Hunters see success in opening weekend

The general deer and elk hunting season kicked off Saturday, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) reported a successful weekend with overall better success than last year in Region 1, which includes Sanders County.

FWP operates check stations throughout the region, including at Thompson Falls near the rural fire station. Overall in the region, 10% of hunters reported game, a 3% increase over the 2023 opening weekend.

The Thompson Falls check station saw 258 hunters come through opening weekend, up from 216 in 2023. Hunters reported 10 white-tailed deer, including five bucks, which was in line with 2023 numbers. Six mule deer were harvested, compared with one in 2023. Elk harvest was down at the check station this year, with three elk reported compared with five in 2023.

The general deer and elk season runs through December 1. Hunters must stop at any check station they encounter whether they harvested an animal or not. The counts at the stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.

Last week chronic wasting disease (CWD) was detected in a white-tailed deer in Kalispell. This is the first time CWD has been detected in a wild herd in Hunting District 170.

FWP is increasing the availability of antlerless white-tailed deer hunting licenses in HD 170 following the detection. Hunters can now buy two 170-00 Deer B licenses over the counter. Previously, hunters were only allowed to buy one.

The 170-00 Deer B License allows hunters in Hunting District 170 to harvest a white-tailed deer without antlers or with antlers less than 4 inches long as measured from the top of the skull.

Following Montana’s CWD Management Plan, FWP is increasing harvest opportunities in the district to assess the prevalence of CWD in the area.

In an effort to help decrease the spread of CWD, Sanders County Refuse District is again this year accepting carcasses at drop-off sites in Thompson Falls, Plains, Trout Creek, Noxon or Heron. Disposal is free. Check in with the attendant at each site for assistance. Visit http://www.co.sanders.mt.us for information on when each site is open.