For the unknowing, the Solunar Tables have been around for years and you have probably even seen them printed in outdoor mag's. Simply put, they just point out the best times to hunt or fish in your area.
The printed versions were ok but one had to add or subtract minuets from a givin line on the map. They did not include what could be the best times depending on the actual moon phase.
http://www.solunarforecast.com/solunarforecast.aspxThis is pretty simple to use as you just type in your zip code then click below it. To use it you just have to separate the two minor and the two major time slots in their respective order then hunt the slots that fit your personal needs. I did a break down of todays date here in my own area as an example...
6:40am-7:40am -minor---A classic morning hunt
12:23pm- 2:23pm-major---hunt coyotes at one in the afternoon?-yep, been there, done that, scored on a sunny day!
7:05pm-8:05pm-minor--Get out those lights!
11:58pm-1:58am-major-----Note: When the time on this one hit's 12:00am, you would actually be changing the date, 12/17 to 12/18 I Think!...bout has to...dont see this a lot but it does happen.
You also get your local forecast with the Solunar data and it rates the best dates-Average, Good, or Best depending on the Moon phase.
Is this a bunch of BS?...I dont think so. I believe that our old timers knew these tables existed but they really did not know what the reasons for it were. What they did was to simply hunt hard and sometimes at night (say in the case of the old rabbit fur market as one example) and they knew that the minor or major times of game movement would advance on a daily basis up to a certain point then the cycle would start again at an undetermined time which they had to find for theirselves.
Do I think they work?...I have personally used them since 1999 or so starting out with a Internet based MS-DOS version. I did, and still do to an extent, document the time slots for predator hunting only. My success rate does indeed seem to be higher if I am hunting in one of the time slots. They will not make you a better hunter but are simply pointing out the best possible game movement times.
If I want to hunt and am out of sync with the said times, I Do Not let the data stop me from hunting. If you are on a busy schedual these published times may help you.
Enjoy!
