General hunting season begins Saturday

While youth hunters were able to take to the field Thursday and today, Saturday kicks off the 2012 general big game hunting season in Montana.

The five-week season concludes Nov. 25, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. 

There are some changes compared to last season in Northwest Montana’s Region One — most notably, antlerless whitetail deer hunting has been tightly restricted. Anterless deer hunting opportunities are limited to District 170, which covers mostly private land on the Flathead Valley floor, where it can be difficult to get access. Youth hunters, ages 12-15, can still harvest antlerless whitetail throughout the season, but they can not harvest cow elk this year in Region One.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials remind hunters to stop, with or without game, at the region’s six check stations during weekends.