Slow start to hunting season

Hunters took to the field last weekend across northwest Montana for the opening weekend of the general deer and elk season. Amid unseasonably warm temperatures, harvest rates were down at four of the five check stations in Region 1. At the Thompson Falls check station, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) checked 320 during opening weekend, the same number as the 2017 opening weekend. Overall in Region 1, FWP staff checked 2,632 hunters, 150 white-tailed deer, 10 mule deer and 19 elk for a harvest rate of 6.8 percent.

FWP Wildlife Biologist Bruce Sterling said that the number of white-tailed deer through the check station on opening weekend was down significantly compared to the 10-year average. Only nine white-tails (including four bucks) came through the check station. In 2017, FWP saw 21 white-tailed deer on opening weekend. Thompson Falls FWP staff also saw seven elk and three mule deer this opening weekend. Sterling said all of the elk were bulls, including one 6x7.

“It was pretty quiet,” Sterling said. We had the same number of hunters as last year, but it’s down over the 10-year average. That decreasing number of hunters seems to be the trend.”

Sterling also noted that they don’t normally see any mule deer at the Thompson Falls check station until later in the season.

The percentage of successful hunters in Thompson Falls was down to 5.9 percent at the check station, compared with 8.8 percent during the 2017 opening weekend.

The Olney check station saw the highest harvest rate with 13.6 percent of the hunters harvesting deer. Mule deer buck harvest was up from last year across the region and elk harvest was slightly down.

The counts at the hunter check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.

According to FWP Wildlife Manager Neil Anderson, warm weather made for challenging hunting conditions.

“We didn’t expect success rates to be high this weekend with temps reaching the mid to upper 60’s. The number of hunters visiting check stations was also down this weekend,” Anderson said. “I am surprised that the overall whitetail harvest was this low, but there is plenty of season remaining. We expect these numbers to go up as the season progresses and moisture and colder temperatures move into the area.”

Hunters are required to stop at game check stations they encounter, even if they have not harvested an animal. The general rifle season for deer and elk runs through Sunday, Nov. 25.

Hunters are reminded that the ability to harvest antlerless whitetail on a general license ends this Friday, Oct. 26, except for hunters under the age of 15 and for people who have a permit to hunt from a vehicle. Elk hunting is brow-tined bull only in Region 1. Spike elk are not legal game.

Hunters are encouraged to check the Montana hunting regulations for the district you plan to hunt before hitting the field.

Hunters are reminded to “Be Bear Aware” and properly store food and manage carcasses. More safety information is available on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website, fwp.mt.gov. Residents can call Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional office for more information. In northwest Montana, call (406) 752-5501.