For any huntsman, staff member, or field member, wouldn’t it be helpful to know the specific time intervals on any given day when the fox or coyote is most likely to be afoot? And when it is most likely to be lying up? These times vary each day according not only to the phases of the moon, but are influenced also by how closely the moon rise and moon set correspond to the times of the sunrise and sunset in your particular hunting country.
Wouldn’t it be helpful also to know which specific days of the month you will experience average, good, or best conditions and the recommended time intervals for hunting on those days? There is a fascinating resource on the web that many sportsmen and women—hunters and anglers—use to advantage.
Epp Wilson, MFH and huntsman of the Belle Meade Hunt (GA), refers to this calendar regularly. “The game table predictions are more accurate than not in our experience,” says Epp.
That’s a strong endorsement considering (1) the level of sport enjoyed at Belle Meade and (2) understanding that the solunar hunting tables are computed independent of the many other factors that affect our sport: the character of our country, the work ethic of our hounds, the talent of our hunt staff, the population of quarry, and the weather in terms of temperature, humidity, and the timing of weather fronts. A host of variables, only some of which we can influence, are part and parcel of the hunting equation our hunt staff tries to solve every day of the year. The good huntsman wants to use every factor he is able to control to the slightest increment of his advantage.
To create a monthly forecast for your area, click to bring up the Solunar Hunting and Fishing Calendar website. Enter your zip code and the month and calendar year of the forecast you want. Then click the block indicated to recalculate the calendar for your location and time frame. Scroll down for the information. For each day of the month you will see moon phase data and the times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon.
Below those daily statistics are shown the best time intervals—major and minor—for hunting. Below that information is a rating for each day of the month—average, good, better, and best. The better days of the month for hunting are when the moon is full or new. The best days of the month for hunting are when the predicted time intervals for hunting are closer to or coincide with sunrise or sunset.
As an example, one of the best hunting day in the month of January, 2017 in my location, according to the solunar calendar, will be on Thursday, the twelfth from 12:33 pm to 2:33 pm (major) and then from 5:46 pm to 6:46 pm (minor). This day is also flagged as the best hunting day of the season because the sunset and moon rise will occur within the predicted minor time period. I’ll plan to follow hounds that day!
In Epp’s email, directed especially to his junior members, he explains that understanding the weather prediction and the game calendar better helps him to plan the day’s sport. The information can change his entire game plan for the day insofar as which coverts to draw and in which direction. For hunts with a flexible schedule, it also suggests the best days and the best times of that day to be afield. At times of swiftly moving weather fronts, however, the activitiy of the quarry may be more influenced by the weather of the moment than by the moon and sun, he cautions.
“No one understands it all,” says Epp, “and there is no perfect prediction. But this can often help.”
For huntsmen, Masters, or foxhunters who keep hunting logs for reference, wouldn’t it be interesting to go back in time to see just how valid the predictions have been for your area? Your Comments are welcome, as always.
Posted December 21, 2016