BOZEMAN – The general hunting season is halfway through, and hunter numbers and success have been mixed in southwestern Montana.
The season so far has brought unseasonably mild weather, which can provide favorable access conditions for hunters but keep wildlife herds disbursed at higher elevations in some areas.
Wildlife biologists operate 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 Nov. 7 and 8, biologists operated check stations in Alder, Cameron and Divide. They met with 759 hunters who collectively harvested 39 elk, 29 mule deer and two white-tailed deer, among other species.
Wildlife staff met with 184 hunters at the Alder check station, about 18 percent fewer than average for that weekend. More than 11 percent of those hunters were successful, compared with an average of 14 percent.
Some 342 hunters came through the Cameron check station, just 10 fewer hunters than average. Just over 10 percent were successful, compared with an average success rate of 9 percent.
At the Divide check station, wildlife staff met with 233 hunters over the weekend. That’s about 17 percent more than average. Hunter effort, measured in days afield, was 45 percent greater than average, with the weekend’s hunter success rate of 8 percent being about 7 percent above average.
Hunters continue to report seeing 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.
Region 3 check station summary table (PDF)
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