Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports that at the six Northwest Montana check stations through Nov. 6, a total of 8,696 hunters checked 273 white-tailed deer - including 208 bucks - 29 mule deer and 50 elk for a 4.0 percent rate of hunters with game.

The number of whitetails taken was about the same, while the number of mule deer and elk checked was down from last year.

The counts at the six check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.

FWP wildlife manager Jim Williams notes that whitetail harvest remains slow at most check stations.

Hunters are reminded that it is bucks-only for whitetails in Northwest Montana. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for youths 12-15 years of age and some qualifying 11-year-olds, and disabled hunters with a permit to hunt from a vehicle.

Mule deer are bucka-only for the entire season. Elk are brow-tine bulls only except for youths 12-15 years of age and some qualifying 11-year-olds, who can take an antlerless elk. Spike bull elk are not legal game for any hunter in Region 1.

Hunters should refer to the hunting regulations for the hunting district they plan to hunt for more details.