moon is right for good bucks to be on the move early". I get allot a weird looks, some disbelievers and
even a few think I'm plain stupid. But the ones that (even though they didn't get it but said "Ok I'll give it a
shot") have tried and applied what I told them? They became quick believers and started to ask me allot
more questions so as to better understand this method of using the moons position to harvest bigger
game animals .
So, if ya give me a chance and you will apply a 100% honest effort? I think you each will find this concept
works very well and that it is just as important, if not more important than your scent lok suit. Remember
this concept is SIMPLE, easy to follow and works on ALL big game animals.
Now just to get ya to easily start understanding how to use this method or for what I am talking about. For
those that take evening drives or for those that have driven around in the late afternoons looking to catch
a glimpse of whitetails. Have you ever noticed ( say over a couple weeks period) that you can be driving
around each night and not see really anything. But then one night you start seeing a few doe. Then the
next night a few more doe. The next night doe again but as well you start seeing some small bucks. Then
the next night a few more small bucks and the next night "WHAM" ya see some slammers, the next night a
few more slammers and then the next night NOTHING??
It is simple! When you see the BIG BOYS on their feet.....LOOK UP AND SEE WHERE THE MOON IS AT IN THE
SKY!! I know allot of guys are hooked on the moon phase and not that the phases of the moon don't dictate
a few things when it comes to big game animals. But the position the moon is in the sky will dictate when
Big Game animals are most active. Thus, you now know the most important times to not miss being out
hunting. I use this method mainly on trophy whitetail bucks. But I have used this method successfully on
black bears as well. Because I use this method for whitetails, I will explain how to simply use this concept
to increase your success.
After years of using this method, I know when to start driving around looking for high levels of deer
activity. When to start is simple. First: If you use/look at the photo i sent you and then spend some time
outside every evening to pay attention to where the moon is at. You will know that the moon is in a
different place in the sky each night. Now, there is a time from when the moon rises to being directly
overhead that deer activity is at its highest. Then again it will repeat itself 12 1/2 hrs later when the moon is
in the opposite position. Why? Gravitational pull is at its highest twice within the moons revolutionary
cycle. Understand this and you will soon know when to spend specific nights glassing.
Because evening hunts is most convenient and favorable for most hunters, we will us it as the prime
example. Our season in Illinois starts in October and sunset is usually around 6:30 and it is dark by 7:00. So
when we put out our trail cams in July and start getting pictures of certain big bucks. Each month we start
to pay attention at around 4pm as to where (what position) the moon is in the sky. In reference to the photo
i sent you, the moon rises in the 9 o'clock position and sets in the 3 o'clock. When I see the moon in the 1
o'clock position at about 4pm in the afternoon? That is when I start scouting/glassing every night for about
a week or two.
SO, when the moon first reaches the 1 o"clock position (around 4pm in the afternoon) start glassing EACH
NIGHT until at dark the moon is in the 9 o'clock position (or the moon hasn't yet risen). In that period of
time, You will see big game activity increase each night and 2 of those nights you should see some early
movement from big bucks. Not only do you want to look up and see where the moon is AT in the sky. But
you want to mark that day down on the calendar. Why? Because the moon will make one revolution around
the earth in 29 1/2 days and returns to its original position opposite the earth within only 27 days later.
Thus, WHEN THE MOON IS BACK IN THE SAME POSITION THE NEXT MONTH. THE BUCKS WILL AGAIN BE ON
THEIR FEET EARLY! This allows you to count months ahead to know when to definitely be there to hunt him
while he is on his feet during daylight hours.
As well....when you catch on to this method, You will know when to start staying later in the morning,
getting to the stand allot earlier in the evening or just simply hunt mid day. For those skeptical or too
arrogant to try this? Your missing out!!! For those that want to know more? Jeff Murray wrote a book about
this method back in 1995. I got the book, read it, applied it and have been using this method ever since.
Since 1995 Jeff has made 3 DVD's on this method for those that hate to read. Unfortunately Jeff passed
away last year in 2009. But you can still order his book and his DVD's from his site
http://www.moonguide.com This information is some of the most useful information I have ever came
across since I began hunting whitetails over 25years ago. Again, I have been using this method since the
book came out in 95. Jeff offers a moon dial that will cut out allot of work for you or for those that simply
don't have the time to scout or just want to take the easy way out. Personally, I don't need to use the dial
anymore. Once you spend some time afield figuring out this method. You really wont find the need to buy
the dial. But then again, It is always best to have second backup reference!
Best of luck to everyone this fall, Brett
the experience of the peak rut? At Backwoods Whitetails, We only sell one select week during
early October and 1 week during the late archery season in January. By only offering one
week of each of those months, we can adjust the hunt dates in accordance with the moons
position. This is done to help increase the hunters success opportunity to the highest level for
his/her hunt. So don't let a pre rut or a post rut hunt scare ya off. Just make sure you use the
proper tools to ensure your hunt will be a success.
Early October hunts are great time to go after one of those select bucks that we have been
capturing on trail camera all summer. Best thing about a late archery hunt in January is the
deer are yarded up and you will see large numbers of deer. As well, if ya see a buck that you
fall in love with and just have to have on your wall? Well because bucks don't travel far from a
favored food source when winter temperatures are extremely low, odds are your gonna see the
same buck night after night.
