|
|
Post by Schrader on Oct 29, 2008 7:03:02 GMT -6
Our opening date is November 12...according to the calendar that will be a full moon. What are your guys' thoughts on starting the trapping season on a full moon?
Schrader
|
|
|
|
Post by trappnman on Oct 29, 2008 7:05:37 GMT -6
set up- while I feel they certainly don't move as well (yotes) on a moonlit night, some do move.
and coon, it really doesn't matter IMO
|
|
|
|
Post by bobwendt on Oct 29, 2008 7:10:59 GMT -6
doesn`t matter on anything imo.
|
|
|
|
Post by trappnman on Oct 29, 2008 7:17:21 GMT -6
even on yotes?
I know it makes no difference on coon, but it does seem that on a series of full moon, clear quiet nights I do less on yotes.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobwendt on Oct 29, 2008 9:20:51 GMT -6
I never saw any difference. everything likes to eat every day, just like us. on bad windy nights I think they have a hard time finding sets unless they stumble onto them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Schrader on Oct 29, 2008 9:59:52 GMT -6
I guess I was under the impression that on bright clear nights the coons were a little bit more spooky and didnt go as far from the nest...
Schrader
|
|
|
|
Post by bobwendt on Oct 29, 2008 10:39:00 GMT -6
coons, spooky? chite, they eat out of dumpsters, live in attics, live in the sewers of the big citys. show them a marshmallow and they commit suicide. day or night.
|
|
|
|
Post by jim on Oct 29, 2008 11:45:44 GMT -6
In MO coons are a night time mover, I see alot of coyotes in the day but very few coons. JIM
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Jameson on Oct 29, 2008 11:59:54 GMT -6
After lying around most of the day predators all stir once night fall begins to set in each day. Cant imagine them not doing so. They have to eat and drink and get restless regardless of the moon phases.Only exception may be very heavy snowfall that they may lay around until the storm breaks.
|
|
|
|
Post by cameron2 on Oct 29, 2008 12:08:20 GMT -6
Are you only going to set your traps during a full moon? I'm going to leave mine out from November 1 through February 28, all day, every day.
|
|
|
|
Post by Schrader on Oct 29, 2008 12:33:01 GMT -6
I just wanted to know if it was worth taking time off work in the middle of the week to run traps for 3 days...I try to be efficient.
Schrader
|
|
|
|
Post by trappnman on Oct 29, 2008 17:00:31 GMT -6
wind plays more of a part in coon moving in ridges and the uplands-
weather plays a very large role in coon patterns
|
|
|
|
Post by romans117 on Oct 29, 2008 18:54:45 GMT -6
I seem to do better during new moon phases. I have been told by a wise old trapper that is because they can't see my trap pattern as well. Yotes that is. I don't think it matters on other animals. But I have experienced a downturn in catch during full moon nights, on yotes. Just like when it snows and I brush the snow off my sets I see avoidance from yotes. Maybe not an issue for new land but on a heavy hit areas I see avoidance. I am not trying to over think, but pressured yotes act differently. IMO
Please read my post with the knowledge I am brainwashed, stupid, and according to Steve a p---y.
|
|
conibear1
Demoman...
Beaver trapping
Posts: 247
|
Post by conibear1 on Oct 29, 2008 19:00:27 GMT -6
trappnman,
Would you explain more about your thoughts on wind and weather with coons?
|
|
|
|
Post by rk660 on Oct 29, 2008 23:53:44 GMT -6
While I dont plan a line out based on a full moon, I do see less movent on a full moon, and more trap jacking around, less bait being worked, and less catches on coon in water during a full moon, along with more knocked down snares etc etc etc. i have no doubt it affects their behaivor to a degree. I see a full moon combined with an extended warm front of 60 degree and above, to really put a coon line in the tank, both having some affect, and the two combined can drop catch rates down by 50% real quick.
I find a Dec full moon to be worse than a Nov full moon, for whatever reason.
All in all, your talking about 3-4 days worth of effect, and just need to work thru it, sometimes it hurts ya hard, sometimes not.
Years ago, I coined a term "full moon effect" on Tman, back in the days I'd write a few fairly long winded explainations of my coon trapping methods based on just a few years of trapping, and a few piles of coon over the year. Then someone took that term and turned it around for their own self promotion of a product, stating some B.S. about their product suffers no "full moon effect". Showed me just how much they really knew about coon trapping, LOL. Like get real, about any system whether it be snares, legholds, baited sets, blinds sets, cage traps WILL suffer from climatic/lunar influences, but this ONE product doesnt, yea right.
|
|
|
|
Post by JakeLeg on Oct 30, 2008 5:13:43 GMT -6
I'm with rk on this one,while not a big number guy,my catch drops on a full moon also.But I'm still trapping it.Later
|
|
|
|
Post by mustelameister on Oct 30, 2008 6:42:33 GMT -6
My observations first hand, not something I've read, heard about, or guessed. And it's 'coon here in southern Wisconsin, and it's about 'coon on the river banks.
The following nights have 'coon moving from dusk 'till dawn.
Best: no moon, no wind. A dynamite combination. Want to make it better? Add some fog.
Good: some moon, still no wind. Fog helps.
Poor: full moon, no wind, but thick clouds to block the moonlight. They'll still move all night. Fog helps.
Worst nights? Bright full moon, and windy as the dickens. Yes, 'coon will still get out and move for a while, but then it's back to the den or wherever and wait. You'll have catches and think the 'coon have been moving all night, but it's for a brief period of time. Maybe to get a drink, eat a bit, but I believe it's an hour tops. Now that's a guess.
I see a direct correlation between wind speed and movement of 'coon. The stronger the wind, the less they move all night. That is the key. They still move, but not for long.
The evening may begin with thick clouds blocking the moon and no wind. But let's say these clouds move out and the wind picks up? 'Coon are done for the evening.
Now I'm guessing that out in the Dakotas that 'coon move regardless, since the wind blows constant out there. Or so it seems to me when I head for the mountains in the summer for a mental correction. Wind about tears my shirt off as I gas up somewhere off I 80 or 90 and the locals just say it's a normal day as their product signs are waving back and forth like a boy scout semaphoring his patrol leader after having a couple mountain dews . . .
|
|
|
|
Post by trappnman on Oct 30, 2008 6:47:30 GMT -6
very good post MM- i agree 100%- and that doesn't happen very often......LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by 17HMR on Oct 30, 2008 7:06:00 GMT -6
RK and MM, that is some great info, thanks. On coyotes my catch rate drops on the full moon every time, cloudy or not, even see less tracks traveling down the 2 tracks and cow paths. A hard wind, 30+ mph, all night just about shuts it down compleatly. This for me is a great time to add in extra locations and sets in areas that I need to move to.
|
|
|
|
Post by rk660 on Oct 30, 2008 8:19:39 GMT -6
Yep 17, Ive seen it on coyote line too on full moon. especially on snare line, they dont move as much to begin with, then what does move, dodges snares to no end as they see them better.
MM very good post indeed. I love those misty foggy nights too, even a light drizzle helps and gets them moving. Probibly a pre-front change of weather movement pattern.
Years ago in my younger days, I did a fair amount of spolighting. On a bright full moon, you see half the coon you normally would, and by 11-12 at night, it would come to an almost complete stop, not see a eyeball for hours on end.
Full moon/warm front periods of lighter catches/less skinning are days I use to extend the line as more availble time, as what goes up has to come down so to speak. If they havent moved good for 3-4 days, you can bet they will be moving hard and feeding heavyer just around the corner, and I want more traps ready to accomadate them.
|
|
