitively identify the problem. I think it was the moon.

Our setup, there was 2 of us. We both had thermal rifle scopes and because of the difficulty of scanning with rifles we both used "Caldwell DeadShot ChairPod Shooting Rest System"s Its just a swivel chair with a rest. I just sent mine back and bought a monocular instead since I already have a Photon xt. My plan was to get closer to the ground and limit movement on light nights.
Anyway, do you more experienced people find it more difficult to hunt on moonlit nights?

Thanks

Mike

even i can see pretty good at night with this full moon we have now. the coyotes can see much better than me. i think they were probably seeing you. you are making more movement by sweeping the rifles back and forth scanning.
 
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotyou are making more movement by sweeping the rifles back and forth scanning.

Exactly what I was thinking.

One night we had a wind and my buddy saw one that moved down wind of us and turned and burned. My buddy said he thought it had seen the pickup. No, he smelled us, but my buddy is kind of stubborn, so I agreed, "Yeah that's what must have happened".

In three nights we called in 15 coyotes and many more we didn't see that barked and howled at the call. We are in coyote rich pay dirt. We just need to get dialed in.

Mike
 
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The coyotes were definitely out last night at two pieces of property where I hunt. Trail cameras got them.
 
Originally Posted By: MCaryOriginally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotyou are making more movement by sweeping the rifles back and forth scanning.

Exactly what I was thinking.

One night we had a wind and my buddy saw one that moved down wind of us and turned and burned. My buddy said he thought it had seen the pickup. No, he smelled us, but my buddy is kind of stubborn, so I agreed, "Yeah that's what must have happened".

In three nights we called in 15 coyotes and many more we didn't see that barked and howled at the call. We are in coyote rich pay dirt. We just need to get dialed in.

Mike


lot of coyotes being educated while you are getting dialed in. good luck with those coyotes down the road.
 
Being out and coming to the call are 2 different things. I spent 3 days over the weekend hunting in VA with a prominent coyote killer. We put 12 in thermal view and heard more than I ever heard in my life. They either wouldn't break cover at all, sat at the edge and talked back or popped out to look and then bugged out. We had a pair that were in a huge field and howling when we got out of the truck. As soon as we tried to call they bugged out and we watched in thermal. They are not pressured, but wanted nothing to do with coming to a call. No chance in heck on blaming the guy calling either. I see the same kind of thing in SC most of the time, they stay in cover or just pop out for a quick look when the moon is real bright.
 
We called 2 spots Saturday night. First set, I was on the North side of a fence row in the shadows. Five came right to me. The second set, we sat next to an irrigator pivot. 2 came within 300 yards and wouldn't come any closer. I'm confident that they saw me as there were no shadows to help hide me. I much prefer an overcast or moonless night. If you hunt under a bright moon, get back in the shadows. I would think that when the moon is low in the sky, I'd try to set up with it at my back too.
Also, every person on this board has educated their share at one time or another.

Good luck.
 
I much prefer a dark night. Obviously they have to eat whether the moon is bright or not, but in my experience coyotes, and foxes, and bobcats, are a lot more cautious on a bright night.
I had a very good streak during the new moon but other than the cloudy night last week I haven't seen a single predator since. And no rabbits, mice, etc.
I do remember that time that we killed a coyote on a full moon, but that was a rarity.
 
I tend to not do very well on bright nights. I've gone out 3 times during this full moon and I haven't even had them respond. On a dark night i normally have real good luck.
 
I can tell you from my personal experience, when its full/bright moon my hunting is HORRIBLE!!!
I can never seem to call coyotes on a full moon. I hunt in coyote rich areas on some of the ranches I have, and still yet, cant get them to commit to gun range. They hang up, or wont come in at all, and just sit out and howl all night.

I called in a couple bobcat the other night, and that is the first piece of game Ive called in on a full moon, in a very long time!
Coincidence? I dont know, but I do know I am never successful on full moon nights. Good Luck, and dont educate your dogs too much or youll ruin a good spot quick.
 
Many factors come into play with the "super moon". But they are still able to be taken. Just killed 5 in the last few days. Called in plenty. They are more vocal during this period, so I switch to "vocals" NOT locating calls! "Female deep howls", "pup-in-distress", "Coyote fox fight" and lower volume has been bringing them in. Closer they get, I switch to rodent sounds, mainly "vole squeaks" on low volume. And: call away from the moon light, posting in the shadows, with the moon at your back, as much as possible. Stands could be slightly longer than usual, plan on adding an additional 10-15 minutes. If using lights, very dim with wide halo. Same as calling during daylight hours. ( sun at your back ). Good luck, Regards, Drop
 
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I was out from Thurs to sunday with this full bright moon and did not see, hear,have a single coyote come in or bark. Same place before a full moon and they were all over and very vocal. I've pretty much given up calling with a moon past 1/2 or there is plenty of cloud cover to dim it..
 
I got one on the 13th and 1 last night. Batting .500 on stands vs. success for the last month. Some come in hard and some pretty cautious. Was walking out last night after calling for about 35 min. and kept scanning with my hd19a. Picked up 2 coming in. Was just cresting a rise and one turned and hustled away and the other just sat and wondered what his buddy was up to. Crouched down real slow, unslung rifle, backpack, unfolded chair to get into for steadier shot as they were out there a ways. Acquired the one still sitting (wonderin what his buddy had done). Smaller target as out there a ways sitting in corn stalks. Had to take 3 deep breathes to get settled. Put reticle right on top of shoulder and squeezed. Bingo, 163 paces. The one on the 13 stopped at 175 exactly and got him. Thought he was leaving when I shot saw him fall then get up (so I thought) and start running away with me thinking, what the heck. Started laying out lead buy 9 rounds later he was gone. Have always been able to hit them on the run in daylight but have yet to nail on running at night. I was pissed and confused. I knew he fell. I scanned with my thermal and nothing. Started walking down and scanning and at about 100 yds. out picked up white signature. I knew it! There had been a 2nd one that must have come in quickly when I was on the scope and hadn't been there to pick up with the thermal. When he had turned to what I thought was go was probably checking with buddy. The other was so close yet somewhat concealed in a waterway that it appeared he got up and ran. Probably could have gotten both closer for a better chance at my first double. Been doing real well the last month.
 
Over the years I've taken lots of coyotes on full moon nights. You have to simply hide better (in the shadows), lower your profile by sitting or kneeling, and be very stealthy walking in to your setup. Coyotes can see very well in pitch black so full moon just makes it daytime for them. Kevin
 
Case, I've found running shots to be much harder running thermal at night also. I've had to increase my lead just a touch it seems. I had 5 come in the other night, after smoking the first one, it was like a covey rise. Had a runner going left- right about 125 out, took a shot and thought it was a clean miss but after rolling him with the second shot, found out the first shot just caught his rear end.
 
Will try increasing my lead somewhat. Use to just putting it just in front of his nose between 100 to 200. Also, ditto to what Kevin said. More careful hiding with moon light. I can sit out in open fields when it is dark but usually don't with moon light unless no option or put the caller farther out.
 
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