Region 3 – Hunter and Harvest Numbers Down in Second Weekend of General Season
By Kamp Cook

Posted: November 4, 2015

(Bozeman)—Marked by unseasonably mild weather, the second weekend of the general deer and elk season was mostly quieter than opening weekend across southwestern Montana with fewer hunters afield and fewer deer and elk harvested.

Hunters and harvest at the Cameron and Gallatin Canyon check stations charted numbers below the five-year average. At some stations, harvest numbers remained close to or above average.

Area Biologist Julie Cunningham reported a hunter-harvest for deer and elk of 6.7 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively. An above average mule deer harvest continued in the Madison area, with 10 mule deer checked.

The Townsend station recorded the highest number of hunters on opening weekend among Region 3 check stations, but logged the lowest number during the second weekend, at just 55 hunters checked. One cow elk was checked, resulting in 1.8 percent of hunters with game.

The Divide station was on par with the five-year average; 8.8 percent of hunters checked with game. Staff at Mill Creek station reported hunter success of 5.1 percent, significantly higher than the five-year average of 3.4 percent. Combined, the two stations checked 21 elk, five mule deer, and two white-tailed deer.

Silver City and Alder check stations will not run again until the closing weekend of the general season.

FWP reminds hunters to stop at all check encountered—even if they have not harvested any animals. The general rifle season for deer and elk runs through Sunday, Nov. 29.

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