What Dec dates would you Hunt?

[Stallone A.]

I was lucky enough after 7 bonus points to finally receive a Dec rut hunt in unit 36C. I was just curious to see what your thoughts were on dates to hunt. I am only able to take off 4 days from work to hunt, so I was wanting to pick obviously the four best days of the season. It looks like the best time for me to go date wise is the day after Christmas however the moon is not in my favor that week?

The Moon is looking real nice the week of Dec 12-16? Any suggestions or past history would be of some help.

 

Thanks in advance...

[Coues assassin]

IMO the later in December you can go the better. Especially in these southern units the rut doesn't seem to Kick in until January maybe the end of December. I think the later you go the better chance you have of seeing more rut activity.

[copencoues]

My daughter had that hunt the last 2 years. The bigger bucks started showing up after Christmas

[GreyGhost85]

Christmas to new years

[Lazy-H98]

I helped family in there last December. If it was me, I'd hunt hard the week between the 25th-31st. Plan on being mobile, we saw hot spots where the pre rut and rut would be on, yet in other areas we had Does but it was cold. You will see horns, it's just a matter of how picky you want to be.

[johnnie blaze]

You still get 3 wknds. But I agree with the rest.

[Viper]

I agree with the others....last week of December. If you're concerned about a full moon, there was a recent thread about this. It was interesting. Deer are moving more, morning and afternoon during that moon phase.

[wildwoody]

All of it, da

[creed_az_88]

Do you have to choose days now and schedule it? If not I would wait until a storm hits and hunt the first couple clear days directly after it. Even if that's in the first week of the hunt. I usually still see most bucks still bachelored up in late December in border units and not really showing much sign of the rut. There are usually a few bucks starting to make scrapes and sniffing around a little bit but for the most part the December hunt down south isn't much different than the Thanksgiving hunt other than its longer and has less competition with other hunters. Don't stress on the moon thing. Hunt right after a winter storm or hunt the last few days of the year.

[Kaffer62]

After Christmas. No question. But if you can hunt more than that. Then do so.

[.270]

full moon means nothing, it's the season and that's when you need to hunt. the deer don't disappear or go in a hole because it's a full moon. but if you can only hunt one part of the season, then the last week is gonna be the best option. Lark

[Stallone A.]

Thanks for all your responses. I figured those we would be the best days to go. Its been so long since I drew a Dec tag,

I usually go in November with a left over tag. I am the first to say I am not a trophy hunter I just love the meat. I know putting in the time is where you will find and harvest a mature Buck however this year I am unable to take off the time needed to hunt these beautiful animals. Just my luck when I get 3 weeks to hunt and I can only hunt 4 days…

[Will K]

You will not have a problem if you are a meat hunter. I passed a lot of bucks last year and came home with a tag in my pocket.