Deer harvest in northwest Montana is slightly ahead of last year at the same point in the season, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks numbers.

Through Nov. 23, a total of 14,194 hunters checked 879 white-tailed deer (766 of these were bucks) as compared to 842 whitetails last year. Also in the count were 124 mule deer, and 43 elk for an overall 7.4 percent rate of hunters with game.

While harvest was up slightly as compared to last year when 6.7 percent of hunters checked game, hunter numbers are down about six percent.

The Highway 2 check station west of Kalispell has led the way in whitetail counts, followed by the Olney check station, and then the Swan Check station.

Biologists report that the whitetail rut is now in full swing, which should aid hunters as they take to the field during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. This past weekend, hunters brought a good number of older bucks through, the FWP reports.

The general big game season ends one half hour after sunset on Sunday, Nov. 30.

The wolf take is behind last year at this same point in the general deer and elk season. Hunters have taken 22 wolves in Region One to date, compared to 28 last year.

Statewide, hunters have taken 75 wolves, compared to 87 last year.