Moon Phase Hunting Guide

MISSOURI DEER HUNTER'S MOON

2002

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BY ALLEN “horntagger” MORRIS

October

November

December

January

Pre-rut starts from the second full moon from the fall equinox and last for about 7 days with the Main Rut lasting 7 more days to the New Moon with the Post Rut lasting for 6 more days after the New Moon.

Definitions:

Pre-rut = (Seeking/Rubbing/Scraping) Bucks chasing Does.
Rut = (Chasing/Tending) Bucks Tending Does
Post-Rut = (Breeding) Bucks Searching for Does

MISSOURI DEER ACTIVITY INDEX
Year 2002
Daytime Movement Only
Based on 274 Deer Sightings

LOW	MEDIUM	HIGH	HIGHEST
14%	19%	33%	34%

Highlight the days below that you see deer for your own records.

September 23rd Fall Equinox

October Deer Activity Index

Missouri Sportsmen's
Information Network

Sparring and rubbing peaks last few days of the month through the first few days of the month through the first week of November.
Majority of rubbing activity starts, bucks of all ages.
Most Scrapes Opened by end of the Month.
False Rut 10^th thru 15^th.
Cooler Temperature’s from the North will also increase activity this time of year.

October

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
		1^st Last Quarter – Highest (Bow Season Opens) (False Rut Starts, Open Mock Scrapes Don’t Forget Overhanging Limb.)	2nd Last Quarter – Highest	3^rd Last Quarter – Highest	4^th Last Quarter – Highest	5^th Last Quarter – Highest
6^th New Moon – Low	7^th New Moon – Low	8^th New Moon – Low	9^th New Moon – Low	10^th New Moon – Low	11^th New Moon – Low	12^th New Moon – Low
13^th First Quarter – High	14^th First Quarter – High (Fall Turkey Season Opens)	15^th First Quarter – High	16^th First Quarter – High	17^th First Quarter – High	18^th First Quarter – High	19^th First Quarter – High
20^th First Quarter – High	21^st Full Moon – Medium	22^nd Full Moon – Medium	23^rd Full Moon – Medium	24^th Full Moon – Medium	25^th Full Moon – Medium	26^th Full Moon – Medium
27^th Full Moon – Medium (Fall Turkey Season Ends) (Daylight Saving Times Ends) (Move Clocks Back)	28^th Full Moon – Medium	29^th Last Quarter – Highest (Rut Starts)	30^th Last Quarter – HighestFirst Quarter – High	31^st Last Quarter – Highest (Halloween)

November Deer Activity Index
Missouri Sportsmen's
Information Network

Does in estrus 24-hour period.
Peak of rut – Dominant bucks tending does, subordinate bucks trying to.
80 to 90 percent of does breed during first rut.
Bucks lose up to 25 percent of body weight during breeding season.
Some rubbing activity will continue until January.

November

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
					1^st Last Quarter – Highest	2^nd Last Quarter – Highest (Youth Firearms Season Opens)
3^rd Last Quarter – Highest (Youth Firearms Season Ends)	4^th New Moon – Low (Post Rut Starts)	5^th New Moon – Low	6^th New Moon – Low	7^th New Moon – Low	8^th New Moon – Low	9^th New Moon – Low
10^th New Moon – Low	11^th First Quarter – High	12^th First Quarter – High	13^th First Quarter – High	14^th First Quarter – High	15^th First Quarter – High	16^th First Quarter – High (Firearms Season Opens)
17^th First Quarter – High	18^th Full Moon – Medium	19^th Full Moon – Medium	20^th Full Moon – Medium	21^st Full Moon – Medium	22^nd Full Moon – Medium	23^rd Full Moon – Medium
24^th Full Moon – Medium	25^th Full Moon – Medium	26^th Full Moon – Medium (Firearms Season Ends)	27^th Last Quarter – Highest (Second Half of Bow Season Opens)	28^th Last Quarter – Highest (Thanksgiving Day)	29^th Last Quarter – Highest (Horntagger Jr.'s Birthday send Gifts)	30^th Last Quarter – Highest

December Deer Activity Index
Missouri Sportsmen's
Information Network

Second estrus by does not previously bred 30 days from first rut.
10 to 20 percent of does breed during second rut.
Some rubbing activity will continue until January.
Turkey’s will be in large groups during this time of year.
Some gobbling will take place.

December

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1^stLast Quarter – Highest	2^ndLast Quarter – Highest	3^rd Last Quarter – Highest	4^thNew Moon – Low	5^thNew Moon – Low	6^thNew Moon – Low	7^thNew Moon – Low (Muzzleloading Season Opens)
8^thNew Moon – Low	9^thNew Moon – Low	10^thNew Moon – Low	11^thFirst Quarter – High	12^thFirst Quarter – High	13^thFirst Quarter – High	14^th First Quarter – High
15^th First Quarter – High (Muzzleloader season ends)	16^th First Quarter – High	17^th First Quarter – High	18^th First Quarter – High	19^th Full Moon – Medium	20^th Full Moon – Medium	21^st Full Moon – Medium
22^nd Full Moon – Medium	23^rdFull Moon – Medium	24^thFull Moon – Medium	25^thFull Moon – Medium(Christmas Day)	26^thFull Moon – Medium	27^thLast Quarter – Highest (Third Rut)	28^thLast Quarter – Highest
29^thLast Quarter – Highest	30^thLast Quarter – Highest	31^stLast Quarter – Highest

January Deer Activity Index
Missouri Sportsmen's
Information Network

Third & final estrus by doe deer not previously bred 30 days from second rut could occur from Jan 7^th – Jan 13^th.

Movement is limited

Deer switch to daytime activity, moving around when it is warmer.

Bedding and feeding on southeast exposures.

Yarding Activity ongoing.

Antler shedding by younger bucks.

January

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			1^stLast Quarter – Highest (New Year’s Day)	2^nd New Moon – Low	3^rd New Moon – Low	4^th New Moon – Low
5^th New Moon – Low	6^th New Moon – Low	7^thNew Moon – Low	8^th New Moon – Low	9^th New Moon – Low	10^th First Quarter – High	11^th First Quarter – High
12^th First Quarter – High	13^th First Quarter – High	14^thFirst Quarter – High	15^th First Quarter – High (Bow Season is over)

My index is based off several years of personal observation records and photo’s from surveillance camera and other resources.

Before you go, no matter what the activity of Deer are, when you get a chance to hunt is still better than the chance you have sitting in the house. Plus the fact some of us only get to hunt the weekends. Good Luck.

Another interesting fact is that 144 Whitetail deer or (76%) are Sun Rise to Noon Sightings.
44 Whitetail deer or (24%) are Noon to Sunset Sightings.

Check out South Missouri Sportsmen’s Information WebSite and read the Moon Facts and Opinions
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