Moon Phases & Hunting

Moon phases are believed to affect hunting success.

In 1936, John Alden Knight developed the Solunar Theory. His theory was based on the sun, moon and tides affecting wildlife activity and hunting. His theory for the best hunting times is still used today by many hunters and can be found in hunting and sporting magazines and on the Internet.

Phases

The moon moves through different phases based on the relationship between the sun, earth and moon. As the positions change, the sun provides different amounts of light on the moon, moving right to left. A "waxing" moon refers to the period when the moon is increasing. As the light decreases, the moon is "waning." Each phase--first quarter, full, last quarter, new, waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous and waning crescent--takes about four days. There are about 29.5 days for a full cycle of moon phases.

Time Frame

Hunters focus on the time frame of each moon phase and the time it occurs. Game animals, such as deer and elk, tend to feed during the early hours at dawn and late hours at dusk. According to Knight's Solunar Theory, if the solunar period is within 30 to 60 minutes of sunrise or sunset, game activity will increase. If the moon phase results in a moonrise or moonset during that same period, game activity will be increased even more. Every time game activity increases, you have a increased probability of success.

Considerations

Even if moon phases affect hunting and game movements, consider other factors that also can affect movements. These factors can include weather patterns, hunting pressure or winds. Moon phases are predictable, and weather and hunting pressure cannot be predicted.

The Rut

The rut--or mating season--takes place every fall for big-game animals such as deer and elk. This time period causes the bucks and bulls to be the most active, resulting in improved hunting success. Calculating moon phases can help to predict when the rut will occur. As moon phases change from year to year, they can cause the rut to take place earlier or later than normal.

Significance

Moon phases are adjusting daily, and the moon rises and falls every day. As the moon reaches its peak and midpoint, it starts to set and is referred to as the "overhead" position. About 12.5 hours later the moon will reach its "underfoot" position and is correlated with increased feeding times. These times are available in hunting lunar charts that predict the underfoot and feeding times.

References

• Hunting Net: Moon Phases and Deer
• Hunter's Specialties: Topo Maps & Moon Phases
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration: How long does each phase of the Moon last?