General hunting season reaches midpoint with mild weather, lower success in

BOZEMAN – Montana’s five-week general hunting season for deer and elk reached a midpoint this week, with seasonably mild weather and lower-than-average hunter success rates in southwestern Montana.

Wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. This supplements data collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year. Hunters are required to stop at game check stations they encounter, regardless of whether they harvested an animal.

On Nov. 8 and 9—the third weekend of the general season—biologists operated five check game check stations in Region 3, including Alder, Cameron, Divide, Gallatin and Lakeside. They met with 1,099 hunters, who collectively harvested 40 elk, 28 mule deer and six white-tailed deer, among other species.

Hunter numbers were above average at the Divide and Cameron check stations, and below average at Alder and Gallatin. Hunter numbers ranged from 109 hunters at the Gallatin check station to 403 hunters at the Cameron check station.

Hunter success rates were within the long-term average at the Gallatin check station, and below average at Alder, Cameron and Divide. Hunter success rates ranged from 5.7 percent at Cameron to 12 percent at Alder.

This was the first time the Lakeside check station operated on the third weekend of the general season, so long-term averages have not been established.

Seasonably mild weather can make travel conditions favorable for hunters, but it can also make it challenging for hunters to find game. Harvest usually increases as winter weather leads to herds moving into lower elevations and other areas more accessible to hunters.