Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 officials report that deer harvest in Northwest Montana is well ahead of last year for the same point in the season, according to results from the area’s six check stations.

As of Sunday, Nov. 24, a total of 15,061 hunters checked 842 white-tailed deer, including 762 bucks compared to 532 last year, 16 mule deer and 51 elk for an overall success rate of hunters with game of 6.7 percent. Hunter numbers are up eight percent over last year, and harvest success was up from 5.5 percent last year.

According to FWP wildlife biologist John Vore, the deer harvest pace really picked up this weekend because of the rut. Hunters checked 60 whitetail bucks at the Swan River station and 65 at Olney — both well above average for that weekend.

“We saw a good number of older bucks come through this weekend,” Vore said.

In the North Fork, 885 hunters have checked 21 white-tailed deer, up from 16 last year, including 16 whitetail bucks; 17 mule deer, up from five last year; no elk, down from three last year; for a success rate of 4.3 percent, up from 2.7 last year.

The Olney check station continues to post the highest success rate at 10.1 percent, up from 6.6 last year.

The U.S. check station west of Kalispell continues to post the largest numbers, with 5,658 hunters checking in 321 whitetails, of which 291 were bucks, 47 mule deer and 20 elk for a success rate of 6.9 percent, up from 5.1 percent last year.

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

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.

Mule deer are bucks-only for the entire season. Elk are brow-tine bull only. 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.

The wolf take is ahead of last year at this same point in the general deer and elk season. Hunters have taken 28 wolves in Region 1 to date, compared to 19 last year. Statewide, hunters have taken 87 wolves, compared to 66 last year.