KALISPELL, Mont.) Harvest picked up slightly over the weekend, increasing the percentage of hunters with game to 7.5%, up from 6.8% last weekend. Fifty elk have come through check stations this year so far, which is similar to last year. Mule deer buck numbers are considerably lower than the previous years. Forty-three mule deer bucks have been harvested at this point in the season, compared to 123 last year.
“Snow conditions are still making it a challenge” said Neil Anderson, R1 Wildlife Manager. According to Tim Thier, FWP Biologist in the Eureka area, “hunters are looking for areas where the snow has melted, and walking is quieter; and are having pretty good success”. As of the fifth weekend of the season, 9.8% of the hunters at the Olney check station have had game, the highest percentage in the region.
Starting today, November 20, hunters can harvest an antlerless whitetail on a general license on private property only (does not apply to corporate timber company lands). Except for HD170, harvest in the rest of the region is limited to antlered buck white-tailed deer, buck mule deer and brow-tine bull elk on a general tag. Apprentice and youth hunters under the age of 16 can harvest antlerless whitetail deer on a general license all season long. The general season ends on Sunday, November 26. Check the Montana hunting regulations for the district you plan to hunt.
R1 Check Station Summary, Week 4, through November 19, 2017, attached.
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REGION ONE CHECK STATION SUMMARY
Week 4, through November 19, 2017
STATION
|
NUMBER
HUNTERS
|
WHITE-TAILED
DEER
|
WT
Bucks
|
MULE
DEER
|
ELK
|
%
HUNTERS
WITH GAME
|
|
2017
|
2016
|
2017
|
2016
|
2017
|
2016
|
2017
|
2016
|
2017
|
2016
|
2017
|
2016
|
Hwy 2
|
5632
|
5,317
|
345
|
443
|
226
|
302
|
13
|
52
|
26
|
25
|
6.8
|
9.8
|
Swan
|
1827
|
1,966
|
162
|
179
|
116
|
129
|
3
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
9.3
|
9.5
|
Thompson
Falls
|
1355
|
1,750
|
80
|
134
|
40
|
85
|
1
|
13
|
26
|
23
|
7.9
|
9.7
|
Olney
|
2306
|
2,300
|
218
|
264
|
169
|
206
|
2
|
14
|
5
|
4
|
9.8
|
12.3
|
Canoe Gulch
|
1806
|
1,914
|
56
|
81
|
41
|
62
|
21
|
38
|
9
|
8
|
4.8
|
6.6
|
Totals
|
12,926
|
13,247
|
861
|
1,101
|
592
|
784
|
40
|
123
|
70
|
62
|
7.5
|
9.7
|
R-1 CHECK STATION TRENDS
Week 4, through November 19, 2017
|
Year
|
Hunter #s
|
Total WTD
|
WT Bucks
|
Mule Deer
|
Elk
|
2010
|
13,142
|
696
|
587
|
110
|
110
|
2011
|
13,873
|
589
|
483
|
67
|
85
|
2012
|
13,099
|
589
|
516
|
96
|
64
|
2013
|
14,176
|
821
|
746
|
99
|
51
|
2014
|
13,239
|
856
|
748
|
118
|
42
|
2015
|
14,260
|
910
|
746
|
110
|
76
|
2016
|
13,247
|
1,101
|
784
|
123
|
62
|
2017
|
12,926
|
861
|
592
|
40
|
70
|