|
To use this chart to find the optimum time to Deer hunt on any given day, use the column labled "Meridian Time". This is the time that the moon is directly over head and crossing the same longitude as your location. This chart is set for Columbia SC, but it can be changed for your location. The absolute best time to hunt is when the moon is crossing the Meridan (Better described as "Moon Noon"). This time changes by ROUGHLY an hour everyday. Once you have established the Meridan time for the day you are interested in, give yourself atleast 1 hour on either side of this time, so that you are hunting atleast 2 hours with the meridian smack dab in the middle. For example.... If the Meridian time for a day was 1:00 PM, I would make sure I was in the stand before 12:00 Noon and did not come out until after 2:00 PM. That example is a minimum!!! I would preferably stay for 4 or 5 hours with the meridian as close to the center as I could get it. (There are legal constraints that pertain to hunting before daylight and after dark).
You can also offset the Meridian time by 12 1/2 hours. This will give you the exact opposite of your "Meridian Time" (Better described as "Moon Midnight"). At this point the moon will be straight down under your feet. This is the second best time of day to hunt. I usually try to hunt which ever of these events happens during legal hunting hours.
Sunrise and Sunset are also decent times to hunt. So, whenever you can get the Meridian time for the Moon to co-inside with a Sunrise or a Sunset..... KATIE BAR THE DOOR!!!!! Your in for the potential hunt of a lifetime!
Here is a link to a chart that shows the Moonrise/Moonset/Meridian times for Columbia SC. The times on this chart may vary by as much as 15 minutes (in both directions) depending on whether you are closer to the coast or closer to the mountains. Allow some added stand time to compensate for this discrepancy.
You will have to Choose the correct month on this chart.
Meridian Moon Hunting Times |
