Hunter success increasing

Hunters were more successful last weekend across northwest Montana as the big-game hunting season approaches its final weeks.

Activity picked up at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) five game check stations in Region 1. At Thompson Falls, more than 1,000 hunters have checked in, and 30 white-tailed deer have been harvested, including 21 bucks. Ten mule deer and 17 elk have been through the check station. The number of white-tailed deer is down significantly from last year, when 60 had been recorded at the check station at the same point in the season.

The number of mule deer harvested has significantly increased over last year in Region 1 with 64 bucks checked compared to 26 after the fourth weekend of last season. The number of reported white-tailed deer and elk remain below last year’s numbers, as well as the total number of hunters.

So far this season, 9,110 hunters have checked 436 white-tailed deer, 64 mule deer and 46 elk. The overall hunter success rate in the region this year is 6 percent, compared to 6.8 percent a year ago.

“We are starting to get reports of bucks showing rutting behavior, and a few large bucks came through the check stations” said Neil Anderson, FWP’s Region 1 wildlife manager. “The bucks are becoming more active and we had a few hunters reporting success with rattling antlers. It’s a great time of year to be out in the woods in northwest Montana. Hopefully, sportsmen will have the opportunity to spend some time in the field.”

Hunters are required to stop at game check stations they encounter, even if they have not harvested an animal.

Montana’s general big-game hunting season ends Nov. 25.