September 2017 moon phases

[devildog.34]

Just going off the moon phase, when would the best time for elk hunting be? September 1-14 or September 15-24?

 

[bowhuntersd]

For me defiantly the 15-24.

 

[elkguide]

I find that the 21st is always the center of the best time to be in the elk woods.

 

[Hayguide]

Sept 15-24 by far...I had a drop this past fall in Colorado-1st season Rifle- under a full moon. It was a very tough hunt. I did manage a bull, but two other camps with 4 guys each on the same hillside spread out at 3 or 4 miles- never killed a bull and most of the guys never saw an elk-SW Colorado. The elk sign in the parks was fresh- but they left the parks pretty much before sunrise-and didn't go back until late PM-right at shooting hours at best-mostly after. On day 3 of my 5 day season-I spotted two bulls walking uphill into a North facing dark timber ridge-classic. I watched them from 600 yards- didn't want to shoot that far because I wasn't sure and only practiced to 400- my gun is a 300 ultra and with 180,s it would drop 18 inches or so- not gonna risk that-plus had a cross wind. I decided to wait them out- right at dusk one of the bigger bulls stepped out at 200 yards uphill- I shot him. I have always struggled with a full moon and Elk sightings- I have the same issues with fishing-New moon is great-full moon is not. Deer hunting- same thing

 

[Bar]

I pay no attention to it.

 

[Idaho Sandman]

I pay no attention to it.

I didn't either until me and some buddies went through our journals and started noticing 90%of our kills correlated with the moon phase and peak times. That was 8 years ago, make damn sure now I'm in a prime spot during those times. Really holds true with fishing as well. Killed my white tail buck this year during a peak time in the middle of the day. Didn't see any deer all morning, once the time slot hit, deer where everywhere. I still just get out and hunt though.

 

[Bar]

I didn't either until me and some buddies went through our journals and started noticing 90%of our kills correlated with the moon phase and peak times. That was 8 years ago, make damn sure now I'm in a prime spot during those times. Really holds true with fishing as well. Killed my white tail buck this year during a peak time in the middle of the day. Didn't see any deer all morning, once the time slot hit, deer where everywhere. I still just get out and hunt though.

It depends on how you hunt. I still hunt into bedding areas. So, it doesn't matter what they're doing at night. They'll be in the bedding areas during the day.

Plus, I hunt all 9 days of the hunt. It might be different if I bow hunted, but knowing me i'd hunt the whole bow season too, or until I was getting the skinning knife out.

 

[ElkNut1]

During Full Moon times we really get excited as this is one of our favorite times to hunt elk as long as skies are fairly clear & not cloud covered. The closer to mid Sept to end of Sept the better. We've found the Rut trumps a Full Moon! We generally will locate elk at night or an hour before daylight off dirt/paved roads, we drive or if you're packed in it's good to call at these times for a bulls location. While still dark bulls often times bugle back to us from very long distances or from short distances. When elk are vocal while still dark they're in their feeding/watering/wallowing & nighttime bedding areas. Once located, this area gives us a starting point before or right near daylight! We have our packs in our rigs ready to go, with good wind & cover we head out, this will give you an edge to head their way before light, the moonlight sky helps so you don't need a headlamp but care must be taken as you trudge through the woods avoiding its many obstacles. It's up to us as hunters to use the best possible methods to either ambush them on trails as they exit feeding towards bedding or lure them in with calling that fits the encounter & phase of the rut, sometimes both ambush & calling are required!

Phase of the RUT is extremely important here, this helps us decide what tactics may work best for the mood of the elk! At this time I personally like taking care of business while they're still in their feeding areas if at all possible. You have about one hour generally to get in there & get it done before they head off to their daytime bedding areas & sometimes less, after that time you'll find yourself "dogging" the herd for 1+ miles! If it doesn't pan out then, do your best to keep tabs on their movement as they head to daytime bedding areas, many times bulls will bugle their way towards bedding with the lead cow leading the way & avoiding possible confrontations with other vocal bulls. Finding those bedding areas has led to much of our success.

If not sure where they are or where the elk bedded, we then stake out the higher peaks where elevated perches offer us a listening advantage. We sit, listen snack & nap for a couple of hours, elk will eventually get up midday for light feeding & watering or re-position bedding to stay out of the moving sun especially on hot days, we like being within earshot of these areas when they start to move around. At this time it's possible for bulls to sound off, this will not only give away their immediate position but also their aprox bedding area as bulls will bugle right from or very near from their beds at this time! Make mental notes of bedding areas, they can use the same areas yearly. Be willing to use Location sounds even at midday, this means both cow calling & bugling early afternoon to trigger a response, we use them sparingly at these times unless the rut is in full swing! Once elk are located we move in & work our magic! (grin)

We took this bull during Peak Full Moon as we dogged him to his bedding area. He had a hot cow in the harem so he bugled just enough as we kept tabs on him through the dark timber for over a mile. We were able to slip in to 60 yards & I hammered out a course challenging bugle, he stormed in, in seconds for a 14 yards shot through the heart! Good stuff! (grin)

ElkNut1

 

[Ross]

Used to pattern them for two decades..did not see any pattern now I get out as much as possible knowing the 20th tends to be the height of activity in this area....

 

[Bar]

Why take chances? Hunt every day of the season. You can always find a new job.

 

[JWP58]

I've got 10-16th off...going to have to make it work.

 

[Hayguide]

I posted on the full moon this past fall in Colorado's first rifle season, I forgot to mention this. I had a 20MPH south wind for most of the hunt and at 10500 ft- at night it never froze and daytime temps were in the 60's--so that combined with a full moon made it tough. Also, I had two bulls fairly close to my tent that I should of heard, but I need a hearing aid so I cant say if they bugled at night or not- by the way they were acting-I think they did. One nice thing was when I went to get out of my tent at 2am to pee- I didn't need a flashlite!

 

[TurkeyBowMaster]

1 -14 should be good for feeding times in the evenings switching over to mornings as the hunt goes on. That is going to be the better choice as your later dates will not be good times. Last week of the month until around October 2 should be prime.

 

[Hoot]

I don't really get concerned with moon phase but I always check out moonrise/set during sept. something to think about....

 

[Bar]

I've got 10-16th off...going to have to make it work.

Muzzleloader season if you mean Colorado.

 

[5MilesBack]

One of the easiest elk hunts I've ever had was first rifle several years ago.....full moon that Friday night before opening day, dry as a bone, and days in the upper 70's. Had a 5x5 bugle at me as I was making my way through the timber up this draw. He then came running in to 25 yards and I shot him at 0720. The funny thing is.......there were a bunch of guys lining the open ridge line on my right as I made my way up.

 

[TurkeyBowMaster]

I don't really get concerned with moon phase but I always check out moonrise/set during sept. something to think about....

That's the same thing...same as saying you don't care about gas mileage but you check to see how many miles per gallon you get.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I pay no attention to it.

I've been hunting for over 40 years and have never paid any attention to it whatsoever. Makes no difference at all, just hunt when you can.

 

[sasquatch]

got vacation from the 4th to the 23rd so hopefully itll be good somewhere in that time frame

 

[Hoot]

That's the same thing...same as saying you don't care about gas mileage but you check to see how many miles per gallon you get.

Moon phase is not the same as moonrise and set, moon phase is how much sunlight the moon is reflecting, moonrise and set is what time of day that is visible. For example if there is a full moon but it rises at 6am and sets in the afternoon it will have little effect on nighttime activity and in some cases may even enhance daytime activity...

Like I said, just something to think about...