Don't Guess...Know The Best TIme To Hunt!

FAQS

Until recently, the real relationship between the moon and its effect on wildlife was left mostly to speculation and folk lore. No documented evidence existed that substantiated the moon's true impact on increases in wild game activity. Most hunters believed that the phase of the moon was the determining factor that regulated when the most dramatic changes in deer activity would occur. We now know that this is not the case.

Years of field observation and research have identified several different lunar occurrences that appear to influence natural and predictable increases in the daily activity patterns of deer. The practical application of this research, regarding how it applies to the prediction of increases in deer activity has become known as the "theory of Anticipated Influenced Movement" or The AIM Factor for short.

The AIM Factor is the most accurate method for predicting natural changes in deer activity in use today. It uses the combined effects of moon transits, lunar perigee and lunar declination to predict the best times and areas to hunt each day as well as the best days to hunt each month.

"Moon transit" is the term used to describe the point in time at which the moon peaks in its path across the sky, at any given point on earth. Gaining a basic understanding of how this and other related events affect the daily activity patterns of deer, allows the hunter to be in the field at times when deer will naturally be the most active.

The basic principal of moon transits lies in the fact that natural and predictable increases in deer activity occur when the moon peaks either directly overhead or underfoot in its path across the sky. The effects of this event are further enhanced as the moon moves closer to the earth's surface (lunar perigee) and rises above the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun (lunar declination). This event recurs in a systematically repeating cycle due to the nature of the moon's elliptical orbit around the earth.

The hunter who understands this principle and puts the knowledge of The AIM Factor to work, has the ability to plan successful hunts, days, weeks, or even months in advance.

Have you ever hunted the morning after a full moon only to return to camp not having seen a single deer? Most hunters believe that the reason daytime deer activity decreases when the moon is full, is because deer can see better as a result of the bright light given off by the full moon, and therefore, are more active at night.

Contrary to this belief, wildlife biologists, tell us that deer can see perfectly well at night, even without the benefit of moonlight. Actually, they see better in total darkness than we can at sunset.

So why would deer be more active on nights when the moon is full, than they are at any other time of the month?

The reason is related to the position of the moon, and not the phase of the moon. Deer activity normally increases when the moon peaks either directly overhead or underfoot in its path across the sky. A full moon always peaks directly overhead around midnight. It is then, while the moon is directly overhead that deer are the most active. The following morning deer have already completed this major activity cycle and returned to daytime bedding areas.

Try this tactic the next time you plan to hunt the full moon. The moon peaks two times every day, once overhead and once underfoot. The underfoot peak of a full moon always occurs around noon, on the day following the full moon event. Use the Best Time to Hunt lunar hunting guide to determine when this event occurs. Plan to be in the woods as deer start rising from their mid day bedding areas to begin feeding activities. See if this tactic does not dramatically improve your chances for success.