State officials have released varied results for Montana’s recent hunting season, which wrapped up on November 30. According to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), the general deer and elk season saw fluctuating success rates across the state. The data, gathered through various check stations, offered insights into hunter numbers and wildlife harvests.
In northeastern Montana, hunter participation matched historical averages but showed a different distribution pattern. “Hunter numbers at the check station were up 27% at the beginning of the season after antelope and pheasant season opened, but down 15% during the general deer and elk season,” stated Scott Hemmer, a Havre-area biologist. Deer hunter numbers dropped 11% from last year and were 14% below the long-term average. Despite lower white-tailed deer and mule doe counts, FWP noted a 55% increase in antelope compared to 2024, with 1,681 hunters passing through the Havre check station. These hunters harvested 346 mule deer, 67 white-tailed deer, 232 antelope, and 26 elk, alongside 639 pheasants and 126 sharp-tailed grouse. “Most antelope hunters reported improved numbers of antelope seen compared to recent years,” Hemmer noted, marking the highest antelope numbers checked since 2010.
In southwestern Montana, FWP reported mixed results. Region 3’s check stations at Alder, Cameron, Canyon Ferry, Divide, Gallatin Canyon, Lakeside, and Silver City engaged with 7,069 hunters, who took 49 white-tailed deer, 174 mule deer, and 355 elk. Southcentral Montana saw a below-average deer harvest but an above-average elk take. Throughout the season, 4,203 hunters visited Big Timber, Columbus, Lavina, and Billings stations. Overall, they harvested 487 mule deer, 384 white-tailed deer, 284 elk, and 58 antelope. “Season totals for mule deer, elk, and antelope were all above those observed in 2024; total white-tailed deer harvest this year was slightly below the total from 2024,” noted a Region 5 FWP release.
In Region 4, Augusta’s check station saw over 2,800 hunters, a 10% increase above the five-year average but a 9% drop from the decade-long average. The total harvest included 679 deer and elk, with Montana residents accounting for 83% of the take. Notably, 75% of the deer and elk harvest occurred on public lands.
—
Read More Montana News
