MILES CITY – Pronghorn season closed Sunday with continuing pleasant weather in southeast Montana. Three biological check stations across the region saw slightly fewer hunters than the 10-year average for closing weekend. Pronghorn harvest was strong, and hunters reported seeing more pronghorn and mule deer. Most were satisfied with their opportunities and their time afield.
Many hunters did not stop at check stations as required. A game warden assisted at the Hysham station for part of the day and remained busy pulling over hunters who bypassed the station. All hunters are required by law to stop at game check stations, regardless of the species they are pursuing or whether they harvested an animal. Information collected at biological check stations provides important data used to inform wildlife management decisions.
Hysham check station
On Sunday, wildlife staff at Hysham recorded 78 hunting parties, matching the 10-year average for the closing weekend of pronghorn season. Overall hunter numbers were 14 percent below average, with 133 hunters checked.
Pronghorn harvest remained strong during the closer. The 20 pronghorn checked (eight bucks and 12 does) was 9 percent above the 10-year average. Overall, 46 percent of hunters reported harvesting an animal, which is about 12 percent below long-term average for closing weekend.
Mule deer harvest was well below average, with 28 bucks checked and no does, roughly half the 10-year average. The decline was expected due to continued conservative mule deer B-license allocations in Region 7. However, many hunters reported seeing more deer than in recent years. The average age of harvested mule deer bucks was 4.5 years, consistent with the long-term average.
White-tailed deer harvest was also below average, with 14 deer checked (11 bucks and three does). Reduced antlerless white-tailed deer license availability likely contributed to the lower harvest.
Other game harvested in Region 7 and checked at Hysham on Sunday included three bull elk, 19 pheasants and three turkeys.
Ashland check station
Weather was very pleasant for hunters to be in the field, with highs in the mid- to upper 60s.
A total of 78 parties and 154 hunters came through the Ashland check station. This represents 10 percent fewer hunters than average. The harvest success rate was 40 percent, moderately above average. Harvest included 18 pronghorn (five bucks, nine does and four fawns), 38 mule deer (34 bucks, four does), six white-tailed deer (four bucks, two does), three bull elk, and two turkeys.
Harvest was slightly below average for white-tailed deer and below average for cow elk. But for bull elk it was slightly above average, and for pronghorn double the average. Mule deer buck harvest was near average, while doe harvest was well below average primarily due to a low number of B licenses.
The majority of hunters were satisfied with their outings, and most observed good numbers of mule deer and pronghorn.
Mosby check station
A total of 39 parties and 74 hunters came through the Mosby check station for the close of pronghorn season Sunday. Of the 74 hunters, 32 (just over 43 percent) were successful in harvesting an animal. These totals represent 16 percent fewer hunters and 87 percent higher success than in 2025.
Harvest totals included 14 mule deer bucks, 10 pronghorn (four bucks, six does), five elk (four cows, one bull), one white-tailed buck and 20 pheasants. Compared to 2025, species harvest totals were higher for mule deer and antelope, and slightly lower for elk and white-tailed deer.
In general, hunters reported low numbers of other hunters and satisfactory game numbers.
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