South-central Montana’s wildlife is heading into hunting season with a mixed report card. A mild winter gave young mule deer a welcome boost, even as a hot, dry summer left the landscape short on forage. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says, “Some districts showed higher fawn recruitment this spring than has been observed for several years,” though mule deer populations—and buck harvest—remain well below historic levels in much of Region 5.
“Elk are abundant in Region 5,” and their herds are holding steady or growing slightly. The catch is that many elk have apparently mastered the art of avoiding hunters by gathering on private property, where access can be tricky. White-tailed deer numbers have edged upward but remain low in many areas, while pronghorn declined across most of the region. FWP responded by cutting several antelope license quotas, with District 586 serving as the exception after its herd increased.
Hunters should also build CWD testing and check stations into their plans. Samples can be submitted by hunters or collected at designated stations and the Region 5 office, while seasonal check stations will operate in Billings, Big Timber, Lavina, Columbus and Broadview on selected dates. And yes, stopping is mandatory: “Hunters must stop at check stations regardless of success in the field.”
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