Hunters Checkstation Update: Region 4-Big Game Harvest Continues Down
By angelamontana

Posted: November 18, 2013

At the end of the fourth weekend of Montana’s big game general season, harvest numbers for elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer continues below the long-term average on the Rocky Mountain Front.

“Overall elk harvest is about four percent below the 10-year average,” says Brent Lonner, Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife biologist. “The mule deer take is 24 percent below average and whitetails are 21 percent below average.”

The numbers were collected at FWP’s Augusta check station– the department’s sole Region 4 biological check station – and apply only to a handful of hunting districts on the Rocky Mountain Front. Elk hunters so far have brought in 198 animals (73 bulls, 103 cows and 22 calves) compared to the 10-year average of 205 elk.

“The majority of Sun River elk have yet to make a big push towards the Sun River Wildlife Management Area,” Lonner says. Mule deer at the check station have numbered 166 (148 bucks, 17 does and one fawn).

The 10-year average is 217 animals. White-tailed deer numbers stand at 110 (70 bucks, 25 does and 15 fawns), while the 10-year average is 139.

The general deer and elk season runs through Dec. 1. (Report by Montana FWP)

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