October 8th there is a full lunar eclipse. What are the thoughts of what it will do to the rut, if any.
 
I put 3 hours in the ladder stand this morning and had one 4 point walk thru. He was licking trees and smacking the trees with his bone white stix.
Hoping for more traffic tomorrow. trail camera failed got "0" pictures this past week.

Probably nothing. It takes more than one odd  day to alter a yearly trend. You always see some early activity about now but not much happens for a couple  more weeks

Generally speaking a full moon signifys the beginning/start of an event/season. This full moon is not only the hunters moon it is the blood moon.

D^mned if I know what that means....... just thought I'd mention it.

Iv'e read several articles stating they rut is activated by this full moon, and that the deer use the xtra light to do their courting and boinking.
 
 
 
 

Not sure about the moon stuff I feel it has a lot more to do with weather.
I have noticed more pics of bucks this year on cams,but I have put in a good plot and stayed out of core staging/bedding area more this year.
Usually starts in a week or 2 here been hunting this property since 2005,but I got pics of 2 shooters(by my standards) in sept.
I like to hunt more the last few weeks but last year 2 BIG bucks were taken on neighboring properties in the 3rd week of archery- heard of 2 others 1 last week of archery and 1- 1st day of firearms.
I am using my cams to keep me informed and would not be surprised to see early activity this year just a hunch...WCW
 

I think it will be back to a normal pattern.. halloween kicks it off

Haven't seen the bucks in a group nor have I seen the same bucks that were here a month ago. Saw some rubs while still hunting Sat. but, no scrapes.
All signs of the pre-rut firing up.

As to the moon being full or, even a blood moon, kicking the rut into full swing will remain to be seen.

I don't rattle antlers but, if ever there was the right time, that time would be now.

Great idea, WCW, to keep the antlers close to the ground.

As for grunting; I certainly do that every morning when, I'm handed my honeydo list.

Remember when your in the stand to wear the safety gear. Never forget, it ain't the fall that hurts you.......................

It's the sudden stop!!

Just wish I could get time to get out in the woods.  Soccer practice tonight, football tomorrow.  Soccer and football games on Saturday..
Might use a couple hrs vacation to hunt tomorrow AM and Friday AM.
Good luck fellas.
 
PS - woke the kids up around 6 this AM to view the eclipse.  They got a kick out of it. 
 

When you look at published data for mean fawn conception times in PA, its evident that moon phases have very little, if anything to do with the timing of the rut.  With that said, my experiences have proven that moon phases can impact deer movement and I tend to see much less movement in the mornings with a full moon. 
 
For me personally, I won't get too excited until we get into the later part of October.

Do you find deer feeding earlier in the day when the moon is in the sky during daylight hours; regardless of the moon size?