Deer harvest in northwest Montana thus far is on pace with last hunting season.

At the six northwest Montana check stations through Nov. 17, a total of 11,233  hunters checked 597 white-tailed deer (511 of these were bucks), 108 mule deer, and 38 elk for a 6.6 percent rate of hunters with game.

Harvest was similar to last year when 6.2 percent of hunters with checked game.  Hunter numbers are down slightly as compared to last year.

According to FWP Region One Supervisor Jim Williams, the deer harvest should continue at a good pace.

“The cold and the rut should give an advantage to hunters over the next two weeks,” he said.

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 have taken 19 wolves in Region One. Statewide, hunters have taken 66 wolves. This is a complete count of the number of wolves reported taken as of Nov. 17. The wolf take is behind last year at this same point in the season.