I am contemplating a baited leopard hunt next year and was wondering about Moon phase affecting the hunt.
Does it matter? Would a full moon get them more active at night? Or are they already so nocturnal anyway?
Would a new moon be better so it’s darker in the hide? Maybe they won’t notice as much? Less movement at night of normal prey animals they would come to bait more?
I prefer new moon, Leopard tend to move more on darker nights. This is quite easily observed just by documenting tracks and movement.
With that said in areas like the Niassa special reserve with an extremely high population density moon phase tend to have a slightly lower influence but few areas compare to the Niassa reserve. Make no mistake there are areas with bigger cats but mostly substantially lower success rates.
I would still if I was you, especially considering the area where you will be hunting consider new moon. Whether night hunting is allowed or not movement is influenced by moon phase.
I would also be weary of hunting to late in the season the warmer it gets the higher turnover on baits you’ll have.
If you are hunting an area where only daylight hunting is allowed a late season hunt is almost suicide not only due to the hot day temperatures but areas like Niassa there are thousands of Impala lambs and warthogs that are newly born and easy prey.
I have found that lowering baits this time of year is almost the only way to convince a leopard to hit. I contribute it exclusively to the massive number of babies (easy prey) running around.
Getting sidetracked sorry.
Bait location, hunting pressure, moon phase, time of year all influence movement.
Best months in my opinion June, July, August.
Enjoy, and remember to focus on Leopard it is easy to get distracted and come home with a buffalo and plains game if you are not careful no matter how good an area you are hunting once the cat is in the salt the others will come.
My best Always
Jaco Strauss