General Season Reaches Midpoint With Mixed Hunter Success in Southwestern Montana

Montana’s general hunting season has reached the midpoint this week with steady hunter numbers and mixed success rates as recorded at game check stations 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.

On Nov. 4 and 5, biologists operated four check stations in the region and met with 995 hunters. Those hunters collectively harvested five white-tailed deer, 26 mule deer, and 36 elk, among other species. Most areas had relatively mild weather over the weekend.

The Alder check station saw 235 hunters and a success rate of 11.4 percent. The long-term averages for the third weekend at this check station are 234 hunters and a success rate of 14 percent.

The Cameron check station saw 377 hunters, 5.3 percent of whom were successful. The long-term averages for the third weekend at this check station are 344 hunters and a success rate of 8.4 percent.

The Divide check station saw 165 hunters, 11.5 percent of whom were successful. The long-term averages for the third weekend at this check station are 214 hunters and a success rate of 6.9 percent.

The Mill Creek check station saw 218 hunters and a success rate of 2.2 percent. The long-term averages for the third weekend at this check station are 197 hunters and a success rate of 4.2 percent.

These figures do not account for different hunting season regulations over the years, which have varied from liberal to restrictive for elk and mule deer, depending on population status.