Region 3 operated six check stations on the third weekend of the general big game season with harvest success up slightly at most check stations compared to 2012 numbers. When reporting their check station totals, biologists noted that the unseasonably warm temperatures kept game movement to a minimum. The most significant change from week to week was the drop in the harvest rate seen at the Cameron check station from over 13% the previous weekend to under 8% during the third weekend.
For the first time in recent years, FWP staff operated a check station in the Clyde Park area with a harvest rate of 10.5%. Hunters took 16 elk, 21 mule deer, and 7 white-tailed deer. Staff also checked in 3 antelope, a moose and a goat which are not counted toward overall success numbers.
Meanwhile, greater success was seen at the Alder check station where 288 hunters passed through with 14 elk, 15 mule deer, 12 white-tailed deer (and 5 antelope).
The highest number of hunters (421) came through the Silver City check station near Helena where hunters harvested 9 mule deer and 4 elk.
Mill Creek and Divide followed the trend of the weeks prior with Divide seeing a harvest of 7.6% (down slightly from 8.2%) and Mill Creek seeing a harvest of 3.2% (up slightly from 2.7%).
(Report by Montana FWP)