Deer harvest in Northwest ahead of last year

Northwest Montana hunters are seeing more success than last year, according to figures from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ six Region 1 game check stations.

The total number of hunters stopping at the stations so far this season is 8,130, down about 6 percent from last year. Hunters had a 5.3 percent success rate, compared to 4 percent last year. The counts at the check station represent a sampling and are not complete numbers.

Region 1 hunters checked in 341 white-tailed deer, about 25 percent above last year, 290 whitetail bucks, about 39 percent above last year, and 42 mule deer, about 44 percent above last year. Elk numbers were relatively close at 47 this year compared to 50 last year.

As of Nov. 5, a total of 16 wolves had been taken in Northwest Montana. Statewide, the total was 46. Hunters are required to report a wolf harvest within 24 hours.

In the North Fork, hunter numbers were down 26 percent from 701 last year, and hunters had a 1.4 percent success rate, slightly above the 1.3 percent last year. Game numbers were low across the board, with four white-tailed deer, four whitetail bucks, two mule deer and one elk.

The biggest numbers for hunters and game continue to be found at the U.S. 2 check station west of Kalispell. Hunters reporting the highest success rate were at the Swan check station, with 7.3 percent compared to 4.2 percent last year.