Big game harvest in Region 2 steady through third week

After three weekends of big game general hunting season, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunter check stations in west-central Montana near Anaconda, Bonner, and Darby are collectively reporting harvest totals for both white-tailed and mule deer slightly up over 2024 and the five-year average.

The deer harvest showed an extra bump over the weekend as the first signs of the rut began, which should increasingly boost hunter success over the next few weeks. Elk harvest is down slightly region-wide, and hunter trips through the stations are up.

The stations tallied 5,643 hunter stops during the first three weekends of the season, compared to 5,212 during the same period last year. Those hunters checked 88 mule deer, compared to 68 in 2024 and 188 white-tailed deer, compared to 168. Stations are reporting 180 elk, compared to 196 last year.

The check station near Darby has almost identical totals to last season at this point for elk and deer harvest and hunter traffic. At Bonner, elk harvest is a bit down so far, but the station has seen more deer this season than in the past few. Mule deer harvest, in particular, saw a bump over the weekend, compared to the first two.

The general big game season has almost reached its midway point. It began on October 25 and closes on Sunday, Nov. 30. Although wildlife check stations sample a relatively small portion of the overall effort and harvest, they capture important trends and biological information, and by stopping to report a harvest or an experience, hunters are helping with wildlife management in Montana. FWP reminds hunters they must stop at all wildlife check stations that they pass, even if they have not harvested any animals.