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Post by trappnman on Mar 17, 2008 15:20:02 GMT -6
everyone, or most everyone, has some opinion on moon phases and movement. Plus other weather related stuff like wind, precipitation, etc.
What are you convinced causes poor catches? That is poor catch rates because of weather?
whats your worst possible scenario (s)- besides the obvious like floods, tornados, etc?
I'm meaning here routine stuff-
a big variable? or over all not of much concern?
Comments?
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Post by thebeav2 on Mar 17, 2008 15:32:15 GMT -6
When I was young and wild we had this saying. "The moon be full and so be I" LOl
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Post by Bristleback on Mar 17, 2008 16:00:57 GMT -6
Most coon trappers love those dark, misty, light rainy nights... Best sharpen your knives!
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Post by walkercoonhunter(Aaron L.) on Mar 17, 2008 16:38:25 GMT -6
i second that bristle....i do know from running hounds for coons that they run on very bright nights...they just seem to stay closer home when like that.... as for k9's i find on those really bright nights the sets closer to cover produce more than the out in the open sets....so i guess you could say that everything runs but stay closer to cover on those bright nights.....
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Post by bobwendt on Mar 17, 2008 16:50:52 GMT -6
I never could see a difference except windy nights are a little tougher, why I like big gaudy sight appeal type sets vs blended sets. I figure they are like us, like to eat everyday. I put absolutely zero stock in moon phases. I think some nights are unexplainable other than just lucky or unlucky. a couple unlucky nights in a row and it`s not bad luck, just over estimation of populations. one bad run and I`m worried right away. two in a row and I`m kicking my self on the 3rd run for not having the sense to see the handwriting on the wall and pull the day before.
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Post by garman on Mar 17, 2008 18:05:24 GMT -6
walker had the same experience as far as coon hunting went and coon trapping appeared the same, of course never kept any #'s to prove. As a side note I work with the chemically dependent and those full moon nights, especially the bright ones in January, are the nights that we have the most activity and restlessness.
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Post by trappnman on Mar 17, 2008 18:09:20 GMT -6
How much of a factor is cloud cover?
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4fur
Tenderfoot...
Posts: 19
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Post by 4fur on Mar 17, 2008 22:10:35 GMT -6
I know the full moon effects my catch especially in November and early December when the coons are fat and way before breeding season starts. They don't need to eat everyday. I usually take these periods to concentrate on some 'rats and beaver and move my coon traps. So you could argue that for me it's a self fulfilling prophecy. But to me, full moon means less coon.
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Post by mostinterestingmanintheworld on Mar 18, 2008 5:23:36 GMT -6
When I worked at the Desert Range Experimental Station in the early-mid 70's some grad students were doing a project that involved trapping small mammals.
They had a grid of 400 small box traps out. On dark of the moon nights they would catch say 385 animals, on full moons they would catch 35 or so.
It was a remarkable difference.
Now as far as predators go I could never predict a catch based on the moon so who knows.
This past winter I had my best cat catches on the full moon. The numbers of cats I was catching weren't enough of a sample size in my mind to say that it was anything more than coincidence however.
Joel
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Post by ColdSteel on Mar 18, 2008 5:39:37 GMT -6
Wind has hurt me more than anything.I have very poor cathces on those 15 to 25 mph winds.Also on those damp light drizzle nights look out for the grinners around here they seem to fall out of the sky
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Post by Woodswalker on Mar 18, 2008 6:37:21 GMT -6
Depends on what you are after but I think temperature is a major factor and maybe precip.
Water animals move well in mild weather but land animals can get too warm and not travel extensively unless cold temps.
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Post by 17HMR on Mar 18, 2008 7:07:52 GMT -6
I find that right after a weather front comes through I can expect a little higher catch rate, and like others have said, a stiff wind can shut me down. I also find darker nights to be better(it seems, no records), be it clouds or no moon.
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Post by RonMarsh on Mar 18, 2008 7:27:59 GMT -6
For 5 years I kept a record of catches to: Temp, Br. pressure changes, rain-snow, # of traps out, and when rebaited. # of traps and freshness of bate were the only factors that were consistant in the changes. The other were random in catches.
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Post by Billy Y on Mar 18, 2008 7:42:26 GMT -6
Anybody ever pay attention to the solunar tables? There was a artcle in the local paper last Sunday about a fisherman who swears by the solunar tables and says that fish activity is dictated by electrical power. Made me wonder if the same could be said about furbeareres. Here is the article: www.kansas.com/sports/outdoors/story/335746.html
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Post by trappnman on Mar 18, 2008 8:21:22 GMT -6
Something, is for sure a factor in animal movements. Ever notice how a big day develops? starts from first location until the last- "something" it seems got everything moving.
A perfect night for me- is a dark night, with rain/snow predicted to arrive after midnight- little or no wind.
full moon on cloudless nights, never seems too good- the same with very windy nights.
Joels comment about little creatures makes sense to me.
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4fur
Tenderfoot...
Posts: 19
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Post by 4fur on Mar 18, 2008 11:13:06 GMT -6
I do notice that on a very windy night animals fight the trap harder whether K-9's, coon and even beaver. But I think it was Charles Dobbins who said that "on the nights when the rain or snow is falling sideways I know my mink traps will be full." That's true for me but, again, it might be a self-fulfilling prophecy because I always set hard for mink ahead of a front.
How about the saying "Fog means fur?" High humidity means greater lure dissemination. I love driving in fog during fur season!
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Post by trappnman on Mar 18, 2008 11:50:13 GMT -6
Fog was always such good scenting for hounds, that I always expect to real well in fog- but not so much on canines. Water, yes.
those "Irish nights".... soft misty nights are the best for me all around.
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Post by romans117 on Mar 18, 2008 12:08:18 GMT -6
I observe significant differences in catch numbers in the weeks from new moon to 1/4. Meaning more. No so much on full. Yotes.
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Post by oso lento on Mar 18, 2008 17:21:44 GMT -6
My theory on bad full moon nights. I think the k9s are out just as much but find prey alot easy. they just dont have to travel to find lunch. Best for me is 24hrs. before a front.
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Post by coalking on Mar 18, 2008 17:53:16 GMT -6
High winds seem to be when my catch declines. Anyone ever experience a higher catch of skunks on the first cold clear night? coalking
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