Dark Moon Phases for Southern Africa 2019

[Limcroma Safaris]

Our 2018 bow hunting season at Limcroma Safaris is well underway. For those of you considering an African bow hunt for 2019, it's time to make your plans... Although we can host our hunting guests anytime of the season, generally we recommend that our bow hunters plan their hunts between the months of May through September.

The size of our "bow-only" properties and the management plan we have in place assures great hunting opportunity all season long. That said, our most serious bow hunters prefer to plan their safaris around the new (dark) moon phases of the driest months of each season to stack all of the available advantages in their favor. The days leading up to, and just past a dark moon and a dry winter is the best combination to have those animals on their feet all hours of daylight in search of water and minerals.

The dark (new) moon phases for 2019 in Southern Africa are as follows:

May 5

June 3

July 2

August 1

August 30

September 28

To take advantage of the dark moon, we suggest timing it so the majority of your hunting days falls within that 10-day window before and after the new moon. Best of luck and safe travels to all of those hunting this season or to those who have their safari booked for next season! For all of your safari planning needs, please get in touch with Dan at #954-328-6314 or wheresthefire@bellsouth.net

 

[Hunter101]

nice!

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

Great information, even for rifle hunters. Thank you for the post!

 

[Nyati]

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml

 

[chiefdale]

great info.can you give example if doing august 1st hunt for eight day hunt how to book dates to optimize moon phase.thank you also for your you tube videos.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Good info!
Thanks!

 

[jeff]

The harder the area has been hunted the more important the dark of the moon is, on lightly hunted properties the moon phase has not made much difference in my opinion.

 

[Limcroma Safaris]

great info.can you give example if doing august 1st hunt for eight day hunt how to book dates to optimize moon phase.thank you also for your you tube videos.

@chiefdale Ideally, you would want the actual day of the dark(new)moon to fall in as near as the middle of your hunting days as possible to get the optimum benefit. So, if your hunt begins on August 1, 2019, you will have a dark moon on your first day, rising to the first quarter by August 8. Those will be excellent dates with lots of dark nights to your advantage.... I'm glad you enjoy the YouTube videos. We should have some new ones coming out very soon from this season.

The harder the area has been hunted the more important the dark of the moon is, on lightly hunted properties the moon phase has not made much difference in my opinion.

@jeff I agree inasmuch as the dark moon is not a huge advantage. In my experience, it's a subtle advantage. I have hunted dark moons, full moons, and every phase in between and had great hunts. I do believe that animals will mover earlier and later in the day on the dark moons, and actually be on their feet more hours of the day. But, I don't think that it has a profound affect on the overall amount of animals that will move. If you are hunting the dry months, and the sun is out, most all animals will drink at some point during the daylight. It's just been my experience that they may drink more than once per day on the dark moon phases.

I definitely agree that highly pressured properties are less productive than those that have been well-managed and lightly hunted regardless of anything else. Still, some bow hunters prefer to hunt the dark moon phases to stack all possible advantages in their favor, and I can't argue against that. So, we put out the moon phase calendar for each upcoming season as a courtesy to let folks know what days to look for if they want to try and take advantage of it.

 

[jeff]

Limcroma I totally agree, that is what I was trying to say, you just said it better.

 

[lpace]

A few years ago I did a number reduction hunt with a bow. Not the best choice of weapons when trying to reduce numbers, but I'm a bow hunter and had the opportunity so I jumped on it. The objective was to cull as many animals as possible. We managed to harvest 27 animals on a 9 1/2 day hunt. But I'm as convinced as I'm sitting here that had the hunt taken place on the dark of the moon we would have taken 57 animals! Give or take....

The first day of the hunt was right at the tail end of new moon cycle (a waxing moon). The number of animals seen on the first part of the hunt when the moon was 'favorable' vs. the number of animals seen on the full moon was significantly different. I can't say how heavily the property had been hunted that season, but I was the first bow hunter on the place that season. All that to say, I have some data that suggests that animals are present at water more on the dark of the moon than on the full moon. They (animals) were present earlier in the day on the dark of the moon cycle as well. I don't have a real feel for the difference in numbers late in the day relative to the moon cycle.

All that to say, my next hunt in Africa is booked around the dark of the moon. And yes, I'm excited about the prospect! Save me a few Hannes!!

 

[Limcroma Safaris]

It's not too late to book your dream bow hunt for 2019...! We still have some availability in and around the August and September dark moons. September is Africa's "sleeper month" for bow hunters. Still fantastic opportunities, and the airfares drop September 1st. Give Dan a call to discuss some package options and discounted daily rates for 2 or more bow hunters.

 

[johnnyblues]

Good info thanks. I was looking for that recently to possibly plan a second chance at leopard.

 

[Fred Gunner]

June 3

I'll Be back in Namibia for another try at Leopard hunting