FWP Region 5: Warm weather brings increased hunter participation to much of south-central Montana

BILLINGS – Hunters in south-central Montana were met with unseasonably warm weather for the third weekend of the general big game hunting season. At three of the region’s four biological check stations, hunter numbers were above long-term average, and harvests for most big game animals were above average at all four check stations.  

Over the third weekend –the midday point of the season—a total of 704 hunters visited check stations in south-central Montana. In Big Timber, Lavina and Billings, check stations operated on Sunday only and the Columbus check station operated on both Saturday and Sunday.  

So far this season, 2,198 hunters have been through the region’s check stations. Last year at this point, a total of 2,248 hunters had visited check stations. Eighty-two harvested antelope were checked this year, an increase from last year’s 58. The antelope season closed Sunday, Nov. 8. Mule deer have been the most abundantly harvested animal in the region, with 228 total checked so far this season, a slight increase from last year’s 220. A total of 163 white-tailed deer have been through check stations, compared to last year’s 162. Elk harvest is slightly below last year, at 147 this year compared to 157 last year.  

All hunters are required to stop at game check stations, regardless of success. Biological check stations are not intended to sample every harvested animal in an area, but rather to capture hunter and harvest trends that help FWP with wildlife management. At these check stations, FWP staff collect information on hunter participation and success, and species, sex and age class of harvested animals.  

This year’s hunting regulations for deer, elk and antelope are available online here.  

Chronic Wasting Disease  

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 100 percent fatal disease that infects members of the deer family, including elk, moose, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Sampling for CWD is voluntary in most places in Montana, but hunters and hunter-submitted CWD samples from harvested animals are critical to conservation efforts across the state and protecting our wildlife heritage.  

Hunters can take CWD samples themselves, or have FWP take a sample. Find CWD Sample Station locations here.  

In south-central Montana, a total of 373 samples have been submitted from white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk. Of these samples, 10 have been positive for CWD, including 4 white-tailed deer and 6 mule deer.  

Big Timber Check Station  

Over the third weekend of the season, 175 hunters came through the Big Timber check station. This is above the long-term average of 118 hunters, and the highest on record since 2004. Harvests for white-tailed deer, mule deer, and antelope were all above average, while harvest for elk was slightly below average. Hunters experienced slightly below-average success for the weekend, with 41 percent of hunters with game compared to an average of 45 percent.  

Total harvest for the season for white-tailed deer and elk are both above average. Antelope harvest for the season was slightly below the average of 39, and mule deer harvest is below the average of 74.  

Columbus Check Station 

Despite the unseasonably warm weather for a November weekend in the Beartooth foothills, only 109 hunters came through the Columbus check station, compared to 167 over the third weekend last year. White-tailed deer harvest was still average, at 19, and elk harvest was above average for the weekend at 9. Hunter success was the highest it has been since 2017, at 40 percent.   

Cumulatively for the season, hunter numbers, harvested mule deer and antelope are below average. Harvested white-tailed deer and elk are above average.  

Lavina Check Station  

Hunter participation for the third weekend of the season was the highest in over a decade at the Lavina check station. Harvest for white-tailed deer, antelope and elk were all above numbers observed last year over the same weekend, and harvest for all animals was at or above long-term average. Hunter success, at 24 percent for the weekend, was also above the average of 21 percent. Biologists noted that several harvested bucks appeared to be in the “rut,” indicating the deer breeding season is beginning. 

Cumulative numbers for the first half of the season are also above average for all species and for hunter participation.  

Billings Check Station 

At the Billings station, 151 hunters were checked over the third weekend of the season, which is an increase from the 139 hunters over the same weekend last year and near the long-term average of 160 hunters. Hunter success was up slightly from last year, at 29 percent this year compared to 26 percent success last year.  

Harvest for white-tailed deer, mule deer and antelope were above numbers observed last year on the third weekend of the season. Elk harvest for the weekend was the lowest since 2019 for the weekend.  

A total of 23 antelope came through the Billings check station during the season, which is well above the average of 13. Hunter numbers for the season thus far are below the average of 599, and harvests for white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk are below average. Success has remained near average for the season.  

Cumulative check station results from Big Timber, Columbus, Lavina, and Billings for the first three weekends of the general hunting season.

Check station	Year	Hunters	White-tailed deer	Mule deer	Antelope	Elk
Big Timber	2026	486	54	57	37	48
	2025	422	69	54	29	52
	2024	496	48	58	29	47
	2023	419	44	76	28	46
	2022	462	54	65	37	57
Columbus	2026	350	34	51	1	20
	2025	427	35	60	2	28
	2024	410	37	46	0	19
	2023	328	36	48	1	17
	2022	313	30	40	2	19
Lavina	2026	887	50	68	21	58
	2025	837	36	56	11	38
	2024	880	52	50	14	47
	2023	801	23	47	10	59
	2022	932	38	47	4	54
Billings	2026	475	25	52	23	21
	2025	562	22	50	16	39
	2024	584	25	60	11	45
	2023	408	25	39	10	27
	2022	622	19	63	13	30

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