Hunter's Moon - Full Moon of October

Hunter's Moon: Quick Facts

The Full Hunter's Moon traditionally lit the fields after the corn harvest was in, when game stood exposed in cleared stubble and communities turned to stocking up meat before winter. Most sources treat it as October's full Moon, though a second, older convention defines it simply as the full Moon that follows the Harvest Moon — which can push it into early November in years the Harvest Moon itself falls in October. Both conventions are in active use today, so it's worth checking which one a given source is using.

When it happens	Most years, once in October — the exact date and time shift from year to year (see below). Under the "follows the Harvest Moon" convention, it can instead land in early November
Also called	Harvest Moon (in some years), Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Ice Moon — and its month, October, was anciently known as Winterfylleth
Typical part of the sky	Generally among the stars of Pisces or Aries, though the exact backdrop shifts slightly year to year
Why it's sometimes the "Harvest Moon"	Whichever full Moon falls closest to the autumnal equinox (around September 22–23) takes that title — most years that's September's Corn Moon, but in years September's full Moon falls unusually early, October's takes the title instead
Supermoon?	Depends on the year. It's a supermoon only when it happens to fall near perigee (the Moon's closest approach to Earth) — check the current year's calendar for specifics
Lunar/solar eclipse?	Occasionally. Eclipses only accompany a full Moon a few times a year, so most Hunter's Moons pass without one — check an up-to-date eclipse calendar for the current year
Signature trick	In the Northern Hemisphere, whichever full Moon sits closest to the equinox shows the shortest nightly moonrise delay of the year — commonly cited in the roughly 20–30 minute range at mid-northern latitudes, versus the usual ~50 minutes. The exact number varies by latitude, date, and location
First full Moon of autumn?	Yes, in years when September's full Moon fell before the equinox (still astronomical summer) — that makes October's the first full Moon of the new season

October's Names

The "Hunter's Moon" takes its name from the season it lights: with the corn and grain harvest finished and fields cut down to stubble, game animals had less cover than earlier in the year, and the Moon's rising near sunset gave hunters extra evening light to track and take meat for the winter store. There are actually two conventions in current use for exactly which full Moon earns the name. Most popular sources simply call October's full Moon the Hunter's Moon. But a second, older convention — used by outlets like EarthSky and, at times, timeanddate.com — defines it as whichever full Moon follows the Harvest Moon, one full lunar cycle later; since the Harvest Moon itself is defined by the equinox rather than a fixed month, this can occasionally push the Hunter's Moon into early November instead of October. This page mainly follows the more common October-based convention, but flags the alternative where it matters. October's full Moon is also known by several other names:

Blood Moon & Sanguine Moon Names sometimes associated with October's full Moon in modern folklore roundups, though the depth of their historical pedigree is less firmly documented than "Hunter's Moon" itself. These should not be confused with the modern astronomical use of "Blood Moon" for a Moon in total lunar eclipse, which is an unrelated term.
Travel Moon & Dying Grass Moon Names attributed to particular North American traditions, evoking animals moving toward winter grounds and summer grasses browning and dying back. Full-Moon names varied considerably between Indigenous nations and regions — there was never one single, universal naming calendar.
Ice Moon & Winterfylleth Ice Moon marks the season's earliest frosts. Winterfylleth is actually the Anglo-Saxon name for the month of October itself, not a full-Moon nickname — the Venerable Bede recorded that the Anglo-Saxons considered winter to begin with the first full Moon of that month, and the name literally combines "winter" and "fylleth" ("full moon").

Is the Hunter's Moon the Same as the Harvest Moon?

Not usually, and it depends which convention you're using. Under the equinox-based definition, "Harvest Moon" is simply whichever full Moon falls closest to the autumnal equinox, which is September's most years and October's in some years. Under that convention, whenever the equinox sits closer to October's full Moon, the Hunter's Moon is the Harvest Moon that year, and September's full Moon is called only the Corn Moon. Under the "follows the Harvest Moon" convention used by some outlets, the Hunter's Moon is instead defined as the next full Moon after whichever one wins the Harvest Moon title that year — which is why, in 2025, EarthSky called October's full Moon the Harvest Moon and named November's the Hunter's Moon instead of the more commonly expected October pairing.

Why the Date Moves

Because the lunar cycle runs about 29.5 days, it doesn't line up evenly with a 365-day calendar year — so full-Moon dates drift through the calendar from one year to the next. In most years, a given month's full Moon falls roughly 11 days earlier than the year before. But that drift isn't guaranteed to run in one direction every year: in a year with an extra, 13th full Moon, the mapping between named Moon and calendar date can jump forward again by about a lunar month instead of continuing to drift earlier. For example, October's full Moon fell on October 6 in 2025 and on October 26 in 2026 — later, not earlier, because of exactly this kind of shift.

Early in the cycle The Hunter's Moon can fall as early as the first day or two of October.
Late in the cycle It can fall as late as the very end of October — or, under the "follows the Harvest Moon" convention, in the first days of November.
Extra full Moons A calendar year with a 13th full Moon (a Blue Moon) doesn't change anything about the Moon's actual orbit, but it does shift which calendar dates line up with each named Moon going forward.

Want This Year's Exact Date? Because the date and peak time change every year, check a current Moon phase calendar for this year's precise Hunter's Moon date and time in your time zone.

Peak illumination is usually a specific moment during the day, but what most people notice is moonrise the evening before and the evening of the peak — the Moon looks essentially full at moonrise on both nights.

When Does the Hunter's Moon Become the Harvest Moon?

Timing, not appearance. Every full Moon looks essentially the same — full is full — but the Harvest Moon title goes to whichever full Moon falls nearest the autumnal equinox. Most years that's September's Corn Moon, since October's full Moon usually falls further from the equinox by the time it arrives. But roughly one year in three, September's full Moon lands early enough in the month that October's Hunter's Moon ends up sitting closer to the equinox instead — and the title shifts. The Hunter's Moon can also occasionally coincide with a lunar eclipse, though that's the exception rather than the rule — check a current eclipse calendar if that's relevant to a given year.

Moonrise Times (Northern Hemisphere, General Pattern)

Period	Typical Nightly Delay	Notes
Most of the year	~50 minutes later each night	The usual pace of moonrise slipping later
Nights around the Hunter's Moon	Noticeably shorter than ~50 minutes	The exact figure depends heavily on latitude, date, and location — commonly cited figures for equinox-adjacent full Moons range from roughly 15 to 30 minutes at mid-northern latitudes

This is specifically a Northern Hemisphere autumn effect (the Southern Hemisphere sees the opposite pattern, around its own autumn in March). It's strongest for whichever full Moon sits closest to the equinox each year, but fades gradually on either side rather than switching on and off — so the Hunter's Moon shows at least a mild version of it most years, and the strongest version in years it holds the Harvest Moon title. Published figures vary by source, location, and year, so treat any single number as illustrative rather than exact.

Why Moonrise Barely Slows Down

Normally the Moon rises about 50 minutes later each night as it moves along its orbit. But near the Northern Hemisphere's autumnal equinox, the Moon's path across the sky meets the horizon at an unusually shallow angle, so each night's rising point requires less time to catch up — shrinking the delay for several nights in a row. The effect is strongest at mid-to-high northern latitudes and weakens toward the equator.

Why it mattered historically: That shorter gap meant several evenings in a row of bright moonlight arriving near dusk — extra light hunters once used to work later across cleared, harvested fields, which is part of how the name stuck.

No special equipment or timing is required to see this — just step outside at sunset on any of the nights around the Hunter's Moon and watch it rise nearly full, night after night, with barely any lag.

Hunter's Moon Meaning and Folklore

Where September's Corn Moon marks the last push of the harvest, the Hunter's Moon signals that the work is done — fields lie cut and bare, the first hard frosts have arrived, and attention turns from gathering crops to gathering meat. Here are five stories that capture its character. Note: "Hunter's Moon," like all full Moon names, is a traditional seasonal label — it doesn't reflect any physical change in the Moon itself.

The Hunter's Moon Itself

English Folk Tradition

With the corn, grain, and grapes already brought in by September's harvest, the fields of October stood cut down to stubble, leaving deer, rabbits, and other game with noticeably less cover than earlier in the year. Because a full Moon always rises around sunset, hunters had reliable moonlight right at dusk to extend the working evening — which is how the season's hunt gave this Moon its name.

Blood Moon & Sanguine Moon

Folk Names, Historical Pedigree Uncertain

Blood Moon and Sanguine Moon appear in many modern lists of October full-Moon names, tied to the season's hunt and to the amber-red glow the Moon can take on near the horizon. Their history isn't as firmly documented as "Hunter's Moon" itself, and they're unrelated to the modern astronomical term "Blood Moon," which describes a Moon in total lunar eclipse.

Travel Moon & Dying Grass Moon

Attributed to Particular North American Traditions

Travel Moon is attributed to naming traditions marking the movement of animals toward winter grounds, and Dying Grass Moon to the browning and dying back of summer grasses. Full-Moon names varied considerably between Indigenous nations and regions — there was never one single, universal Indigenous naming calendar, so these names shouldn't be read as shared across all traditions.

Ice Moon & Winterfylleth

Old English & Folk Tradition

Winterfylleth was the Anglo-Saxon name for the month of October itself, not simply a full-Moon nickname. The Venerable Bede recorded that the Anglo-Saxons split the year into summer and winter halves and considered winter to begin with the first full Moon of that month — the name literally combines "winter" and "fylleth" ("full moon"). Ice Moon carries a similar idea in plainer terms: the point where the year's first real frosts start to bite.

The Harvest Moon (Some Years)

Cross-Cultural Tradition

Unlike the other names on this list, "Harvest Moon" isn't tied to October specifically — it's an astronomical title given each year to whichever full Moon falls closest to the autumnal equinox. Most years that title belongs to September's Corn Moon, but roughly one year in three it shifts to the Hunter's Moon instead, making it one of the only full Moon names that moves between months.

Science & The Hunter's Moon

The Equinox Decides Which Moon Wins the Title

The autumnal equinox falls around September 22–23 each year — the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are roughly equal. Whichever full Moon lands closest to that date, before or after, earns the Harvest Moon title. Because October's full Moon is a full lunar cycle (about 29.5 days) further from the equinox than September's, September usually wins by default — but when September's full Moon falls unusually early in the month, October's Hunter's Moon can end up the closer of the two.

Sometimes Super, Sometimes Micro

Whether a given year's Hunter's Moon counts as a supermoon or a micromoon depends on how close it falls to perigee (the Moon's nearest point to Earth) or apogee (its farthest point). Most years it's neither — just a Moon of fairly average apparent size and brightness — but check the current year's calendar to know for sure.

Longer Nights

By October, nights in the Northern Hemisphere have grown noticeably longer than in September. Whether viewing conditions are actually clearer depends heavily on local weather — October brings crisper, calmer skies in some regions and more cloud or storm activity in others, so it's worth checking a local forecast rather than assuming.

Viewing the Hunter's Moon

🦌 Best viewed at moonrise, the evenings just before and on the day of full illumination

Watch It Rise Two or Three Nights Running Because peak illumination usually falls at a specific hour rather than exactly at sunset, the Moon typically looks essentially full at moonrise on the evening before and the evening of the peak — an easy way to enjoy the shortened moonrise delay without needing to be precise about the exact moment of peak fullness.
No Equipment Required A full Moon is easily bright enough to see and enjoy with the naked eye. Binoculars can sharpen craters and maria along the terminator in the days just before or after full — because at full Moon the Sun shines nearly straight down on the lunar surface, flattening shadows and hiding relief that's easier to see when sunlight hits at an angle — but equipment isn't necessary for the main event.
Look for the Amber Horizon Glow Like any Moon near the horizon, the Hunter's Moon can take on a warm amber, orange, or reddish tint because its light travels through a much longer path of Earth's atmosphere than when it's overhead, scattering away more blue wavelengths. Dust, smoke, and haze in the air can intensify the effect on a given night.
Time the Rise, Not the Peak Peak illumination often lands during daylight hours, so it's rarely worth waiting around for that exact moment — plan instead to be outside at sunset on the evenings surrounding the peak to catch moonrise, which is when the Moon will actually be visible and near-full.

"The Hunter's Moon doesn't announce itself with fanfare — it rises over bare, cut fields, doing the same quiet work the Corn Moon did a month before, just further into the cold."

A Year of Moons: Names & Meanings

Every full moon spins its own seasonal tale, reflecting nature's rhythm from deep winter to the cusp of the next cycle. Here's a luminous guide to the traditional names and their essence.

🌕 Wolf Moon (January)

Kicks off the year with echoes of wolf packs calling through the frozen wilds—symbolizing endurance, pack loyalty, and clever survival in the harshest cold.

🌕 Snow Moon (February)

Blankets the landscape in stillness and deep drifts—a quiet call to conserve energy, embrace introspection, and trust that warmth will return.

🌕 Worm Moon (March)

Signals the underground stir as worms rework the soil, drawing robins and early gardeners alike—the earth's first lively exhale after winter's long sleep.

🌕 Pink Moon (April)

Named for the soft pink spread of moss phlox blooming across meadows this month, not for any change in the Moon's own color—a nod to fresh color, hope, and the joyful unfurling of new growth.

🌕 Flower Moon (May)

Named for the riot of blossoms across the landscape in May—often read as a symbol of abundance and nature's most vibrant display of life.

🌕 Strawberry Moon (June)

Aligns with the ripe, ruby harvest of wild strawberries—a sweet invitation to savor simple joys and the earth's generous gifts.

🌕 Buck Moon (July)

Named for bucks sprouting new velvet antlers—embodying vigorous growth, summer thunder, and the pulse of peak vitality.

🌕 Sturgeon Moon (August)

Named for the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes, historically easiest to catch this time of year—some years its full Moon also coincides with a lunar eclipse.

🌕 Corn Moon (September)

Named for the ripening corn harvest—autumn's opening Moon, and in most years, also the Harvest Moon closest to the equinox.

🌕 Harvest Moon (Late September/October)

The closest full moon to the autumn equinox, bathing fields in extra light for late harvesting—a gentle bridge into shorter days. Most years this title belongs to the Corn Moon; some years it shifts to the Hunter's Moon.

🌕 Hunter's Moon (Usually October) ← You Are Here

Named for the autumn hunt across cleared, harvested fields. Usually October's full Moon, though it occasionally becomes that year's Harvest Moon or, under an alternate convention, shifts to early November instead.

🌕 Beaver Moon (November)

Watches beavers rush to fortify dams before ice sets in—a moon of diligent preparation and cozying up against approaching cold.

🌕 Cold Moon (December)

Rises amid the year's longest nights over a quiet, frosted world—inviting reflection, rest, and quiet hope for the light's return.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hunter's Moon?

The Hunter's Moon is a traditional name most often used for October's full Moon, marking the point when the corn and grain harvest was finished, fields stood cut to stubble, and hunters used the Moon's light near sunset to track game before winter. A less common convention instead defines it as the full Moon following the Harvest Moon, which can place it in early November. It's also sometimes called the Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Travel Moon, or Dying Grass Moon.

When is the Hunter's Moon?

Under the most common convention, the Hunter's Moon falls once a year, sometime in October, though the exact date and peak time shift from year to year because the roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle doesn't divide evenly into the calendar year. Under a less common convention that defines it as the full Moon following the Harvest Moon, it can instead land in early November. Check a current Moon phase calendar for the precise date in a given year.

Is the Hunter's Moon also the Harvest Moon?

Sometimes. The Harvest Moon title goes to whichever full Moon falls closest to the autumnal equinox, which lands around September 22–23 each year. Most years that's September's Corn Moon, since October's full Moon falls further from the equinox by the time it arrives. In roughly one year out of every three, September's full Moon falls unusually early and the Harvest Moon title shifts to the Hunter's Moon instead.

Can the Hunter's Moon fall in November?

Under one convention, yes. Most sources treat October's full Moon as the Hunter's Moon regardless of what else it's called that year. But EarthSky and some other outlets define the Hunter's Moon as whichever full Moon follows the Harvest Moon — so in a year when the Harvest Moon itself falls in October (as it did in 2025), that convention pushes the Hunter's Moon to the next full Moon, in early November.

Why is the October full moon called the Hunter's Moon?

The name comes from the timing of the autumn hunt: with harvest work finished and fields cleared, game animals had less cover, and hunters used the Moon's bright, long-lingering light to track and take meat ahead of winter.

What are other names for the Hunter's Moon?

October's full moon is also sometimes called the Blood Moon and Sanguine Moon (associated with the autumn hunt and the Moon's reddish horizon glow, though less historically documented than "Hunter's Moon" itself) and the Ice Moon (for the season's first frosts). The Travel Moon and Dying Grass Moon are attributed to particular North American naming traditions. October itself was known in Old English as Winterfylleth, "winter full moon," since the Anglo-Saxons considered winter to begin at that month's first full Moon.

Is the Hunter's Moon a Supermoon?

It depends on the year. The Hunter's Moon only counts as a supermoon when it happens to fall near perigee, the Moon's closest approach to Earth in its orbit; most years it falls at a fairly typical distance and isn't classified as a supermoon or micromoon.

Does the Hunter's Moon get the "Harvest Moon effect" on moonrise times?

In years it carries the Harvest Moon title, yes, in its strongest form: the nightly moonrise delay in the Northern Hemisphere shrinks from the usual ~50 minutes to something noticeably shorter for several nights in a row — commonly cited figures for equinox-adjacent full Moons run roughly 15 to 30 minutes at mid-northern latitudes, though the exact number depends on latitude, date, and location. In other years it still shows a milder version of the same effect, since October remains fairly close to the equinox.

Why doesn't the Hunter's Moon always occur on the same date?

The lunar cycle runs about 29.5 days, which doesn't divide evenly into a 365-day calendar year, so full-Moon dates drift through the calendar. In most years a given month's full Moon lands roughly 11 days earlier than the year before, but in a year with an extra, 13th full Moon, the date can jump forward again by about a lunar month instead — which is why October's full Moon fell on October 6 in 2025 but October 26 in 2026, and why the Hunter's Moon can fall anywhere from early October to early November depending on the year and the naming convention used.

Is the Hunter's Moon the same as a lunar eclipse "Blood Moon"?

No. "Blood Moon" as a folk name for October's full Moon is unrelated to the modern astronomical use of "Blood Moon" for a Moon in total lunar eclipse, which turns red because Earth's atmosphere bends sunlight onto the eclipsed Moon. The two only coincide if a lunar eclipse happens to fall on the Hunter's Moon itself, which is uncommon.

Does the Hunter's Moon look yellow, orange, or red?

It can, especially near moonrise and moonset. When the Moon sits low on the horizon, its light passes through much more of Earth's atmosphere than when it's overhead, scattering away more blue wavelengths and letting warmer amber and red tones through. Dust, smoke, and haze in the air can intensify the effect on a given night.

Does the Hunter's Moon look larger than usual?

It can appear larger near the horizon, but that's the Moon illusion — an optical effect from your brain comparing it to foreground objects like trees and buildings — not an actual change in the Moon's size. Its true angular size barely changes over the course of a night.

Can the Hunter's Moon be in September?

No — the Hunter's Moon is traditionally October's full Moon by definition. What can shift to October is the separate Harvest Moon title: roughly one year in three, the full Moon closest to the equinox turns out to be October's rather than September's.