Hunting success mirrors last year's levels

The deer and elk harvest continues to run on pace with last year's numbers one week into the season in Northwest Montana.

Through Sunday, 7,417 hunters had passed through six Northwest Montana check stations operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Hunters have checked 325 whitetail deer, 51 mule deer and 78 elk for a 6.1 percent rate of hunters with game.

That exceeds last year's 5.7 percent success rate, despite a steep reduction in the availability of antlerless deer permits in the region this year.

There have been 150 whitetail bucks checked compared

to 113 a year ago. The 78 elk compare to 68 last year.

Hunters now have taken 17 wolves in Wolf Management Unit One, which covers the northern tier of the state with most wolves occupying Northwest Montana. There is a seasonal quota of 41 wolves for Wolf Management Unit One, leaving 24 for the rest of the season.

"The harvest rate has been relatively stable," said Jim Williams, the state's regional wildlife manager. "The quota should remain open and provide opportunity for hunters for most of the general big game season."

Williams added that most hunters who have taken wolves have been appreciative of the opportunity to participate in management of the wolf population.

Hunters are reminded that either-sex whitetail hunting is legal in Northwest Montana through Nov. 8. After that, hunters can take only whitetail bucks for the remainder of the season.

Mule-deer hunting is limited to bucks for the entire five-week season. Hunters ages 12 to 15 can harvest antlerless whitetail deer and elk all season in most of the region's hunting districts.

Hunters are urged to check regulations for individual districts.