Through three weeks of general hunting season in northwestern Montana, the harvest numbers continue at a slow pace.

In the region, the rate of hunters with game came in at just 5.3 percent. But officials believe conditions will improve.

“The deer rut is really starting to get into full swing and hunters are harvesting some very nice bucks,” wildlife biologist John Vore said. “The cold and snow predicted for this week should also help hunters.”

The best numbers came in at the Thompson Falls station where 6.8 percent of hunters had game. The lowest rate was seen at the Canoe Gulch station near Libby at 3.2 percent.

Through three weeks at Canoe Gulch, 1,253 hunters have come through with 17 white-tailed deer, 15 white-tailed bucks, 21 mule deer and three elk. The counts at the six check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and not the complete number of animals taken.

Hunters are reminded by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials that the hunt is for white-tailed bucks only in northwestern Montana. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for youth ages 12-15 and disabled hunters with a permit to hunt from a vehicle.

Mule deer are buck only for the entire season. Elk are brow-tine bull except for youth who can take an antlerless elk. Spike bull elk are not legal game for any hunter in Region 1.