Hunting season wraps up

Montana's general deer and elk hunting season concluded last weekend and the overall harvest results at game check stations in northwest Montana showed increased success compared to last year.

More than 10,800 hunters stopped at regional check stations this season, and approximately 10 percent of them had successfully harvested game, compared to 9 percent a year ago. A total of 954 white-tailed deer, including 745 bucks, were reported at the four weekend check stations. Last year hunters checked 761 white-tailed deer, including 567 bucks. Check station results showed a slightly smaller mule deer harvest - 92 deer checked this year compared to 97 a year ago - and the elk harvest was slightly above last year - 62 harvested this year compared to 51 a year ago.

The check station at Thompson Falls saw over 100 more hunters in 2024 over 2023, with 1,158 hunters stopping in over the season. With that, the percentage of hunters finding success was down slightly, with 12.1% of hunters harvesting animals, down from 12.3% last year.

Through the check station, there were 104 white-tailed deer, compared with 81 in 2023, and 88 bucks this year (59 in 2023). Mule deer numbers were the same at 24 in 2024 and 2023, and the elk harvested was down 50%, with 12 through the check station in 2024 versus 24 in 2023.

Hunters still have opportunities into winter. Certain areas have continued elk hunting opportunities, and there is also Montana’s Muzzleloader Heritage season for deer and elk, Dec. 14-22.

During the muzzleloader heritage season, a person may take a deer or elk with any unused license or permit that is valid on the last day of the general hunting season (i.e., Dec. 1, 2024).

Hunters can use plain lead projectiles and a muzzleloading rifle that is charged with loose black powder, loose pyrodex, or an equivalent loose black powder substitute and ignited by a flintlock, wheel lock, matchlock or percussion mechanism using a percussion or musket cap.