collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Full moon and last week of September  (Read 6140 times)

Offline Ridgerunner

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 5072
  • Location: Enumclaw
Full moon and last week of September
« on: July 10, 2025, 07:52:55 AM »
What is your guys experience with the elk rut and hunting this last week of September when there is a full moon?  Do things really slow down significantly? 

Looking at a hunt for 2026 that opens on September 26th but that is a full moon.   I'm wondering if I am better off holding off one more year when the moon phase will be much darker. 

Offline dreamingbig

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 2815
  • Location: Mukilteo, WA
Re: Full moon and last week of September
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2025, 08:11:57 AM »
Moon phase doesn’t impact the rut but it does alter the most productive time of day to hunt the elk. I hunt all phases and will alter my plan of attack.

Example - bulls get antsy earlier in the afternoon on a full moon because on average the lead cow will take them to bed earlier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
@mukbowhunt
Avid Bowhunter
Maxxis 35 / Trykon XL

Online Hunting Cowboy

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 1078
  • Location: Skagit Valley
Re: Full moon and last week of September
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2025, 08:26:45 AM »
Personally, I wouldn’t postpone a hunt over a full moon. A full moon is probably not the most advantageous, but I feel like the elk are still going to rut. The rut is based on the amount of daylight during the day. The elk are still going to rut during the same times every year. Your tactics may change slightly but I just don’t believe you don’t go elk hunting because of the moon. That’s just my opinion for what it’s worth.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2025, 08:45:11 AM by Hunting Cowboy »

Offline vandeman17

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 14490
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: Full moon and last week of September
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2025, 08:49:49 AM »
The best and worst part about a full moon, from my experience, is that there is usually mid day activity instead of just the first and last few hours of the day. Its great because it gives you options to keep hunting all day but it can be lame when you are tired and want a mid day nap  :chuckle:
" I have hunted almost every day of my life, the rest have been wasted"

Offline pd

  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2012
  • Posts: 2534
  • Location: Seattle?
Re: Full moon and last week of September
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2025, 04:51:23 PM »
The best and worst part about a full moon, from my experience, is that there is usually mid day activity instead of just the first and last few hours of the day. Its great because it gives you options to keep hunting all day but it can be lame when you are tired and want a mid day nap  :chuckle:

Agreed. 

To add to this, a New Moon does **reduce** the night time rutting activity, but by how much it is very hard to say.  A Full Moon, on the other hand, is full on party time for the elk. 

We only get so many chances in life.  Do not change your plans because of the moon phase!  Just adapt, and keep hunting.
Si vis pacem, para bellum

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Need information on having a gunsmith thread a barrel for thin walled chokes. by Badhabit
[Today at 02:37:23 PM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Today at 02:34:04 PM]


Teanaway bull elk by Ridgerunner
[Today at 01:55:35 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by pickardjw
[Today at 01:39:48 PM]


Quinault Bear guide/help by blackdog
[Today at 01:14:17 PM]


AKC lab puppies! Born 06/10/2025 follow as they grow!!! by goosewhacker
[Today at 12:15:01 PM]


HUNTNNW 2025 trail cam thread and photos by Crunchy
[Today at 11:20:34 AM]


Also looking for help deciding on a scope by jrebel
[Today at 11:09:55 AM]


Gots me a new/old rockchuck rifle coming by JDHasty
[Yesterday at 10:41:07 PM]


Litefighter tent ? by slowwalker
[Yesterday at 10:25:44 PM]


Looking for Solid 22 LR input by JDHasty
[Yesterday at 10:21:31 PM]


49 Degrees North Early Bull Moose by westdcw
[Yesterday at 09:57:25 PM]


6mm Creedmoor Gauges by pickardjw
[Yesterday at 01:27:28 PM]


Brittany breeders by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 01:17:23 PM]


Kings by metlhead
[Yesterday at 12:37:26 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by rainshadow1
[Yesterday at 11:46:04 AM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Karl Blanchard
[Yesterday at 10:47:28 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal