Harvest Remains Steady in Southwest Montana

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Elk harvest in southwest Montana remained steady during the third and fourth weeks of the general big game season and hunter numbers region-wide are well above the three-year average. Overall, 2,815 hunters checked 134 elk, 81 mule deer, and 20 white-tailed deer on Nov. 4 and 5 and 2,864 hunters checked 100 elk, 92 mule deer, and 28 white-tailed deer on Nov. 11 and 12.

 

At the Silver City check station west of Helena, windy weather hasn’t stopped hunters from getting out. Hunter numbers have been consistently high in the area throughout the season. During the third week at Silver City, 645 hunters checked 49 animals, twice the number of animals checked during the third week in 2005. During the fourth week, 658 hunters checked 9 elk, 25 mule deer, and 7 white-tailed deer.

 

FWP Helena-area wildlife biologist Gayle Joslin reported good calf and fawn productivity, high survival rates, and healthy animals. Joslin also reported some great bulls being taken in H.D. 339 by hunters with either-sex permits.

 

At the Mill Creek, Feely, and Divide check stations west and south of Butte, harvest remains slow. The Divide check station south of Butte saw 382 hunters check 7 mule deer and 10 elk over Nov. 11 and 12.

 

Harvest in the Madison Valley continues to be high on the east side. The Gravellys on the west side of the valley have yet to pick up. At the Cameron check station, 474 hunters checked 10 white-tailed deer, 5 mule deer, and 41 elk on Nov. 4 and 5. On Nov. 11 and 12, 513 hunters checked 12 white-tailed deer, 6 mule deer, and 36 elk.

 

Hunters should be aware that bears can still be out and active as late as the final weeks of the big game season. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials advise hunters to prepare by thinking ahead about what you would do if you encounter a bear and carry and know how to use bear spray.