Hunter numbers and success rates above average in north-central Montana

The 2025 general rifle big game season opened on October 25 to cool and windy weather, and a total of 226 hunters in 105 parties were checked at FWP’s Augusta check station during the opening weekend. This is a 14 percent increase compared to hunter numbers during the opening weekend of 2024, and approximately a 4 percent increase over the 10-year average.

Harvest success rates for deer and elk also increased over last year and the 10-year average with approximately 20 percent of hunters having success harvesting deer and elk, despite milder weather, and high wind conditions present on Sunday.

Early snow, especially in higher elevation areas, and cooler temperatures in the middle part of October helped create some initial movement of animals with migration and/or movement to lower elevations. This is especially true for Sun River elk in which a portion of this herd has already arrived on the WMA creating good opportunity for holders of the limited elk B licenses in HD 425.

Overall elk and deer harvest was 30 percent and 9 percent above average, respectively. Deer and elk harvest was reasonably well distributed along southern Rocky Mountain Front hunting districts (HDs 422, 424, 425, 442, 444 and 450). Three antelope and a few game birds were also checked.

A hunter in the Gibson area reported to the check station that a bear claimed the elk carcass that he harvested but had to leave overnight, so hunters are reminded to be bear aware as grizzly bears are still active.

The general deer and elk seasons run through Sunday, Nov. 30. 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. Biological check stations like the station in Augusta are intended primarily for biologists to gather trends and statistical information about animals and hunters. Hunters are reminded that they must stop at any check station they pass while hunting, whether or not they have harvested game.

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