Fish Creek check stations stays busy
Jacqueline Thompson, a senior in the wildlife biology program at UM, and Ryan Klim, Missoula area biologist with FWP, stay as warm Sunday at the Fish Creek game check station. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
On the eve of the end of the fourth week of the big game season, the Fish Creek game check station had two biologists standing around a fire pit dressed in Arctic clothing and quite happy.
“It has really picked up, especially today,” reported Ryan Klimstra, Missoula area biologist for FWP.
Klimstra has staffed this station on the weekends since Oct. 22 and will go through Nov. 27.
“It’s been an above average year for Fish Creek, but not by a lot. The first weekend was pretty good with a lot of small bucks and does coming out, but only youth hunters and those hunters with a B tag can shoot does now. The second weekend is typically slow, and it was, but it was above average. The third weekend was also above average and we’re really starting to pick up this weekend,” he said.
Klimstra said the rut for whitetails is strong and people are seeing bigger bucks now and a few came through the station.
“The hunters with the nicer bucks said they had to work for them. They weren’t road hunters. I’m getting reports of a lot of people seeing mule deer up high and we’ve had elk check through with some being really nice bulls.”
He said looking at the numbers of the past few years and with the trend he is seeing today, he expects to surpass the past several years. It’s hard to attribute to what is making this happen. Fewer predators? More hunters? More animals or their ranges have been relocated?
“Whatever it is, or a combination of everything, I think an important part is just that the weather has been good. This cold snap we have has been getting stuff moving around and no doubt some fresh snow will be of help filling tags,” Klimstra said.
Jacqueline Thompson is from Blacksburg, Virgians and a senior at the UM in wildlife biology. Part of her course has been to assist at game check stations.
“This has been very eventful,” she smiles. “My family is very much into hunting but I’m new to it. It’s been interesting talking with the hunters and learning how to age the animals, as well, by examining their pre-molars. It’s very fun!”
Thompsons plans are to move back to the east coast after graduation and work on bat research, particularly the white-nose syndrome.
“Every weekend has been a little bit above average so it’s a good year, and it’s getting better,” Klimstra said.
The general big game season closes one half hour after sunset on Sunday, Nov. 27.