Hunting harvest down

Less than two weeks remain in the general Fall hunting season, and numbers at the local check station are down.

According to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), about 20 percent fewer hunters came through the Thompson Falls check station through the third week of the season. At this time in 2016, 1,332 hunters had visited the check station as opposed to 1,057 this year.

Of those who have stopped at the check station, 7.7 percent have had luck, compared to 10.1 percent in 2016.

Throughout FWP’s Region 1, which includes check stations in Thompson Falls, Olney, Canoe Gule, Highway 2 and in the Swan Valley, the numbers of hunters is down slightly last year, with 10,060 total hunters compared with 10,188 at the same point in the season in 2016.

The total percentage of hunters with game in Region 1 is 6.8 percent, compared to 9.1 percent last year.

The number of animals harvested is also down. So far this season, 60 white-tailed deer have come through the Thompson Falls check station, down from 100 last year. Of those, 24 have been bucks this year. Wildlife biologists have only seen one mule deer at the Thompson Falls check station this year.

The elk harvest has been consistent, with 20 animals through the check station this year, compared with 22 last year. The elk numbers are also maintaining throughout FWP Region 1.

“Stalking conditions are challenging right now” said Neil Anderson, R1 Wildlife Manager.

“The snow conditions make for noisy walking, but we are starting to see some older age bucks come through the check stations. Hunters are reporting seeing bucks sparring and rubbing antlers on trees. The necks of a few bucks are starting to look swollen, which happens with the onset of rut,” Anderson said.

Hunters are reminded that only antlered buck whitetails are legal on a general license until the last week of the season. November 20-26, hunters can harvest an antlerless whitetail deer on private property only (excluding corporate timber lands) on a general license. Apprentice and youth hunters under the age of 16 can harvest antlerless whitetail deer all season long.

Check the Montana hunting regulations for the district you plan to hunt.