White-tailed deer numbers have recovered after a short dip in recent weeks and overall elk harvest is already higher than the previous three years in Northwest Montana, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Hunters have brought in 669 white-tailed deer (79 percent bucks), 93 mule deer and 61 elk for a 6.9 percent success rate at six Northwest Montana check stations. Last year’s rate was 6.2 percent at this point in the hunting season.

Elk harvest is up 60 percent from last year’s harvest of 38. Most of that uptick is coming from the U.S. 2 area, where 27 elk have been harvested compared to nine last year by Nov. 15. Thompson Falls is also up with 20 elk harvested, while the North Fork area has not yet produced an elk.

The number of hunters is also up 6 percent and Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Manager Neil Anderson believes the success rate will continue to climb.

“Despite a relatively mild weekend, hunters were still finding game and we are starting to see more mature bucks come through the check stations,” Anderson said in a news release. “With cooler temperatures, snow forecasted for early in the week and the rut getting into full swing, hunters should have an advantage over the next two weeks.”

The 669 white-tailed deer harvested has already passed the harvest numbers at this time in the season since 2010. Last year’s harvest at this time was 597. U.S. 2 has had the most white-tailed deer extracted, 274, while Olney has reported 167. The North Fork has shown the fewest whitetails with 34, although each check station has passed last year’s numbers.

The number of mule deer is down compared to last year, with just 93 harvested in Northwest Montana, while 108 had been taken by Nov. 15 last year. Only the Swan Highway check station has seen in increase in mule deer harvested: three mulies compared to last year’s one.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reminds hunters that it is buck-only for whitetails in most hunting districts in Northwest Montana. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for youths ages 12-15 and some qualifying 10- and 11-year-olds.

Mule deer are buck-only for the entire season. Elk are brow-tine-bull only and spike bull elk are not legal game for any hunter in Northwest Montana. Hunters should refer to the hunting regulations for the hunting district they plan to hunt.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.