Whitetail Deer harvest slower but steady in Northwest Montana
by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
November 8, 2016
At the six northwest Montana check stations through Sunday, November 6, a total of 8,264 hunters checked 555 whitetail deer (293 of these were bucks), 79 mule deer, and 49 elk for an 8.3 percent rate of hunters with game; this is somewhat higher than the 6.5 percent rate from last year.
The number of whitetail bucks is down about 10 percent from last year; elk numbers are down by about the same percentage. The number of mule deer checked is up. Hunter numbers are down slightly.
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.
FWP Region One Wildlife Manager Neil Anderson noted that hunter visitation and harvest rate at check stations this weekend was slow but steady. Overall hunter success through the 3rd weekend is higher than last year at this time, but the warm weather is posing challenges for hunters – especially those looking for bigger bucks.
"We are getting some reports from hunters seeing bucks running with does, indicating the rut is starting, but it isn’t in full swing yet," Anderson said. "With relatively warm weather forecasted through next weekend, hunting conditions could remain challenging." Anderson added that hunters reported seeing a lot of deer, but mostly does and small bucks. The onset of rut should improve everyone’s odds of seeing older bucks. Regardless or harvest success, most hunters were glad to see the sun after a wet, overcast October and enjoyed their time in the field.
Hunters are reminded that it is buck-only for whitetails in northwest Montana. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for properly licensed youth 10-15 years of age, and hunters permitted to hunt from a vehicle. 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.
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