Hunters appear to be having a little more luck in the woods so far this fall.
A total of 5,589 hunters have checked 281 white-tailed deer, including 235 bucks, as well as 54 mule deer and 19 elk at the six Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks check stations in Northwest Montana through Nov. 2. The success rate for hunters so far is 6.3 percent, compared to 4.7 percent a year ago.
The counts at the six check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.
FWP Biologist Chris Hammond says the number of white-tailed deer brought through the check stations is up about 40 percent from last year. The number of mule deer is about the same but the number of elk being reported is down.
As of Nov. 3, a total of 13 wolves have been taken by hunters in this region compared to 18 a year ago. A total of 48 wolves have been taken statewide compared to 57 this time last year, according to FWP.
FWP encourages wolf hunters to check the current wolf hunting regulations before heading out to the field. Hunters are required to report a wolf harvest to FWP within 24 hours.
General big game hunting season is open through Nov. 30.
Hunters are reminded that it is buck-only for white-tailed deer in Northwest Montana. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for youth 12-15 years of age (and some qualifying 11-year- olds, see regulations). Mule deer are buck-only for the entire season. Elk are brow-tine bull only. Spike bull elk are not legal game for any hunter in Region One. Hunters should refer to the hunting regulations for the hunting district they plan to hunt.
For more information, visit the FWP website.