Elk numbers down, whitetail numbers up as 2016 hunting season comes to a close
Kathleen Woodford Mineral Independent | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 11 months AGO
Wildlife biologist, Liz Bradley and UM student Elizabeth Koenig worked weekends at the Fish Creek station during the hunting season to check hunters. (Photo by Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)
At the Fish Creek check station on Sat. Nov. 26 nearly 60 hunters stopped with only 2 successful tags filled. (Photo by Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)
Zach Lyon, 16 years old, killed a 5x4 buck with one shot with his 270 winchester. His mother, Carla Lyon, said she “was blessed to be able to spot the monster for Zach and be there when he got him. Proud momma I am.” (Courtesy photo)
On Saturday afternoon at the Fish Creek check station, wildlife biologist Liz Bradley and University of Montana wildlife biology student, Elizabeth Koenig, were waiting for hunters to stop by to report their hunting experience for the day.
Koenig said that out of nearly 60 hunters, only two had a successful hunt with a whitetail and a mule deer.
“The weather has been frustrating,” said Bradley, “there hasn’t been any snow to push the animals down from the mountains. But you can’t control Mother Nature.”
Bradley said that in the Fish Creek area elk numbers are down overall since last year, when no elk were taken.
“They’re numbers have been declining since the 1990s. In the 1980’s and 1990’s there were 300 to 400. But depredation from wolves, mountain lions and black bear have brought the numbers down. Also, the area used to be logged more which opened the area up for more grass. Elk like it when the area is more open,” she said
But weather is the single biggest factor that effects hunter’s success rates, she said. They are hearing reports of hunters seeing more elk, which is encouraging, Bradley remarked.
Overall, whitetail numbers are up and elk are down, “without any snow pack the elk had their entire range,” remarked one hunter. As of Saturday afternoon on Nov. 26, the Fish Creek station checked 41 whitetail, 24 mule deer and 3 elk.
In Region 1, from Oct. 22 to Nov. 20, Darby’s check station reported 121 elk, 20 mule deer and 63 whitetail. Bonner reported 54 elk, 70 mule deer and 405 whitetail. All three stations, Bonner, Darby and Anaconda reported a total of 200 elk, 104 Mule and 482 whitetail. This is compared to 294 elk, 104 mule and 436 whitetail in 2015. Showing a slight decline in elk, the same in mule and a slight uptick with whitetail.
Though there was a decline in elk, the deer are bigger and healthier this year because of the light winters the northwest has been experiencing over the past few years.
“They’ve had plenty of food to eat,” Bradley said.
She also remarked that there are no plans to extend the season at this point, except for the extensions that have already been put into place. For example, Drummond and Helmville have extended their elk seasons.
Sunday was the last day for deer and elk. Mountain lion hunting with hounds begins on Dec. 1 and runs through April 14. Trapping for wolves begins Dec. 15 and runs through Feb. 28.