Deer and elk harvest continues at a slow pace
Through mid-season in northwest Montana
by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
November 16, 2011
At the six northwest Montana check stations through Sunday, November 13, a total of 11,842 hunters checked 379 white-tailed deer (294 of these were bucks), 52 mule deer, and 64 elk for a 4.2 percent rate of hunters with game. Harvest was down as compared to last year when 5.3 percent of hunters checked game. The number of whitetail bucks checked is down 15 percent, mule deer numbers are down 47 percent, and elk are down 23 percent as compared to last year’s check station results at the same point in the season.
The counts at the six northwest Montana check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.
Hunters are reminded that it is buck-only for whitetails in northwest Montana. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for youth 12-15 years of age (and some qualifying 11-year olds, see regulations) and disabled hunters with the Permit to Hunt from a Vehicle. Mule deer are buck-only for the entire season. Elk are brow-tine bull only except for youth 12-15 years of age (and some qualifying 11-year olds, see regulations), who can take an antlerless elk. 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.
Wolf Harvest: Hunters have taken 30 wolves in Region One to date, of the total quota of 71 for the region. This is a complete count of the number of wolves taken, because hunters must call in their harvest within 12 hours. Hunters have checked six wolves through the six Region One check stations. The remainder were checked at FWP headquarters or by wardens.
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