Hunters Checkstation Update: Region 1:Deer and Elk Harvest Ahead of Last Year
By angelamontana

Posted: November 18, 2013

Deer harvest in northwest Montana is now ahead of last year at the same point in the season, according to check station results around Region One.

At the six northwest Montana check stations through Sunday, November 17, a total of 11,811 hunters checked 594 white-tailed deer (528 of these were bucks), 90 mule deer, and 45 elk for a 6.2 percent rate of hunters with game. Harvest was up as compared to last year when 4.9 percent of hunters checked game. Hunter numbers are up seven percent as compared to last year.

According to FWP Wildlife Manager Jim Williams, the deer harvest should continue at a good pace. “We expect this trend to hold true, especially if we get good tracking snow.”

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 have taken 28 wolves in Region One to date. Statewide, hunters have taken 80 wolves. This is a complete count of the number of wolves reported taken as of November 18. The wolf take is ahead of last year at this same point in the season.

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(Report by Montana FWP)

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