Above average hunter success for west-central Montana’s opener

After the first two weekends of big game season, west-central Montana hunter check stations are reporting elk and deer harvest totals that are up from last season and the five-year average.

The number of hunter trips through the Darby, Bonner, Anaconda and Fish Creek check stations totaled 3,728 for the first two weekends of the season, right on track with last season at this point, but those hunters checked 149 elk collectively, compared to 92 at this point in 2021. Hunters checked 40 mule deer during the first two weekends of the season, compared to 30 last year, and 148 white-tailed deer, compared to 90 in 2021.

Elk harvest totals are up at all four hunter check stations in the region, but the Darby station has seen the biggest bump. FWP wildlife biologist, Rebecca Mowry, said that the Darby station is seeing strong numbers of harvested elk out of the Big Hole Valley.

“There is more elk hunting opportunity on the general license this year in Hunting District (HD) 321 in the Big Hole, and in general, people are reporting seeing a lot of elk around.” Mowry said.

HD 321 also covers more area this year, as a result of recent hunting district boundary adjustments, giving hunters more places to harvest elk on the general license. Forest fires over the past few years have also improved elk forage and habitat in new places.

More liberal hunting regulations for white-tailed deer have also helped to boost harvest in some parts of the region. The Bonner hunter check station is reporting a harvest of 101 white-tailed deer, many from Blackfoot hunting districts, compared to 67 at this point in 2021.

The Fish Creek hunter check station doesn’t have as long of a history of operation as the other stations but has become a good tool for tracking trends in the western reaches of the region in recent years. Wildlife biologist Ryan Klimstra has recorded 364 hunters through the station in the first two weekends. Two checked bull elk during the season’s second weekend, while one had a mule deer buck.

“Those that were able to get out enjoyed some nice hunting weather this weekend, and as we get a bit later into the season, animals are starting to move around,” Klimstra said.

Hunters must stop at all check stations that they pass, even if they have not harvested any animals. The general big game season runs through Sunday, Nov. 27.

Meanwhile, the opening weekend of the general big game season brought mixed results for hunters in Northwest Montana's Region 1.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 1,754 hunters stopped at regional game check stations on Saturday and Sunday, which is a slight decline from 2021 and well below the 2,712 reported in 2019. The weather offered cool temperatures and even measurable snow in the higher terrain.

The overall number of hunters with harvested white-tailed deer and mule deer was slightly up, while the number of elk was down compared to last year. Totals for the region showed 203 white-tailed deer, 101 white-tailed bucks and 16 mule deer harvested. An even dozen elk were reported, which is down from the 18 elk harvested on opening weekend last year.

The check station along U.S. 93 near Olney saw the highest percentage of hunters with harvested game at 21 percent. That compares to 18.6 percent for last year’s opening weekend.

The U.S. 2 check station had 843 hunters stop, with 10.2 percent with game.

The Thompson Falls check station showed 11.4 percent with game, and the Swan station showed 12.8 with game.