After a slow start to big game rifle season in west-central Montana, the season closed on Nov. 25 with harvest totals just above the five-year average for deer and elk.
At the beginning of the season’s final week, elk harvest totals were 14 percent below the five-year average, but after a strong final week, season harvest totals tallied in at five percent above. A total of 937 elk passed through the three west-central Montana check stations this fall—down slightly from the 961 in 2006.
White-tailed deer harvest, which started the season nine percent below the five-year average, finished 15 percent above. Mule deer harvest was 26 percent behind the five-year average after week one, but picked up the pace to close at just two percent below.
Compared to the 2006 season, white-tailed deer harvest was down 20 percent, and mule deer harvest was down four percent.
Cold, snowy conditions predominated during the season’s final week—a contrast to the mild weather hunters experienced during the first four weeks of the season.
“The snow sure made a lot of difference to hunters in the Bitterroot and Bighole, especially for elk harvest,” said John Vore, Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife biologist responsible for the Darby station.
Nearly 300 elk passed through the Darby check station last week. The five-year average harvest reported at the station during the final week is 160 elk.
The three west-central Montana check stations reported a cumulative season total of 25,981 hunters that checked 937 elk, 489 mule deer, 1,171 white-tailed deer, two black bears, three moose, 12 bighorn sheep and one mountain goat for 10.1 percent of hunters with game.
The big game general rifle season closed Sunday, Nov. 25. In some hunting districts where elk populations are above the established management objectives, there is a two-week elk season extension. In west-central and northwest Montana, this extension is only for hunters with special licenses or permits in specific hunting districts. Hunters, including youth, holding only a general elk license may not hunt during the extended season in Region 2, and no special licenses or permits are available to purchase over the counter.
Hunters holding only a general elk license do have the opportunity to hunt elk in other parts of the state including parts of FWP Regions 3, 4 and 5. For a complete listing of hunting districts with extended seasons in other parts of the state, please visit the FWP website, fwp.mt.gov.
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