How many of you guys use the moon phases and the moon position to determine deer movement? I started a few years ago and it does seem to dictate deer movement times and activity. I dont use it as a solid rule becouse alot of variables exsist like hunting pressure and local weather. I know some guys who use it like religion and fair very well on large tracts of private land that they themselves control and they are the only one to access these properties so to keep hunting pressure down. Most are midwest farms in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. These guy all have trophy rooms to kill for. I was just curious how many here use them and how do you use them? Id like to hear your input on this.

I use the full moon for night hunting. There are less crowds and less competition.
On a more serious note:
I have not had any better hunting the moon phases full or new. I will say that I have seen more deer in a new moon than any other phase. Mind you this is more not bigger or best. I will also say that if you can put your self in the field before a big storm you can get lucky on a big boy. I have always used fronts above all else but then again sometimes you play with the cards you're dealt. I have had some crappy hands in the past but have had some great ones too .
Keep notes on your outings and read them at the end of the year. You will be surprised.

Back To The Stove
Turtle

I also try to use fronts to my advantage. I usually see alot more activity on evening hunts when the moon is on the rise in late afternoon. Most of the guys I know dont really use the phases for anything but figuring out timing of rut. they mostly use moon on rise and underfoot times to determine where the should hunt as far as feeding or travel routes. Watch the Drurys video called "On the Move 100% Wild" video. It is a real good video on what type of triggers to watch for to figure out deer movement.

I've been using it for years. There is a guy that sells the "Sol-lunar" calendars that predict the times of day game should be most active, and after using it for years, we find it to be accurate within an hour of the published times.

here is a link.

web page

Whether you believe it or not - here's an easy to use website that I use to get the moonrise/set times, etc.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html - this page does one day at a time.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/ - this page has a link to compute a small table for the whole year, as well as other interesting stuff.

I think the lunar cycle has more effect on my wife than on the deer. And no I'm not joking as you married guys will agree with! If it is raining I think the deer move more in the afternoon than in the morning, so if it is drizzly I put more emphasis on the 3-to evening time than sunrise.