October's full moon — the hunters' moon that follows the Harvest Moon, lighting the autumn hunt. The lore, the look, and how to see it.
Short answer
The Hunter's Moon is October's full moon, the one that follows the Harvest Moon. With fields cleared and game fattened for winter, its bright autumn light was prized for hunting. Like the Harvest Moon, it rises soon after sunset for several nights running.
When is the Hunter's Moon?
October's full moon — the date shifts a little each year.See 2026 calendar
Why "Hunter's"?
After the Harvest Moon lit the gathering of crops, October's full moon lit the hunt: fields lay bare, animals were fat for winter, and the bright moon let hunters work into the night. Like the Harvest Moon it shows the 'short rising interval' effect — rising only a little later each night, giving several evenings of early moonlight.
What it looks like
The Hunter's Moon shares the Harvest Moon's trick: around this time of year the Moon's orbit meets the horizon at a shallow angle, so it rises only ~25–30 minutes later each night instead of the usual ~50. The result is several consecutive evenings with a big, bright moon low in the east soon after dusk.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Hunter's Moon?
Because it follows the harvest: with fields cleared and animals fat for winter, October's bright full moon gave hunters extra light to work by.
How is it related to the Harvest Moon?
The Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest the September equinox; the Hunter's Moon is the very next full moon, in October. Both rise soon after sunset for several nights.