BOZEMAN – Hunter numbers and success rates varied in southwestern Montana over opening weekend of Montana’s general hunting season.
These and other metrics were gathered by wildlife staff with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks who operated six game check stations in the region on Saturday and Sunday. Wildlife biologists use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. This supplements data collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year.
Hunters are required to stop at game check stations they encounter, regardless of whether they harvested an animal.
Over Oct. 24 and 25, biologists operated check stations in Alder, Cameron, Divide, Gallatin Canyon, Silver City and Toston. They met with 2,200 hunters who collectively harvested 146 elk, 41 mule deer and 18 white-tailed deer, among other species.
Hunter participation was below average at the Alder and Gallatin check stations, near average at Silver City, and above average at Divide and Cameron. That weekend, 414 hunters came through the Divide check station, which was the second-highest on record for opening weekend in that area. Hunter numbers elsewhere ranged from 161 at Toston to 599 at Silver City.
Hunter success rates were at or above average for opening weekend at Alder, Cameron, Gallatin and Silver City, but below average at Divide. These success rates ranged from 6 percent at Gallatin to 14 percent at Alder.
Hunters reported favorable hunting conditions in many areas, including new snowfall on Friday, with calm wind and clear skies on Saturday. Hunters also reported seeing fresh tracks from both black bears and grizzly bears. Bears are still active throughout the general season, so it’s important for hunters to be bear aware. For tips on how to hunt safely in bear country, click here.
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