What is the Snow Moon in South Dakota and When Can We See It?

It seems quite fitting: Snow Alert before a Snow Moon. February, often the coldest and snowiest month of the year in South Dakota, is also the shortest month and seeing a full moon within the month can be delightful. The term for a February full moon is "Snow Moon."

It will be at peak illumination on Wednesday, February 12th at 7:53 AM (CDT)

The not-so-good news is that we may not be able to see it in Sioux Falls. According to the National Weather Service, we have a 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon, with mostly cloudy skies, and a high near 11. Bummer.

Interestingly, the Lakota of the northern plains have another name for February’s full Moon, “When Trees Crack Because of Cold Moon.” It was given this name because of the ice buildup on trees can cause them to break with the weight.

Another note of interest is that every 19 years there is no full moon in February. According to the Farmer's Almanac the lunar phase lasts 29.5 days so every 19th year there isn't a full moon in February. The next time February will be without a full moon will be 2037.

Up next is the Worm Moon in the middle of March.

17 Animals You Can Hunt All Year in South Dakota

South Dakota loves to hunt. It's not only one of the state's most popular pastimes, but it's also big business. Especially South Dakota's famous Pheasant season.

There are seasons for hunting deer, antelope, turkey, and even bison. Plenty of opportunities to get that freezer in the garage stocked up.

The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department is the place to go for info about hunting licenses and specific rules and regulations for hunting in South Dakota.

GET: South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook

Hunting most game in South Dakota is restricted to specific hunting seasons. Like deer and pheasant seasons in the fall.

But there are also animals you can hunt year-round in South Dakota.

There are still some rules to follow, like where exactly you can hunt. South Dakota has millions of acres of public and private land to hunt on. And you'll still need a hunting license.

So, always check with the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department for the latest information and regulations.

LOOK: South Dakota Is Home to the World’s Largest Pheasant [PICTURES]

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns