Home > Outdoors > Archives > 2008 > April > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWhat’s your take on wildlife feeding charts?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My father always knew when the best fishing day was, and he never once used one of those moon phase charts to tell him so.
“Saturday,” the career factory worker would say, “because that’s when I can go.”
He was right. The wildlife activity charts that are based on moon and/or sun positioning might say next Wednesday is the best day to go fishing. But if you’ve got to work it really doesn’t matter, does it? Dad figured the best fishing day was one that was dry, not too cold or hot, and with little breeze. He knew he’d catch fish anyway, so why be uncomfortable doing it?
Dad didn’t pay attention to those wildlife activity forecasts, but many outdoors people do. Ever since Pennsylvania banker John Alden Knight published the first solunar table in 1936, hunters and anglers have used them to predict when wildlife is most active. The argument is that if you can pinpoint when game is most active, your chances of success are increased.
Such tables are found everywhere — in magazines, on the Web and even on the nightly news. WSB-TV Channel 2 shows a Datasport Fish and Game forecast graph to end each night’s 11 p.m. newscast that local anglers swear works. The AJC publishes a lunar chart every Sunday in the Sports section that suggests the top times for fishing. A variety of these are for sale, too.
There’s no question that celestial positioning has an affect on wildlife. Many fish species, for instance, spawn around the full moon. Saltwater fish are atune to the rising and falling tides caused by gravitational pull of the sun and moon in their search for food.
I keep an eye on the so-called “feeding charts,” but I’m not sure if my results have been anything more than anecdotal. I’ve been skunked on peak days, and had success during down cycles.
However, last week on a short fishing trip on vacation. I caught two bass in the morning and did not get another bite until mid-afternoon. After that, I caught three (one a 4-pounder) and had at least three other good bites (let’s not talk about why I missed them). The peak time for the day was 2:30 p.m.; it was after that time when the activity picked up.
The question is, do these wildlife activity charts work or are they just a bunch of stinkbait?
Comments
By Ken Sturdivant
April 14, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Anglers should learn to use the Fish and Game Forecaster by Data Sport Inc. in another way besides WHEN to fish.
More importantly, we use these feeding tables to determine WHAT to use WHEN!
Anybody else have a theory?
Ken will be at the RV SuperShow this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Ken Sturdivant, www.southernfishing.com
By O'Neill Williams
April 14, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
The charts absolutely help us determine when MAY be the best time to fish and hunt according to the moon phases. It’s simple; the more we know about wildlife, habitat and nature in general, the more effective we have the opportunity to become IF we apply our lessons. Wild places and wild things are very predictable, just like we are.
By Aaron Sago
April 14, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
I agree with O’Neill - BUT if I have a free day to hunt or fish the LAST thing I want to do is jinx my luck by looking at a chart :).
Having said that I’m a firm believer in taking every advantage you can so if there’s a resource that will give me a little extra info I’m all for it - and that’s how I use the charts, water release, temp, whatever I can find out about my destination before leaving the house.
Aaron www.georgiafishingbooks.com
By Riverpirate
April 14, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
I believe they may have some merit but I never use them. I go fishing and hunting when I can. I may blame my results on the feeding phase if I don’t catch anything but I don’t plan trips around it. I also believe other factors come in to play more like time of day and weather.
O’Neill good to see you here.
By quaildawg
April 15, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Lunar phases DO have an effect on when fish or game feed but so do weather fronts. The combination should be taken into account when making a judgement about whether on a particular day you saw (or did not see)game or caught (or did not catch)fish. One thing I have done (over the past dozen years in regards to deer) is when I see deer feeding or moving about during daylight hours while I am driving around (anytime of year)I will compare those time periods with Lunar Charts and compare the peak activity periods (this is on a normal weather day)and more times than not these two coincide. As an example I have witnessed (and I am sure you have too)deer up and feeding during the middle of a 90+ degree day then compare this with the Lunar Feeding Chart and see that on that given day the peak activity was for that particular period. I don’t think this to be a coincidence. With all that said I still recommmend balancing this with projected weather fronts or post a major front.
By Realmc
April 15, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Scott, quiet a few years ago I was sitting in a deer stand trophy hunting. It was a cold, drizzly November afternoon. I saw nothing for the first hour or so. Finally, at 6:05 PM, I caught movement less than 30 yards from my stand. It was a small doe getting up off the ground in some underbrush. She shook herself off and began to feed around in a small area near my stand. I was looking for the big one so she was safe. At 6:35, she went right back to the same spot as before, shook herself off again, and laid back down. Nothing else happened. When I got back to the country store and cleaning station, I asked around for some solunar tables. Yes indeed, there was a major feeding period almost to the minute between 6:05 and 6:35. True story.
By ChampDawg
April 15, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
I think the charts probably help more in fishing than hunting. In deer hunting, for example, deer respond to hunting pressure and change their travel patterns and feeding habits. Using the chart might help improve the odds of seeing deer IF the hunter also adapts to other factors.
By Gene
April 16, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
There is always the beautiful day, like yesterday, when everything looks great. I am on a 55 acre pond with excellent bass and the biggest crappie I have ever seen. I tried everything in my tackle box, caught one bream and one crappie and no bass. On an identical day last week, I caught three bass, up to 4 pounds, in about 30 minutes. The charts may be an indicator, but I wouldn’t fish or not fish because of a chart.
By Scott Bernarde
April 16, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
I was talking to Ken Sturdivant (Southern Fishing Schools) this week and he told me a funny little ditty about feeding periods.
One day he received a cell call from his wife. The only thing she said was “the cows are standing up,” then said goodbye. He knew what she meant. Cows are affected by the sun and moon, too. “The cows are standing up” told him we were in a major feeding period.
I’ve been with guides who have made similar comments. A common one is if you hear birds making a racket, you might just be in a feeding period.
By Jim H.
April 16, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
I haven’t done enough comparison to tell whether they work or not. Like most working folks, I go hunting and fishing as much as I’m able to fit it in around work and other commitments. I might start paying more attention to them now though with folks like Ken Sturdivant and O’Neill Williams recommending them (I’m assuming y’all are not impostors).
And let me just say that it’s refreshing to read at least one AJC blog where no one is putting anybody else down, no racist comments, no stupid off the subject remarks, etc. (the sports, TV, political, etc. blogs are filled with that mess). This shows the class of outdoorsmen (and women).
By Scott Bernarde
April 16, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Jim H. I’m like you in that working fishing into a hectic schedule means I pay less attention to the activity charts and more attention to when I can go next.
But, I’ve always wanted to incorporate that information into my fishing, and perhaps I’ll do a better job of doing just that. It’ll be more a part of my pre-trip planning from now on.
By quaildawg
April 17, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
As mentioned I hunt or fish when schedule allows but when it comes to hunting I often utilize these tables as reference for days where I have opportunities to hunt that coincide with a late AM or midday peak. This information encourages (or forces) me to stay on stand longer or arrive earlier in anticipation of activity. I have two P&Y’s that were taken due to this very situation. One, who I saw three seperate occasions between 12:30 and 2:30 and then arrowed at 11:35. Another that I arrowed @ 3:35 because that days forecast was for a major early afternoon feeding period and I arrived on stand at 2:30 PM and he arrived and was feeding at the above stated time. I give these as examples but as I mentioned before Weather (barometric pressure movement) definitely has an effect on feeding patterns of game and as someone else mentioned pressure (or lack of) can dictate movement and feeding periods. Keep in mind that what type of area you are hunting can have an effect (bedding, feeding, or travel area)on whether or not you see game given the Lunar phase. I, personally, have had too many successes and the data I keep (particularly during full moon periods) during midday time period to consider it a coincidence.
By Eric Bruce
April 18, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
I don’t pay that much attention to them but perhaps I should. As what’s been said many times before, I go fishing/hunting when I can go. I’m going fishing this Friday because it works out with my work schedule, not because there is a feeding phase.
I knew a deer hunter that got all excited whent he cows were feeding because he said that the deer would be feeding also. Probably a link there.
By Bill Harmon
July 13, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
O’Neill Williams is one of my Favorite people and as a hunter-well, people just don’t come along anymore like O’Neill. He has probably forgotten more than I ever knew . As owner of Harmon Deer Scents-I listen to O’Neill. I can talk the talk but to live and be the person waling the walk, I have to be on MY game. O”Neills’ insight on using feeding charts has helped me to bag more deer on a regular basis than anything I can think of. Bill Harmon