Hunting - Region 3

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Bozeman, MT — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks operated four check stations in Region 3 during the third weekend of the general deer and elk hunt, and three check stations during the fourth weekend. Biologists observed fewer hunters in the field than the same weekends in 2018, as well as reduced harvest.

Much of the drop in activity is likely due to unseasonably warm temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s. Most of the snow in many areas is gone, except on north-facing slopes in upper elevations. This makes it challenging for hunters to find elk.

Biologists at the Cameron check station checked 278 hunters over Weekend 3, and 298 hunters over Weekend 4. These numbers were below average, but overall hunter success in this area was within the long-term average.

Hunter numbers at the Divide check station were within the long-term average for Weekend 3, but they were 7 percent below average for Weekend 4. Hunter success there over Weekend 3 was 58 percent below the 10-year average, likely driven by poor weather conditions. Harvest picked up in Weekend 4 but was still about 8 percent below average.

Hunter numbers and success were below average at the Mill Creek check station, though only three years of data are available for Weekend 3 at this station. Weekend 4 saw 19 percent fewer hunter numbers from 2018, but 23 percent more harvest.