Deer harvest ahead of 2011

Deer harvest numbers at game check stations are slightly ahead of last year, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports. The counts represent a sample of the harvest and not actual numbers.

A total of 13,976 hunters were reported at the six Northwest Montana check stations through Nov. 18. They had 605 white-tailed deer, of which 532 were bucks, 101 mule deer and 67 elk for a 5.5 percent success rate.

That compares to a 5.1 percent success rate last year. The total number of whitetail buck at the check stations was up 8 percent over last year. Mule deer numbers were up 40 percent, and elk were down 23 percent. The number of hunters was also down 7 percent.

As of Nov. 18, hunters have taken 19 wolves in the Region 1 area. Statewide, hunters have taken 66 wolves.

The busiest check station continues to be on U.S. 2 west of Kalispell, with 5,314 hunters, 209 whitetails, 186 whitetail bucks, 39 mule deer and 23 elk for a 5.1 percent success rate.

The highest success rates were at the Swan check station followed by Thompson Falls and Olney, at 6.8, 6.7 and 6.6 percent respectively. Success rate in the North Fork continues to be low at 2.7 percent.