GREAT FALLS – A higher than average number of hunters passed through the FWP game check station in Augusta over the opening weekend of the 2026 general rifle season, and those hunters also reported harvesting more deer and elk than in recent years.
A total of 235 hunters stopped at the check station during the first weekend of the season, which is a four percent increase compared to last year, and a ten percent increase over the ten-year average. More than 22 percent of those hunters reported harvesting deer or elk, which is also an increase over the ten-year average of 18 percent.
Early snow and cooler temperatures that moved into the area on the day before the opener, as well as heavier snowfall earlier in October helped create good hunting opportunities along the southern Rocky Mountain Front by helping to trigger some initial movement of animals to lower elevations and out of the backcountry areas. This is especially true for elk from the Sun River herd, where a portion of this herd has already arrived on the Sun River Wildlife Management Area creating good opportunity for holders of the limited elk b licenses available in that hunting district.
Overall elk harvest was 83 percent above the ten-year average, with 22 elk brought to the check station. Deer harvest was 11 percent above the average, with 14 mule deer and 17 white-tailed deer checked by hunters.
Deer and elk harvest was well distributed along southern Rocky Mountain Front hunting districts (HDs 422, 424, 425, 442, 444 and 450). Three pronghorn, one wolf and a few game birds were also checked.
Hunters are reminded that they must stop at any check station they pass while hunting, whether or not they have harvested game. Biological check stations like the station in Augusta are intended primarily to gather trends and statistical information about animals and hunters. Although biological check stations sample a relatively small portion of the overall hunter effort and harvest, they capture important hunter and harvest trends and other information, and by stopping to report a harvest and other information, hunters are helping with wildlife management in Montana.
The general deer and elk seasons run through Sunday, Nov. 29. The check station operated by FWP along Main Street in Augusta is the only biological check station in Region 4 and operates seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.
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