October Hunter’s Moon: Dates, Alternative Names, and Lore
October Hunter’s Moon at a Glance
- Most common name: Hunter’s Moon, first recorded in writing in the early 1700s in Northern Hemisphere English sources.
- Most recent occurrence: Monday, October 6, 2025 (a Super Full Moon), peak illumination 11:48 p.m. ET.
- Best viewing tip: low at the eastern horizon shortly after sunset on consecutive nights, the Hunter’s Moon rises only about 30 minutes later each night instead of the usual 50, giving a string of bright evenings.
- When it becomes the Harvest Moon: if the October full Moon falls closer to the fall equinox than September’s, it takes the Harvest Moon name and September’s gets renamed.
- Other names for the same Moon: Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Hunting Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, First Frost Moon, Travel Moon, Big Chestnut Moon.
The October Hunter’s Moon (the October 2025 full Moon) is intriguing, as it is a Super Full Moon. October’s “Hunter’s Moon” has many more associations than ghosts and goblins on one day of the month.
Full Moon October 2025: Monday, October 6
Peak Illumination: 11:48 p.m. Eastern Time
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, full Moon names like the Hunter’s Moon have a practical heritage as much as a romantic one: they marked the moment in the agricultural calendar when bright moonlit nights mattered for working past sunset. The early-1700s English use of “Hunter’s Moon” reflects this exactly, the harvest is in, the deer are fat, and the bright Moon lets you hunt and dress game well past dark.
Why Is The October Full Moon The Hunter’s Moon
The October full Moon is most commonly called the Hunter’s Moon in the Northern Hemisphere, a name first ascribed to the tenth month’s full Moon in writing in the early 1700s. The name is easy to understand, as game animals, particularly deer, turkey, and pheasants, are traditionally hunted in mid- to late autumn when the animals are fattened on late-summer bounty. And, cooler temperatures also make it easier to begin storing and preserving meat for the winter.
As leaves are falling in October, more moonlight is visible, making it easier to see and hunt animals at night. Even during the day, brush is not as thick, and hunting and tracking are easier.
October not only marked the hunting season for game animals, but also historically initiated fox-hunting expeditions in Anglo-Saxon regions. The fallen leaves and stubble fields provided favorable conditions for spotting and pursuing foxes effectively. Although fox hunting is largely prohibited as a sport nowadays, its historical significance remains closely linked to the full Moon in October.
There is also a useful astronomical reason this particular full Moon felt so practical. Around the autumn equinox, the Moon rises only about 30 minutes later each successive night instead of the usual 50, so for several consecutive evenings there is bright moonlight in the eastern sky just after sunset. That continuous low-angle illumination, not just one bright night, is what made the Hunter’s Moon so useful to anyone working outside late in the year.
More Hunting Related Names
While “Hunter’s Moon” is the most common name for the October full Moon, the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe of Wisconsin and the Tunica tribe of Louisiana have a slight variation, and call this the “Hunting Moon,” associating with the action rather than the person. Still, the connection to hunting season is clear for this month’s full Moon.
In Pagan, Wiccan, and English Medieval traditions, the October full Moon was called the “Blood Moon” or “Sanguine Moon” to also show the association with hunting as a bloody season, but part of the natural progression of the seasons all the same.
The Ponca tribe of the southern Great Plains calls this Moon the “When They Store Food in Caches” Moon. This name is also connected to hunting, as food reserves become useful when temperatures start to drop. It can also refer to the agricultural harvest, and the October full Moon also goes by other names related to food and harvest.
Sometimes October’s Moon Is The Harvest Moon
When the October full Moon is early in the month and the closest full Moon to the fall equinox, the astronomical start of autumn, it is referred to as the “Harvest Moon,” as this is the peak of fall harvesting for cultivated crops and the natural bounty of nuts and late fruits. The Creek tribe of the southeast, especially in Alabama and Georgia, use the name “Big Chestnut Moon” to indicate the harvest season for these tasty nuts.
Various crops are harvested at different times in different regions, leading to more harvest-related Moon names. The Apache of the southern plains call this the “Moon When Corn Is Taken In” to denote that harvest season, while the Celts have the broader name of “Seed Moon” to show that different plants have gone to seed during October.
All harvested food needs to be properly stored before winter, and October is an ideal time to preserve and protect the ample harvests. For the Oneida tribe of Wisconsin, this makes October’s full Moon the “Someone Stores Food Moon.”
Moon Names for Seasonal Changes
The falling leaves, dropping temperatures, and beginning frosts common in October have all given rise to related full Moon names. The Ojibwe, Abenaki, and Arapaho tribes all call October’s full Moon the “Falling Leaves Moon,” while the Lakota of the northern plains call this the “Moon When The Wind Shakes Off Leaves” to describe regional weather patterns. The Shawnee of the Midwest, particularly Ohio and Pennsylvania, use the term “Wilted Moon” to indicate changes in all plant life.
In colder regions, the season’s first frost and ice can come around October’s full Moon. For the Algonquin of the northeast, this is the “White Frost on Grass Moon,” and the Potawatomi of the Great Lakes call this full Moon the “Moon of the First Frost.” Similarly, the Cheyenne of the Great Plains refer to October’s Moon as the Moon when “Freeze Begins on Stream’s Edge.”
Changes in animal patterns also influence Moon names for different native tribes. The Cree of the northern plains and Canada call October’s Moon the “Moon the Birds Fly South” and the Haida of Alaska refer to it as the “Bears Hibernate” Moon.
Even human patterns are noted by this full Moon, such as the Wishram tribe of the Pacific Northwest calling this the “Travel in Canoes Moon” and the Iroquois, Algonquin, and other mountain tribes referring to it as the “Travel Moon” due to their ancestors leaving higher altitudes before winter and traveling to lower elevations to spend the cold season. The Dakota tribe calls this month’s Moon “The Moon When Quilling and Beading Is Done” to note those seasonal activities after harvesting is finished and there is time to do such tasks.
October Hunter’s Moon Names by Region, A Quick Map
| Region / tribe | Name | What it marks |
|---|---|---|
| English-speaking Northern Hemisphere (1700s) | Hunter’s Moon | Deer, turkey, pheasant hunting; bright moonlight at dusk |
| Stockbridge-Munsee (Wisconsin), Tunica (Louisiana) | Hunting Moon | The act of hunting itself |
| Pagan / Wiccan / English Medieval | Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon | Hunting as a bloody but necessary season |
| Ponca (S. Great Plains) | When They Store Food in Caches | Storing winter food |
| Creek (Alabama, Georgia) | Big Chestnut Moon | Chestnut harvest |
| Apache (S. Plains) | Moon When Corn Is Taken In | Corn harvest |
| Celts | Seed Moon | Plants going to seed |
| Ojibwe / Abenaki / Arapaho | Falling Leaves Moon | Leaf drop |
| Lakota (N. Plains) | Moon When the Wind Shakes Off Leaves | Autumn weather |
| Algonquin (NE) | White Frost on Grass Moon | First frost |
| Potawatomi (Great Lakes) | Moon of the First Frost | First frost |
| Cheyenne (Great Plains) | Freeze Begins on Stream’s Edge | Onset of freezing |
| Cree (N. plains, Canada) | Moon the Birds Fly South | Bird migration |
| Haida (Alaska) | Bears Hibernate Moon | Bear behavior |
| Wishram (Pacific NW) | Travel in Canoes Moon | Seasonal travel |
| Iroquois / Algonquin (mountain) | Travel Moon | Move from high to low elevation for winter |
| Dakota | Moon When Quilling and Beading Is Done | Post-harvest handicraft |
| Southern Hemisphere (Australia / South America) | Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Pink Moon, Seed Moon, Waking Moon | Spring |
Southern Hemisphere Names
As the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, it is reasonable that the October full Moon would have more spring-related names instead of autumn themes. Depending on the location and cultures, southern names for the October full Moon include “Egg Moon,” “Fish Moon,” “Pink Moon,” “Seed Moon,” and “Waking Moon.”
However you enjoy the tenth month, there is an October full Moon name to celebrate.
Will the Hunter’s Moon Rise Clear in Your Region?
A bright moonrise needs a clear eastern horizon. Check the long-range outlook to plan a porch viewing or a walk.
See Your Extended ForecastFrequently Asked Questions About October’s Hunter’s Moon
When is the October Hunter’s Moon in 2025?
Monday, October 6, 2025, with peak illumination at 11:48 p.m. Eastern Time. It is also a Super Full Moon, the Moon will be near perigee (its closest point to Earth) and will appear slightly larger and brighter than an average full Moon.
Why is October’s full Moon called the Hunter’s Moon?
The name dates to the early 1700s in English sources, marking the season of deer, turkey, and pheasant hunting after the harvest came in. The Moon’s low angle around the equinox means it rises shortly after sunset on consecutive nights, giving long stretches of bright moonlit evenings useful for hunting and dressing game.
Is the Hunter’s Moon the same as the Harvest Moon?
Usually no, the Harvest Moon is the full Moon closest to the September equinox and is most often September’s. When the closest full Moon falls in October instead, the October Moon takes the Harvest name and September’s Moon is renamed (often “Corn Moon”). This happens roughly every 3 years.
Why is it sometimes called a Blood Moon?
In Pagan, Wiccan, and English Medieval traditions, “Blood Moon” or “Sanguine Moon” reflected the hunting season’s relationship with killing and dressing animals for winter food. It is a separate use of “Blood Moon” from the modern astronomy term, which refers to the red-tinged appearance of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse.
What’s the best time to see the Hunter’s Moon?
The first few minutes after moonrise, when the Moon is low on the eastern horizon. The Moon illusion makes it look noticeably larger near the skyline. Find an open eastern view and a clear horizon (avoid trees, buildings, hills).
What is a Super Hunter’s Moon?
A full Moon that falls within about 90 percent of perigee (the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its slightly elliptical orbit). Visually, a Super Hunter’s Moon appears around 7 percent larger and 15 percent brighter than an average full Moon, noticeable but not dramatic.
Do Southern Hemisphere cultures use the same names?
No. Because the seasons are reversed, southern cultures give the October full Moon spring names like Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Pink Moon, Seed Moon, and Waking Moon, reflecting the awakening of life rather than hunting and harvest.
Join The Discussion
What is your favorite name for October’s full Moon?
If you could rename the Hunter’s Moon, what would you call it?
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Melissa Mayntz
Melissa Mayntz is a writer who specializes in birds and birding, though her work spans a wide range—from folklore to healthy living. Her first book, Migration: Exploring the Remarkable Journeys of Birds was published in 2020. Mayntz also writes for National Wildlife Magazine and The Spruce. Find her at MelissaMayntz.com.
- Melissa Mayntz
- Melissa Mayntz
- Melissa Mayntz
- Melissa Mayntz
Hi Meliissa — thank you for taking to time to give a nod to what we are looking forward to in the fall. It’s a very special time for my in that 10/12 is my birthday which is so amazing in and of itself, but in the celebration of things, my women are going to come-together on that weekend, the 19th in the Shenandoah valley.
We have all visited many time, but this, the 25, the school is now co-ed, for the first time in over 100 years. A lot of coming together on thiis hunters moon. cheers.
I’m so happy for this booklet if information. I’ve been reading it for a long time and weather forecast aren’t ever wrong. Thank you
My father gave me a Farmers Almanac when I was 13 years old, it amazed me with its formation and I’ve been reading the Farmers Almanac utilizing its information throughout my life I am a senior citizen now and I am so happy that you have this on the internet so every morning when it’s posted I can read something new ?
Thank you ????
The American Indian nations were one of the planets greatest civilizations.They have given us so many different medicines and knowledge and have received so little in return.Thank God for the people. AL
My grandmother was Cherokee. I was born in Robbinsville, NC, and my great greats hid in the forest, didn’t walk the Trail of Tears. In college history courses that is hardly mentioned and only that the inhuman Andrew Jackson was ‘controversial’. This is all so very wrong but the mistreatment of native peoples, no matter how hot it stirs my blood, does not shake my Christian faith. And God gave us all the light, including the incredible moon. I’m old enough to remember when the stars truly filled the sky too.
I honor our Red Brothers every day! It was a fabulous life style, i,e, following the Buffalo for food and clothing. I am currently reading “Geronimo” and his life story. What a Read!
*** See the Movie; “Geronimo” if you can. It sheds light on the shortcomings of the white men (U.S. Army) and their unfair treatment of this proud race.
Attn: Michael Van…
Please consider that the earth just might be 4.5 billion years old, even for a christian.
Sorry can’t do that. Enjoy the blessing!!
Michael, Zaria said they came here from. Not were evolved here. please read for meaning going forward.Interesting article thanks
Thank you for sharing this, we need to pass this information to the next generation
Sioux Indians
The Sioux Indians actually came to North America from the continent of Asia about 30,000 years ago. The name Sioux actually means “little snake”, which was given to the tribe by the Chippewa Indians. The features of Sioux Indians that particularly stand out is their long, straight jet-black hair, representative of people descending from Asia.
Generally, the Sioux Indians were nomadic, meaning that they never really stayed in one place for a very long amount of time. Typically they followed the pattern of the buffalo, assuring them that there would be food and clothing wherever they traveled. The Spanish introduced horses to the Sioux in the 1500’s. Once they began to use horses as a means of carrying articles and transportation, life became much easier, particularly since they were living a nomadic lifestyle. The tribe had chiefs designated for various aspects of life, including war, civil rules, and of course, medicine men. The men of the tribe could become chiefs eventually if they demonstrated strong warrior skills.
So on behalf of my ancestors,I thank you for informing people what the blood moon means.