My wife is a Veterinarian, and she swears by a full moon. Each month she sees triple the number of emergencies within a couple of days of a full moon. Her exact words are, “The craziness comes out of people and animals on a full moon.” Duck’s behavior also change as a full moon gets near.
What do ducks do differently? The first thing that changes is the time they feed or their feeding pattern. Ducks and geese will tend to feed at night and then rest in the morning. If fields are the only place you have to hunt, then try a hunt later on in the day. I am not a big advocate of afternoon hunting, but some people only have so many days to hunt. Hunt those ducks as the sun is starting to set and the ducks are starting to move around in the afternoon looking for food.
If you hunt flooded timber or cypress brakes, and you historically have ducks, this is usually your best time to shoot. I have always called the flooded timber and brakes the La-Z-Boy of the duck world. Just like you and I after eating, ducks are looking for a comfortable place to sit and let their food settle. Hunt that timber a little earlier in the morning on a full moon phase, if you have some.
Full moons can be rough. Full moons with warmer weather can be even rougher. You may have to change the way you normally hunt within a couple of days of a full moon. Hunt when the ducks are up and moving around. Learn their patterns and what they are doing. Try to live by the duck because you can’t make a duck live by you. If you do, it will equal greater success.
