Warm weather marked the third weekend of Montana’s big-game season, drawing 704 hunters to south-central check stations. Harvests generally exceeded averages, with mule deer leading at 228, followed by white-tailed deer at 163, elk at 147, and antelope at 82. CWD testing found 10 positives among 373 submitted samples.

The Montana Outdoor Podcast explores hunting in Region 5, featuring insights from wildlife biologist Shawn Stewart. He highlights elk hunting challenges, deer population trends, and alarming bear behavior changes. The discussion also covers other game species and encourages hunters to stay informed about regulations and wildlife management.