Page 58 - Flathead Beacon // 12.3.14

58 | DECEMBER 3, 2014 FLATHEADBEACON.COM
OUTDOORS
Big Game Season Concludes with Fewer
Whitetail numbers were the highest in five years while the number of hunters
Twas one of the lowest
here were fewer big game hunters this season, but those who did ven- ture outdoors in Northwest Mon-
tana harvested the most white-tailed deer in at least five years, according to state wildlife managers.
The general hunting season conclud- ed across the state last weekend and data from local check stations reflect mixed re- sults for the deer and elk harvests.
Over the last five weeks, there were 1,138 white-tailed deer, including 988 bucks, reported at the six weekend check stations operated by Montana Fish, Wild- life and Parks staff. The final tally was slightly ahead of last year and the second consecutive season with more than 1,000 whitetails reported, reflecting an improv- ing population.
“We’ve been tracking three years of strong fawn recruitment and we’re start- ing to see those yearlings and 2-year-olds coming through the check stations,” said FWP Regional Supervisor and acting Wildlife Manager Jim Williams. “And we’ve seen some nice mature bucks com- ing through.”
The mule deer harvest saw a slight increase, with 139 reported at check sta- tions. That was the second most in five years since 159 were reported in 2010. Last year there were 134.
The Olney check station reported the highest percentage of hunters with game
at 10.8 percent. State Wildlife Biologist Tim Thier said this year was one of the best seasons for buck harvest since 1994. The Highway 2 check station saw the sec- ond highest success rate for hunters at 8.7 percent. Hunters reported 476 white- tailed deer at that station, the most in the region.
While deer hunters enjoyed a better season, the elk harvest suffered, likely due in large part to late snowfall. There were 50 elk harvested in this region, six fewer than last year and 108 fewer than 2010. The number of elk being harvested has declined for five consecutive years.
“We’ve had a decent recruitment ev- erywhere except Spotted Bear for the last year. But up here, we need snow to have an elk harvest,” Williams said. “We didn’t really get snow until the last week- end, and you want snow early on to push them off their summer range and out
of the deep, dark spots up in the moun- tains.”
Another troubling statistic, the num- ber of hunters tallied at check stations in this region was the lowest in at least five years. FWP staff counted 16,708 hunters this season, roughly 1,550 fewer than a year ago.
The overall hunter success rate was 7.9 percent, slightly ahead of last year’s total.
The check station results represent a sampling of the overall harvest. FWP bi- ologists will have a better understanding of the season after the statewide hunter surveys are completed in December and January.
“I think collectively as hunters talk to each other, if the feeling is there is fewer animals, there will be fewer hunters,” Williams said. “I think we’ll see an in- crease in hunters next year.”
WOLF HUNT CONTINUES
Hunters can still pursue wolves across the state.
So far 82 wolves have been taken through Dec. 1, including 23 in Northwest Montana, according to FWP.
There have not been any wolves tak- en in the management unit near Glacier National Park, which has a quota of two wolves. Ten wolves have been taken in both management unit 310 near Boze- man and management unit 390, the larg- est unit in the state spanning the entire southeast section. Unit 313 near Yellow- stone National Park has been closed since Nov. 6 after the quota of three wolves was reached. The adjacent unit, 316, has one remaining wolf left before the quota will have been reached.
The general rifle season for wolves concludes March 15. There is a 24-hour waiting period after a wolf tag is pur- chased before it is valid.
The trapping season runs Dec. 15-Feb. 28. Last year hunters and trappers killed 225 wolves.
Prospective wolf trappers must pur- chase a furbearer trapping license and at- tend a wolf-trapping certification class.
FWP will hold a wolf trapping certi- fication class at the Fairgrounds Trade Center in Kalispell on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individuals who have been certified in years past do not need to take the class again.
Online registration is required for all participants at fwp.mt.gov.
FWP staff lead the courses, which cover the specifics of equipment and tech- niques as well as the history, ethics, man- agement, regulations and requirements of wolves and wolf trapping.
[email protected]
Hunters but More Deer Harvested
BY DILLON TABISH
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
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