Northwest Montana deer harvest remains steady

As the season enters its final week, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has checked more than 11,600 hunters in Northwest Montana so far this season, and the percentage of hunters with harvested big game is ahead of last year.

Overall harvest numbers are up for white-tailed and mule deer compared to last year, according to reports at five regional check stations.

So far, FWP has checked hunters with 860 white-tailed deer, including 691 bucks, and 93 mule deer. The number of reported elk – 50 – is two behind last year’s tally.

At the U.S. 2 check station, hunters have reported 105 more white-tailed deer than in 2018, including 138 more bucks. The elk harvest is up with 19 this year while 12 were checked in a year ago.

At the Swan station, while hunter numbers are down, the deer harvest is up with 28 more whitetails, including 43 more bucks.

At Olney, hunter numbers are nearly 100 more than last year at this time and the white-tailed deer harvest is also more than 2018. Hunters have bagged 66 more bucks.

In Thompson Falls, hunter numbers are higher and they have bagged 24 more bucks.

Hunters in Region 1 have reported 50 elk through five weekends, two fewer than in 2018. 2014 was the lowest in the region with 42 elk at this point. Fifty is the second lowest in the last decade.

Check stations are open on weekends during hunting season. The counts at the stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken. Hunters must stop at all check stations that they pass, even if they have not harvested any animals.

The general big game season runs through Sunday, Dec. 1.

FWP reminds hunters to review the regulations for specific rules in each hunting district.

In hunting districts 122 and 130, general hunters can no longer harvest antlerless white-tailed deer the first week or the last week of the season, regardless of land ownership. Youth 12-15 years old and those with a permit to hunt from the vehicle are still allowed to harvest an antlerless whitetail in those hunting districts. Only B license holders can harvest antlerless deer in those districts.

Hunters are reminded that mule deer buck hunting in the North Fisher portion of Hunting District 103 near Libby is permit-only. See legal description in regulations and legal district booklet.

Elk hunting is brow-tined bull only in Region 1. Spike elk are not legal game.

FWP has detected chronic wasting disease in the Libby area, and hunters need to be aware of the Libby CWD Management Zone, which includes portions of HDs 100, 103 and 104. All deer, elk and moose harvested within the Libby CWD Management Zone must be checked and sampled within three days of harvest.

During general big game season, the Libby Special CWD Hunt Sampling Station, located at the Montana Department of Transportation shop on U.S. 2, mile marker 35, will be open every day from 11 a.m. – 1½ hours after sunset.

Hunters are only required to stop at the sampling station if they harvested an animal.

FWP issued 600 antlerless white-tailed deer licenses that are only eligible within the Libby CWD Management Zone during the archery and general deer seasons.

For more information about CWD, visit fwp.mt.gov/cwd.

Hunters are reminded to “Be Bear Aware” and properly store food and carcasses. Hunters should avoid hanging carcasses near houses or garages. Carcasses must be suspended at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet out from any upright support.

Hunters are encouraged to carry bear spray and know how to use it. More food storage and safety information are available on the FWP website, fwp.mt.gov.

Residents can call Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional office for more information. In northwest Montana, call (406) 752-5501.