FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE October 22, 2007
Contact: Carillon Steorts – Region 5 Information – 247-2943
BIG GAME OPENER SEES HIGHER HUNTER NUMBERS, MIXED HARVEST
More hunters came through the check stations on opening day this year than last, but, overall, fewer game animals were harvested. "In Columbus, we had the largest number of hunters come through since 2003," was the report from Shawn Stewart, Columbus wildlife biologist.
Harvest statistics saw everything from soup to nuts, including a whitetail harvest in Columbus more than double that of last year, a whitetail and elk harvest down from last year at Big Timber, and the highest total of big game harvested since 2003 through the Laurel check station.
Stewart reported, "Over 80% of the whitetail bucks and 70% of the mule deer bucks we checked were two years old or older. It was the most adult bucks we have ever checked on an opening day at Columbus,"
Mule deer bucks two years old and older also accounted for the largest portion of the harvest through the check station in Laurel, and according to Billings-based wildlife biologist, Jay Watson, "Hunter success was nearly 50%, which is the highest we’ve seen in recent years."
Big Timber checked only 5 whitetails, down from 17 last year, but reported considerably more mule deer and antelope harvested this year than last.
In Lavina, "Total mule deer harvest was down 24% and mule deer buck harvest was 30% lower than the long-term average," according to wildlife biologist Jay Newell. That check station, however, reported a whitetail harvest up 21%, mostly antlerless and of that, 86% were fawns.
Weather is always a factor in hunter harvest. This year’s opener saw cool and blustery conditions with stronger winds closer to the mountains, especially in the Beartooths and Pryors. Many hunters felt this kept the deer from moving around much and made them more difficult to spot.
Opening Day Harvest Statistics are attached.
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