Hunters continue to have best luck near Olney

As was the case last year, hunters rolling through the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game check station near Olney have had the highest rate of success in Northwest Montana Region One this year, although the overall success rate dipped slightly among the six regional checkpoints.

Whitetail and mule deer buck harvest numbers are down from last year, while elk success continues to increase, although a press release from the agency noted that the numbers are a sampling and not necessarily represent the complete number of animals killed.

Hunters in Northwest Montana have checked 55 elk so far, nearly twice the amount counted by the end of 2014’s third weekend. Of those, 26 came through the U.S. 2 check station, and 18 through Thompson Falls.

Olney’s success rate is 9.7 percent. Hunting success rates at the other five stations were: U.S. 2, 6.8 percent; Swan, 4.6 percent; North Fork, 4.2 percent; Thompson Falls, 7.1 percent; Canoe Gulch, 4.3 percent.

The overall success rate in the region is the same as last year, at 6.5 percent.

White-tailed deer are at a five-year high, with 442 harvested, although only a slight increase over the 428 shot by this time last year.

Although slightly above the five-year average, mule deer are down from last year — 61 have been checked, versus 74 in 2014.

In total, 8,634 hunters have gone through check stations in Northwest Montana this year, a 7 percent increase from last year.

Four more wolves were harvested during the last week, for a total of 20 in Region One. At this point in the 2014 general rifle season, only 13 had been shot.

The general rifle season ends Nov. 29.