Deer hunters in Montana can expect to find abundant hunting opportunities across the state when the general deer season opens Oct. 21.
"Conditions have been good the past several years and deer have responded with good winter survival and good fawn production," said Quentin Kujala, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife management bureau chief.
Wildlife managers say winter survival of deer and fawns is in part due to the generally mild winters the past couple of years.
“We are hoping to see cold weather this fall and some good snow to move deer into the more accessible, lower elevations. That is about all we need to improve the harvest,” Kujala said.
Kujala said hunters will want to keep in mind that deer populations may have shifted location or be using the landscape differently in areas where wildland fires burned recently.
The general rifle season for deer closes Nov. 25. Please check the 2007 deer, elk and elk hunting regulations for details.
Here is a regional look at Montana’s deer populations:
In FWP Region 1 , Kalispell and the surrounding area, white-tailed deer herds continue to grow as a result of the recent mild winters. White-tailed deer are plentiful in the Swan Valley, the Salish Range and the Lower Clark Fork Valley. Hunting access is good but involves stalking game in heavy coniferous habitats. Mule deers populations are slowly increasing with good fawn production. Hot spots for mule deer include the Cabinet and West Cabinet mountains, the high country of the Lower Clark Fork, the Whitefish Range and the subalpine areas of the Mission and Swan mountain ranges. Mule deer hunters typically are more successful at the higher altitudes.
In FWP Region 2, Missoula and the surrounding area, mule and white-tailed deer numbers are trending upward. Mule deer are being seen at lower elevations in numbers not seen in the past 30 years. Hunters can take advantage of additional whitetail licenses, and if the weather cooperates, the season has the potential to be very good.
In FWP Region 3 , Bozeman and the surrounding area, mule deer recruitment in general was moderate to good. Mule deer B licenses increased in eight hunting districts scattered throughout the region. Hunters can expect very good hunting.
In FWP Region 4 , Great Falls and the surrounding area, a series of mild winters and good wet springs helped to boost deer populations. White-tailed and mule deer are plentiful on both private and public lands. Signs are pointing toward a very good deer hunting season.
In FWP Region 5 , Billings and the surrounding area, deer populations remain high throughout most of south-central Montana, with a good distribution of older age bucks available. Hunters can expect significantly reduced white-tailed deer numbers along the Musselshell River between Melstone and Roundup and adjacent areas due to a recent bluetongue virus outbreak. Hunters are encouraged to inquire about surplus whitetail "B" licenses and access opportunities at FWP’s Region 5 office in Billings.
In FWP Region 6 , Glasgow and the surrounding area, mule deer and white-tailed deer numbers are very high. Mule deer populations have mostly recovered from the low levels earlier in the decade and are exceeding population objectives in many hunting districts. General-tag deer hunters on public land should see plenty of bucks and does in habitats as geographically disparate as the Bears Paw Mountains and the Richland County breaks. White-tailed deer numbers are also quite high, and where access is secured through Block Management, hunting on private land should be very good.
In FWP Region 7, Miles City and the surrounding area, both species of deer wintered well and benefitted from abundant spring forage. Populations along the Yellowstone River, between Glendive and Sidney, are 20-30 percent above the long-term average. The ratio of white-tailed deer bucks to does is 38 bucks per 100 does. White-tailed populations along the Yellowstone River between Miles City and Hysham are showing some mortality due to bluetongue. A hard fall freeze is needed before the outbreaks will decrease. Mule deer populations are about 17 percent above the long-term average, with a good percentage of mature adults. Hunters should find ample opportunity to harvest mule deer.
For more information about mule deer hunting in Montana, visit the 2007 Deer, Elk, & Antelope Hunting Guide, the Interactive Hunt Planner and the mule deer section of FWP’s Animal Field Guide
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