Region 6 Havre check station results after the first weekend of general hunting season

Antelope harvest numbers are up, other big game and upland birds down

755 hunters have rolled through FWP’s Havre check station so far this fall — and the numbers they’re bringing in tell a pretty mixed story depending on what you’re after. The station opened the weekend of October 10–11 for antelope general and pheasant seasons and has been running every weekend since, right through the general deer and elk opener. It’ll stay open through the end of general deer and elk rifle season on November 29.

Hunter traffic is running slightly above both last year and the long-term average, which is honestly a little surprising given the mud and precipitation that hit during both the pheasant and antelope opener and the general season opener. Roads out there were rough. Still, participation held up — likely helped along by the bump in antelope licenses this year.

Antelope doing well, mule deer recovering

Antelope are the bright spot. The 229 checked so far in 2026 is slightly above last year and running about 10% above the long-term average. Populations have been strong across most districts, tags were more available this year, and hunter reports have been generally positive. That’s a good combination.

Mule deer are a more complicated picture. Thirty-nine have come through the station, which beats last year’s numbers but sits 36% below the long-term average. A lot of that gap comes down to fewer B-licenses being allocated across most hunting districts, plus lower populations in some areas. That said, hunters in the field are reporting better deer sightings than they expected — more animals moving, more bucks on their feet — and that matches what biologists are seeing in population surveys. The herd is in better shape than the harvest numbers alone would suggest.

White-tailed deer are a different story. Only five have been checked, which is well below the long-term average, and hunters are reporting lower sightings to match. If you ask me, last year’s epizootic hemorrhagic disease outbreak is still working its way through the white-tail population out there. FWP cut B-licenses region-wide because of it, and the reduced harvest reflects that reality on the ground.

Elk numbers down in the Breaks

Only three elk have been checked so far — down from both last year and the long-term average. Fewer licenses and lower elk numbers in the Missouri River Breaks districts are driving that. HD 690 south of Havre tends to hold higher elk numbers and carries more available licenses, but hunters out of that district don’t typically run through the Havre station, so those animals aren’t showing up in these numbers.

Upland birds: better west, mixed east

Pheasants and sharptails are down, Hungarian partridge are holding their own. The 408 pheasants checked is below last year and 22% under the long-term average, while sharp-tailed grouse are well off — only 48 checked, behind both last year and the average. The better news comes from Huns: 53 partridge checked, down slightly from last year but still 20% above the long-term average. Reports from the western end of Region 6 have been generally better than from the eastern portion. Waterfowl numbers were modest but slightly above normal, with 44 ducks coming through.

Hunters must stop at all game check stations

Don’t skip the check station. Every hunter is required by law to stop at designated check stations, whether you’ve got game in the truck or not. FWP staff are working hard to check animals, answer questions, and get you back on the road. If you want your deer, elk, or moose sampled for CWD, that option’s available — just ask.

Biologists pull a lot of valuable data out of these stations, and that information feeds directly into the management decisions that shape future seasons. The harvest figures above only reflect animals checked at Havre — they’re a piece of the regional picture, not the whole thing.

Season reminders

Antlerless mule deer harvest in Regions 6 and 7 is private land only — that includes private land enrolled in block management. This applies whether you’re using a district-specific antlerless mule deer license or a general deer license where antlerless mule deer is legal. Pull out your regulations and make sure you’ve got the right license in hand before you squeeze the trigger.