Hunter check stations report less activity at season’s midpoint

MISSOULA – At the midpoint of big game general hunting season, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunter check stations near Anaconda, Bonner and Darby all reported relatively quiet weekends, compared to the start of the season, but harvest totals remain up compared to last year.

Collectively, west-central Montana’s three FWP wildlife check stations saw 5,212 hunter stops during the first two weekends of the season, compared to 5,014 during the same period last year. Those hunters checked 196 elk, compared to 165 last year. They also reported 68 mule deer, compared to 57 in 2023 and 168 white-tailed deer, compared to 172.

Although deer harvest was slower during the third weekend, the deer rut picked up, and a handful of big mule deer and white-tailed deer bucks were harvested in all parts of the region. Mule deer harvest is up or on par with last year at all stations, and white-tailed deer harvest is down just slightly at the check station near Bonner, but on track with last season region-wide.

All stations are tracking on or above last season in elk harvest, with the biggest bump at the Bonner station of 38 elk, compared to 20 at the 2023 season midpoint.

Although wildlife check stations sample a relatively small portion of the overall effort and harvest, they capture important trends and biological information, and by stopping to report a harvest or an experience, hunters are helping with wildlife management in Montana. FWP reminds hunters they must stop at all wildlife check stations that they pass, even if they have not harvested any animals.

For more hunting season reminders and to track hunter success, stay tuned to the FWP weekly check station reports for west-central Montana. The general big game season runs through Sunday, Dec. 1.

Hunters can help with chronic wasting disease (CWD) management by submitting samples from harvested deer, elk, and moose for testing. In west-central Montana, the wildlife check stations near Darby and Anaconda are collecting CWD samples, as well as specific CWD sampling locations at Clearwater Crossing in the Blackfoot Valley (Sat, Sun, Mon from 10 a.m.-dark), Arrow Stone Park in Deer Lodge (Fri, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sat, Sun, Mon from 10 a.m.-dark) and the Missoula FWP office (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5p.m.). For a complete list of stations and hours across the state, visit fwp.mt.gov/cwd. Hunter can also take samples themselves and mail them to the wildlife lab for testing.

Although CWD testing is voluntary across most of Montana, samples from hunter-harvested deer, elk and moose are critical to FWP’s understanding of this fatal disease. Multiple big game hunting districts around west-central Montana are Priority Surveillance Areas for CWD, which are areas where FWP is making a concerted effort to gather more samples. All sampling is offered for free to hunters. Hunters play a key role in understanding CWD by providing data and in minimizing the spread by disposing of wildlife parts properly.