Full moon and archery elk

[vandeman17]

I wanted to see how you guys felt about how full moons effect elk in the rut. We are going to Oregon this year for an archery hunt and it runs from the end of August until the 22nd of September. It will be a full moon on the 19th and that scares me because I would prefer to be there the last week in hopes of maybe cooler weather and more rutting activity.

[JLS]

I wouldn't worry a whole lot about the full moon.  I would go from the 10th-22 (or 15-22 if you can only go a week).  Weather patterns have a whole lot more effect on daytime elk activity than anything else from my experience.

[washelkhunter]

Its been proven that the elk rut corresponds with the position/angle of the sun in the sky. The moon isnt involved other than its makes it easier for elk to see at night. The moon has 0 effect as far as weather is concerned. Mid sept is peak rut activity around here.

[vandeman17]

What I am worried about is there being a full moon and having clear nights and warm days. If that happens then they are likely to hold up in the dark timber during the heat of the day and do most of their moving at night. It happened to us in Montana and it was miserable!

[elk247]

There have been studies done that the elks retna's process the moon phase and is thought to trigger the rut. I think from personal experiance i would agree with your feelings on perfering darker nights hoping the elk will feed longer into the morning. Cooler temps imo have more to do with rut conditions. Im planning on hunting oregon two years from now and i wouldnt change my plans except for a forest fire or something similar. Best of luck! Keep us posted on the results. Are you familar with the area already or going with a guide? Im going DIY and scouting is my biggest hurdle.

[washelkhunter]

What I am worried about is there being a full moon and having clear nights and warm days. If that happens then they are likely to hold up in the dark timber during the heat of the day and do most of their moving at night. It happened to us in Montana and it was miserable!

So go in there and try to get one. I always thought "miserable" was just a normal state for most elk hunting.   

[elk247]

Its been proven that the elk rut corresponds with the position/angle of the sun in the sky. The moon isnt involved other than its makes it easier for elk to see at night. The moon has 0 effect as far as weather is concerned. Mid sept is peak rut activity around here.

Not where i hunt. Its the last two weeks of september. Espically the last few years with 90 degree temps through bow season. The elk are barely even in pre rut conditions.

[vandeman17]

There have been studies done that the elks retna's process the moon phase and is thought to trigger the rut. I think from personal experiance i would agree with your feelings on perfering darker nights hoping the elk will feed longer into the morning. Cooler temps imo have more to do with rut conditions. Im planning on hunting oregon two years from now and i wouldnt change my plans except for a forest fire or something similar. Best of luck! Keep us posted on the results. Are you familar with the area already or going with a guide? Im going DIY and scouting is my biggest hurdle.

We are doing a DIY hunt and this will be my first time in the area and hunting Oregon overall. It will be my father and I hunting and he lives down in Redmond. They have a friend that was born and raised in Oregon and he is a die hard elk hunter. He has been giving us tips on where to go but we will still be doing a bunch of scouting this summer. It is about a five hour drive for me and a five hour drive for him so a few weekend trips are in store.

[vandeman17]

I found this article and it seemed pretty good. http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/elk-rut.html

"During a full moon a lot of activity, including feeding and rut action, will occur at night. Then elk will rest more during the day because of the overnight orgy. Be advised, however, that rut activity might continue into the early dawn before the silence sets in. After a dreaded full moon many elk hunters, including myself, have learned to be in prime country before daylight listening to the cacophony of elk rut sounds to determine where they are and where they’re going.


More elk activity occurs during the day after a dark night. If the moon is in a dark phase, particularly during the peak of the elk rut, don’t miss it if you can be there!

In 2012 the dark of the moon occurs on Saturday, September 15th! I will definitely be riding my mountain bike in the dark mornings up toward my favorite spot Friday through Monday of that weekend.

Cold snaps and light rain or snow can’t be predicted ahead of time, but if it occurs during the latter half of September, be there!

When I hear wolves howling in the darkness on the way into my hunting areas, I don’t expect much of the day. Usually the elk will quiet down when they hear wolves to avoid giving their location away. The wolves will usually move on in nomadic fashion. So the very next day might be back to normal."

[elk247]

That sounds right to me. I havent had wolves in my elk area yet, thankfully. Cool weather, dark nights = be there!

[vandeman17]

I would give anything to have cool nights down in the 30's and 40's and then daytime warming up but clouds the whole time. Even a little drizzle a few times would be fine as long as it didn't pour. I know its a lot to ask but worth a shot anyway. It is like 5 months away but I can't wait!

[Fullabull]

The best calling season I ever had here in WA was during a full moon. We were calling in bulls every day and mostly from late afternoon until end of shooting light. But that was when the season ran later into September and bull were looking for cows.

[JLS]

If there is a full moon and the elk have gone very nocturnal, get out of bed earlier.  Plan on leaving the truck two hours before daylight so that you can animals located and be in position when they are moving at first light.  If you cannot get into them at that time, dog the herd and work them in their bedding areas.

[christopheri]

Its been proven that the elk rut corresponds with the position/angle of the sun in the sky. The moon isnt involved other than its makes it easier for elk to see at night. The moon has 0 effect as far as weather is concerned. Mid sept is peak rut activity around here.

Not where i hunt. Its the last two weeks of september. Espically the last few years with 90 degree temps through bow season. The elk are barely even in pre rut conditions.

X2

[Tbar]

  I will only speak of first hand experience. The two biggest obstacles for me in calling/ hunting rutting elk are (1) hot weather, and (2) getting discouraged. Hot weather will sometimes shut down all daytime activity regardless of moon phase, find water with sign, if they aren't there they will be.  The second is staying positive (this is one I struggle with). Often times when things go wrong, and they will, I lose focus and deviate from the game plan. If you stay the course things usually will eventually go right.
There is always the luck factor (both good and bad) but if you prepare and pay close attention to detail when it comes to setup it will work out for the good. Close attention to setup has had a more positive effect than any negatives including moon and weather. If they are doing all their playing at night move in on them early, real early and keep a safe distance until light allows proper setup.
Good luck, stay positive, and have fun. You have a special gift of hunting with your dad, it will be a success no matter what tags get punched.

[stickbuck]

I would definitely go the last week of the season regardless of the moon. If you're worried about clear nights and hot day temps I would definitely steer clear of the end of August and beginning of September. With a full moon, I usually have more midday activity than normal plus you have a better chance at some cooler weather too going later in September.

[vandeman17]

I will only speak of first hand experience. The two biggest obstacles for me in calling/ hunting rutting elk are (1) hot weather, and (2) getting discouraged. Hot weather will sometimes shut down all daytime activity regardless of moon phase, find water with sign, if they aren't there they will be.  The second is staying positive (this is one I struggle with). Often times when things go wrong, and they will, I lose focus and deviate from the game plan. If you stay the course things usually will eventually go right.
There is always the luck factor (both good and bad) but if you prepare and pay close attention to detail when it comes to setup it will work out for the good. Close attention to setup has had a more positive effect than any negatives including moon and weather. If they are doing all their playing at night move in on them early, real early and keep a safe distance until light allows proper setup.
Good luck, stay positive, and have fun. You have a special gift of hunting with your dad, it will be a success no matter what tags get punched.

That is fantastic advice and I agree. I also like your point about hunting with my old man. I am really excited to be able to go with him and what I really love is hearing how stoked he is to go. He travels a lot for work and works a ton overall so this has been getting him really motivated. Killing an elk will just be icing on the cake for us but what I really want is to just be able to have my dad hear some bulls screaming and get that rush. It is his first year bow hunting and I have taken him out with me a few times and every time we had a bull scream, the look on his face made it all worth it!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Lots of good points made! Elk need water and lots of it! When its hot they need water when its cold they need water. Hunt as many days of hunt you can. The more the better. As stated postive attitude at all times. Treat every day as the first day and and youll have a great hunt!

[billdo5]

 

[huntnnw]

never ever payed attention to the moon...going to be in the woods if I am not working...The elk rut same time frame no matter the moon or temps..those calves have to be dropped at specific time in the spring

[billdo5]

never ever payed attention to the moon...going to be in the woods if I am not working...The elk rut same time frame no matter the moon or temps..those calves have to be dropped at specific time in the spring

Wrong... The weather can have a huge factor...

[kentrek]

never ever payed attention to the moon...going to be in the woods if I am not working...The elk rut same time frame no matter the moon or temps..those calves have to be dropped at specific time in the spring

Wrong... The weather can have a huge factor...

haha the elk rut in the same time frame...late august till mid October 

hes not talking about intensity

[JPhelps]

The rut is based on length of daylight (shortening of).  Weather plays very little part in the timing of the elk rut. 

Now it will effect what we as hunters perceive as the rut (bugling).  I will say there isn't a better day to be in the woods than the first nice day following some bad weather.

[billdo5]

I am

[vandeman17]

My biggest worry of a full moon is having clear bright nights where they are out feeding and cruising around all night and holding up in the deep dark timber all day long.

[BULLBLASTER]

If they are holed up in the deep timber all daylong go in after them. Where I hunt elk in Idaho they very rarely if ever come out of.the thick timber. Most times I am in brush that I can't see 30 yards in. In the past I have had good luck silently sneaking in on a bungling bull in the dark and remaining 100-200 yards away until light and going from there. The Eli will be rutting around the same.time frame regardless of weather. They may or may not be very vocal though. Warm weather will not stopped the rut...

[vandeman17]

We plan on hunting long and hard and getting in their bedrooms if needed but for my old man's sake, I really would like at least a few chances to cow call a bugling bull in to him. Even if he doesn't get a shot, I just want to see his face when a bull screams near him.

[Tbar]

      This is where things can get fun, doesn't always result in a kill, but it can be fun. If you mark them in the timber at night and know their general vicinity get aggressive. Use elknuts tactic on busting them. I used it calling and it was a rush. I had I passive herd bull at ten feet wanting to fight. I played his scenario like a textbook.

[vandeman17]

      This is where things can get fun, doesn't always result in a kill, but it can be fun. If you mark them in the timber at night and know their general vicinity get aggressive. Use elknuts tactic on busting them. I used it calling and it was a rush. I had I passive herd bull at ten feet wanting to fight. I played his scenario like a textbook.

That is our plan if the weather is clear and depending on what the rutting activity is like. We are fine being in well before light and getting set up and trying to ruffle some feathers. 

[huntnnw]

Thats all I know is big timber..thats where the elk in NE WA and N ID spend 80% of their time   u dont watch elk grazing here in clear cuts and meadows

[huntnnw]

never ever payed attention to the moon...going to be in the woods if I am not working...The elk rut same time frame no matter the moon or temps..those calves have to be dropped at specific time in the spring

Wrong... The weather can have a huge factor...

errrrrrrrr...wrong..try again

[huntnnw]

With all deer and elk..they have a small window to drop their calves/fawns....born to early they could freeze and die and born to late and they wont be big enough to survive winter. 

[TommyH]

Photo period. Hunt hard. Let the elk tell you how aggresive to be, if the herd bull is screaming, scream back. Most times i get a cow intrested and the bull tries to herd her away from me, be ready!!

[JLS]

never ever payed attention to the moon...going to be in the woods if I am not working...The elk rut same time frame no matter the moon or temps..those calves have to be dropped at specific time in the spring

Wrong... The weather can have a huge factor...

errrrrrrrr...wrong..try again

I think too often people confuse observable rut activity with the rut itself.  Time and again you hear someone say "we need some cold weather to get the rut going".  Actually, it's already going, but if it's really hot and dry the rut activity is taking place in the hours of darkness when it's cooler. 

Huntnnw is right, all rut activity is triggered by photoperiod.  There is nothing magical about it.  Some days you will find very vocal elk, some times you won't.  Some times you don't hear the elk because they are no longer there and have moved on to another location.

Just because you can't bugle a bull in on a string from 400 yards doesn't mean the rut isn't on.

[billdo5]

It just means that they arent rutting that hard...

[JLS]

It just means that they arent rutting that hard...

Or, it could mean he just got tuned on 10 minutes ago.  Or, there are other cows nearby.  Or, he's been chasing other cows all night long.  Or, he hears you but can't see anything to visually confirm the elk that should be there.  Or, they're just being elk.

[billdo5]

Why dont you just keep on throwing theories out there

[Elknut1]

  Full Moon Myths!
         Photo-period ism [length of daytime light hitting the retna of the eye] controls pretty much everything in an elks life not the moon. The length of day triggers all the hormone releases which in fact control the rut. These hormone releases trigger bulls to rub off velvet, trigger the cows cycle [which there are three main ones but can be as many as 4. The first happening around the 25th of Aug. then around the 15th of Sept. 3rd around Oct 10th & 4th around first week of Nov. which is final one. Elk will then start the building of fat for the winter. So the peak for breeding cows happens mid Sept through first week of Oct. A cow is hot for a period up to 12 hours [has been known to last up to 16 hours] but if she isn't bred in that time frame will have to wait 21 days for the next window. IMPORTANT STATEMENT, not all cows come into heat at the same time. The older cows, aprox 7-8yrs & older generally come into an estrus cycle first followed by the younger cows. If a cow was born as a fourth cycle cow her first cycle [as a 2 yr old] could be up to 9 weeks later than a lead cow but will regulate back as a 3 yr old. So  don't be confused about full moon myths. All the moon does is let the animals go nocturnal. Hot weather can slow down the search for cows and bugling during day light hours. The heat can lead elk towards being lethargic just as it does us! Cows cannot control when their estrus cycle will start, in other words they cannot choose it happening only after night fall! Full Moon times during peak rut times is magic! Locating elk at night during this phase or an hour or so before light is at the top of our list!

  ElkNut1

[pd]

  Full Moon Myths!
         Photo-period ism [length of daytime light hitting the retna of the eye] controls pretty much everything in an elks life not the moon. The length of day triggers all the hormone releases which in fact control the rut. These hormone releases trigger bulls to rub off velvet, trigger the cows cycle [which there are three main ones but can be as many as 4. The first happening around the 25th of Aug. then around the 15th of Sept. 3rd around Oct 10th & 4th around first week of Nov. which is final one. Elk will then start the building of fat for the winter. So the peak for breeding cows happens mid Sept through first week of Oct. A cow is hot for a period up to 12 hours [has been known to last up to 16 hours] but if she isn't bred in that time frame will have to wait 21 days for the next window. IMPORTANT STATEMENT, not all cows come into heat at the same time. The older cows, aprox 7-8yrs & older generally come into an estrus cycle first followed by the younger cows. If a cow was born as a fourth cycle cow her first cycle [as a 2 yr old] could be up to 9 weeks later than a lead cow but will regulate back as a 3 yr old. So  don't be confused about full moon myths. All the moon does is let the animals go nocturnal. Hot weather can slow down the search for cows and bugling during day light hours. The heat can lead elk towards being lethargic just as it does us! Cows cannot control when their estrus cycle will start, in other words they cannot choose it happening only after night fall! Full Moon times during peak rut times is magic! Locating elk at night during this phase or an hour or so before light is at the top of our list!
  ElkNut1

Paul, as usual, you are very generous.  Thanks!

[et1702]

  Full Moon Myths!
         Photo-period ism [length of daytime light hitting the retna of the eye] controls pretty much everything in an elks life not the moon. The length of day triggers all the hormone releases which in fact control the rut. These hormone releases trigger bulls to rub off velvet, trigger the cows cycle [which there are three main ones but can be as many as 4. The first happening around the 25th of Aug. then around the 15th of Sept. 3rd around Oct 10th & 4th around first week of Nov. which is final one. Elk will then start the building of fat for the winter. So the peak for breeding cows happens mid Sept through first week of Oct. A cow is hot for a period up to 12 hours [has been known to last up to 16 hours] but if she isn't bred in that time frame will have to wait 21 days for the next window. IMPORTANT STATEMENT, not all cows come into heat at the same time. The older cows, aprox 7-8yrs & older generally come into an estrus cycle first followed by the younger cows. If a cow was born as a fourth cycle cow her first cycle [as a 2 yr old] could be up to 9 weeks later than a lead cow but will regulate back as a 3 yr old. So  don't be confused about full moon myths. All the moon does is let the animals go nocturnal. Hot weather can slow down the search for cows and bugling during day light hours. The heat can lead elk towards being lethargic just as it does us! Cows cannot control when their estrus cycle will start, in other words they cannot choose it happening only after night fall! Full Moon times during peak rut times is magic! Locating elk at night during this phase or an hour or so before light is at the top of our list!

  ElkNut1

Perfectly explained Paul.  Plus, I like both full moon during peak rut, or dark moon during peak.  I think both are magic times in the elk woods!

Take care,

ET

[Westsidebowhunter]

if they dont seem to be moving around during the day but you know they are there get out in the middle of the night in an area you know and bugle get a response back out and then slow hunt the timber they are in but cows start to cycle when there is even number of daylight hours and dark hours every year so thats when the rut is doesnt matter the weather just give or take a couple days from that date and it will be on.

[coachcw]

on full moons i've done well from 10.00am to 12.00pm , bulls get there cows settled in and will wonder a bit . good time to act like a estrus cow to pull the herd bull in .