What are y'all's thought on how/if the rut is effected by moon phases?

Clem, I reckon you're the resident expert based on the article you wrote a while back!

Depending on what area of the state you live...it'll vary a bit...In MS, which I imagine being as AL is right next door its the same, the rut will start in late NOV, reach its peak in mid Dec...and the farther South you go it will pick up after mid Dec, all the way Jan -Feb in the southernmost areas...

If you want a REAL EASY way to know when you need to be in the woods fro rutting bucks...Simply go talk to your taxidermist
They will tell you when they start getting mature rutting bucks...

There is no such thing as an 'early' rut based on when you see immature bucks harassing does. Think of it like this...These are 'teenaged' bucks...What did MOST of us do as teenagers?...uh huh...Young bucks will chase early, but its not the 'rut' ...and it happens the same basic time every year...

When I was a teenager the Moon Phase or Sunshine didn't change my ways one bit.

Exactly...
I get calls every year about "THE RUT IS STARTING!!! I just saw a small 6 point chasing...in late October"...

Unless the moon phase is the same on the same dates every year (which we know it isn't), then no, it has nothing to do with it.

The only thing I've noticed is I rarely see much movement during the day with a full moon. The rut happens on the same days every year where I hunt. It's just nice to have a cold, damp, cloudy day to go with it.

Buncha BS about the moon. If it was controlled by the moon then all bucks would rut at the same time. Genetics and the crossings of the genetics makes the rut times.

The moon may affect our ability to witness rut activity, but I don't believe it determines the start or finish of the rut. Id like to attribute it to photo period. I don't completely believe in this either. I think it's something only nature knows and we will never understand it.

The key I think is the does and whatever they allow. If you watch deer very much you will see that bucks will do whatever they can get away with. I watched a 3pt. One year at my house breed a young doe in September he was still in velvet. I have also seen a buck breed a doe in a pen in the middle of summer he didn't even have horns at the time.

Bucks can breed all year, its whether a doe is in heat that matters. They are not in estrous all yr,once their breeding cycle starts they will come in until they are bred successfully.

Heh. Charles wrote that. I forgot to change the post "byline" to his. Glad you noticed.

According to a study done by Dr. James Kroll (and others) published a few years ago in NAW, the moon definitely does have an effect on the timing of the rut, but it is a SECONDARY effect. Rut-start dates are PRIMARILY influenced by day-length (number of hours of daylight). A full moon that falls at the same time as the normal start of the rut will cause a shorter length, but more intense rut. As the full moon moves away from primary breeding dates, it can pull the rut one way or the other. Most of the effect is seen if the full moon is BEFORE your normal breeding dates. When the full moon is 1-2 weeks before normal breeding dates, it causes the rut to start a little earlier than normal and is usually drawn out for a longer time period with less intensity. When the full moon occurs AFTER normal breeding dates, the effect is lessened because the primary rut factor (day length) has already influenced the start time of the rut, however it does tend to make the rut start a little later and be drawn out a little more than normal with a little bit less intensity.

This year the full moon occurs on Dec 25. For our area, normal breeding activity usually starts about Dec 20, so I would expect very little influence, possibly starting just a day or two later than normal and being a little more drawn out than normal.

While I don't believe the moon is the sole reason, I also am pretty sure "the rut" -- which is prolonged and not only the chasing-screwing phase hunters wet their pants over -- also is not solely controlled by genetics or the crossings of genetics.

"The rut" has many factors. There is not one single, specific trigger like the weather, the moon, the first temp below 30 degrees, herring swimming up creeks, football season starting, the moon or anything by itself. There are several factors involved.

Full moon affects EVERY thing. I plan my rut hunts around it, usually 4-7 days after it. Fishing as well. I can't even sleep well during a full moon.

It's embarrassing for Charles A to write that stuff every year about the Southern rut. For all the great information he possesses, when he adheres to this nonsense it just discredits him. It's sad really for him hang on to pure BS siliness. He's better than that

I agree topcat. I don't sleep at all during a full moon. My youngest son is autistic and I can tell a giant difference in him during the same time. I started keeping a notebook at work and observing peoples moods during a full moon and I'm not gonna tell them about it for several months. I want to see how everyone acts without knowing.

Every time I begin to think it has a big effect, I see reasons it doesn't. I think it MAY shift breeding a few days and effect what time of the day they move. So very little.