Region 1 check stations show uptick in elk harvests

Northwest Montana hunters can expect more activity in days ahead as signs of the rut have begun to emerge, state wildlife officials report.

The deer breeding season, known as the “rut,” typically begins in early-to-mid November and often leads to increased odds of hunting success. The arrival of winter weather can also bode well for hunters as snow cover improves the ability to track animals, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports.

Montana’s deer and elk hunting season runs through Nov. 27.

So far this season, more than 6,100 hunters have appeared at regional game check stations with mixed results. The overall number of hunters with harvested elk is up compared to a year ago while the number of hunters with deer is down.

Forty-five total elk have been harvested in Region 1, compared to 35 at this time last season. Twenty-three elk have been checked at the station on U.S. 2 west of Kalispell, 12 at Thompson Falls, nine at Olney and just one in the Swan Valley.

White-tailed deer harvest numbers range from 195 at the U.S. 2 station and 145 at Olney, to 58 in the Swan and 45 at Thompson Falls.

Overall mule deer numbers are down, with 47 harvested compared to 69 at this time last season.

Check stations are open on weekends during general deer and elk hunting season from 10 a.m. to approximately 1.5 hours past sunset. The regional stations are located at U.S. 2 West of Kalispell, Montana 83 north of Swan Lake, Montana 200 west of Thompson Falls, and U.S. 93 near Olney.

Hunters must stop at any check station they encounter whether they harvested an animal or not. The counts at the stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.