Hunters on the Rocky Mountain Front took home more elk but fewer mule deer and white-tailed deer than average during the 2014 general big game season, which ended Nov. 30.
The numbers were collected at Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ check station in Augusta, says Brent Lonner, FWP wildlife biologist.
“Total elk harvest was about 12 percent above the 10-year average,” Lonner says. “Mule deer harvest was approximately 42 percent below the 10-year average, and white-tailed deer taken was 7 percent below the average.”
The numbers at the Augusta check station – FWP Region 4’s sole biological check station – apply only to a handful of hunting districts on the Rocky Mountain Front.
Elk hunters this year brought in 349 animals (135 bulls, 179 cows and 35 calves) compared to the 10-year average of 308 elk.
Mule deer numbered 209 bucks at the check station. The 10-year average is 360 animals.
With whitetails, the count in Augusta was 265 (188 bucks, 62 does and 15 fawns), while the 10-year average is 286.
(Report by Montana FWP)
