Deer and Elk Harvest Ahead of Last Year in Northwest Montana
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 11.05.12
At the six northwest Montana check stations through Sunday, November 4, a total of 8,130 hunters checked 341 white-tailed deer (273 of these were bucks), 42 mule deer, and 47 elk for a 5.3 percent rate of hunters with game. This compares to a 4.0 percent rate of hunters with game last year.
In general, the number of hunters coming through check stations is down, while the number of animals taken is up (see attached table). The counts at the six northwest Montana check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.
Hunters are reminded that it is buck-only for whitetails in northwest Montana. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for youth 12-15 years of age (and some qualifying 11-year- olds, see regulations). Mule deer are buck-only for the entire season. Elk are brow-tine bull only. Spike bull elk are not legal game for any hunter in Region One. Hunters should refer to the hunting regulations for the hunting district they plan to hunt.
Wolf harvest: Hunters are required to report a wolf harvest to FWP within 24 hours. As of today, a total of 16 wolves have been taken by hunters in northwest Montana. A total of 46 wolves have been taken statewide. Wolf hunters should check the current wolf hunting regulations before heading out to the field.
