Struck out on Elk... so far. Question.

I may still get a day in this weekend before 2nd rifle is over.

Was up in GMU 34 the last 5 days or so. Lots more snow than last year, and a constant freeze / melt cycle that made every step sound like you were walking on a bag of Doritos. [facepalm]

My question is about the full moon - I don't think I took my headlamp out of my pack once is was so bright. Seemed everything was done moving around well before sunup. You guys ever notice the full moon to be bad juju on a hunt?

Also didn't help that we set up in a valley one morning and had some late sleeping hunters walk right down the middle with the wind at their backs 5 minutes before dawn. Burned the whole morning for me. [Mad]

Only saw one cow running briefly through a break in the trees. Only had a bull tag anyway, so it didn't matter.

Anyway, nice running around the woods with a rifle. Good for the soul. Anybody else get one?

Pics for the scenery.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...psd816788f.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...psd784bb4a.jpg

Full moon is kind of bad juju from what I have heard. Darkness = Security for them. Stick with it though, you will be awarded eventually.

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Originally Posted by Zombie Steve

Pics for the scenery.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...psd816788f.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...psd784bb4a.jpg

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You weren't kidding about that moon being bright! [LOL]

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Originally Posted by DeusExMachina

You weren't kidding about that moon being bright! [LOL]

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[Coffee]


First pic is from a mid day attempt at spot-and-stalk. Again, tough with crunchy snow. Still, I was pretty sure I wouldn't get an elk at camp. Second is going out for the last evening sit. Turned around to look at the mountains for a minute. Got the thicker jacket strapped on the pack. I tried to keep the layers thin until I was going to be stationary for a while. Nothing worse than sweating a lot then sitting down and trying to stay warm.

I have heard that when the moon is full they will feed at night and stay in the dark timber during the day. Makes hunting pretty tough.

full moon sucks. they feed all night, might talk a little bit in the morning, but usually head for dark timber and nap most of the day. I seem to run into that a lot during archery/muzzleloader season. especially when the temps are up.

During the full moon season, I take the .444 or the .450 and still hunt the deepest darkest stuff I can find. If day temps are in the 30s or lower, southern exposures, if above the 30s, nothern exposures. I find bulls don't start to be seen until you are at least 1/2 mile from roads and out of state hunters. :)

They see you cause all that orange you've got on.

Yeah the only good thing about a full moon is coyote hunting. Keep your chin up, it's better than working!

Cool pics, thanks for sharing and good luck!

Looks like you did at least have some sunshine. First Rifle in the White River Drainage was just gloom and lots of snow on the ground and stayed on the trees.
A person was wet all the time you were out.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psef4d898b.jpg

That does look miserable. Makes me think of one time where those clumps of snow in the trees all conspired to all fall down the back of my neck as I walked underneath. Ugh.

I got a cow, first season. Worst weather in years, guys that have hunted since mid 80s said they have never seen weather like this, especially during first season. We had some snow, but the 2 days of rain was tough. However, it kept the elk bedded and so Saturday they were moving.

Full moon: there are various theories, gravitational pulls, to light, but the bottom line is it affects hunting and fishing. I go by the almanac, if possible. I once went fishing for tuna, the day before the boat averaged 2-3 fish a person. We went night of full moon, boated 20 fish for the whole boat, like 0.5 per person. Then in years following always tried to schedule for new moon. Opposite result, fishing slow before, started being good the day we went.

Fill those freezers!!!

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Originally Posted by Zombie Steve

That does look miserable. Makes me think of one time where those clumps of snow in the trees all conspired to all fall down the back of my neck as I walked underneath. Ugh.

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Then some DS locked the keys in the truck when we started packing up.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps6cb538b2.jpg

Ouch, that sucks. Hope nothing had to be broken to get in to it.

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Originally Posted by CO Hugh

I got a cow, first season. Worst weather in years, buys that have hunted since mid 80s said they have never seen weather like this, especially during first season. We had some snow, but the 2 days of rain was tough. However, it kept the elk bedded and so Saturday they were moving.

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A buddy hunted near Craig with similar weather. His "boys" have hunted the same area for fifty years, and they'd never seen anything like it in 1st rifle season.

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Originally Posted by bnred9

Then some DS locked the keys in the truck when we started packing up.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps6cb538b2.jpg

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Typical ford owners!

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Originally Posted by MarkCO

During the full moon season, I take the .444 or the .450 and still hunt the deepest darkest stuff I can find. If day temps are in the 30s or lower, southern exposures, if above the 30s, nothern exposures. I find bulls don't start to be seen until you are at least 1/2 mile from roads and out of state hunters. :)

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ding ding ding...this is right on...walk the dark timber with open sites. Kinda like pheasant hunting, same thing only different. I have had mixed results with full moons for archery. If they hear you moving early, they'll come a running when your out of position and bust you. Legal garbage about not shooting before hours...blah blah blah. Walk the dark stuff, south side. Look for some good ridge valleys that you can get into quietly and take your time walking them. Don't do what I did the first time and leave your safety on, scope caps on, and have your head up your ass.