Opening weekend for the 2015 general deer and elk season showed Northwest Montana hunter success even with 2014, and overall hunter numbers were up slightly over the past five years.

While the 6.2-percent success rate was nearly identical to last year, some area check stations had significantly higher harvest percentages, with the U.S. 2 check station setting a record with 16 elk harvested. Regionwide, 23 hunters checked elk, the most since 2010 when 31 elk rolled through the check stations.

Overall white-tailed deer harvest was 158 — the highest in at least five years. Bucks were down from last year, however: hunters turned in 102, compared with 123 last year.

The 18 mule deer harvest were on par with the five-year average, although down sharply from the 33 shot during last year’s opening weekend.

It was also a strong start for check stations in the Swan and North Fork, with harvest rates more than doubled from last year. That said, only 3.3 percent of hunters in the North Fork returned with game — the vast majority white-tailed deer. Only one white-tailed buck and one mule deer were harvested, along with zero elk.

Elk hunters also struck out at the Olney and Canoe Gulch check stations, although Olney had the highest overall game harvest rate, with 11.4 percent of hunters headed home with an animal.

In a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, wildlife manager Neil Anderson said the opener reflected the good fawn recruitment over the past four years and an increasing white-tailed population. “We’ve had very good survival of young deer for several years running,” Anderson said.

“Although overall buck harvest was down slightly from opening weekend last year, hunters reported seeing a lot of deer,” he stated. “ What was really encouraging was to see the number of young hunters out with family members at the Highway 2 check station. We saw a lot of smiles on kids’ faces.”

Hunters are reminded that hunting is limited to bucks only for whitetails and mule deer across Northwest Montana except Hunting District 170 and parts of Hunting District 132. Youths 15 years and younger can take antlerless white-tailed deer.

Elk hunting is brow-tined-bull only and spike elk are illegal to harvest. These regulations apply in most Region 1 hunting districts. Hunters are encouraged to check the Montana hunting regulations for the district they plan to hunt before hitting the field.

Hunters are reminded to be bear-aware and properly store food and manage carcasses properly both in the field and at home.