Montana Deer Harvests Up, Elk Harvests Down

With Montana’s 2016 deer and elk season underway, wildlife officials are keeping tabs on harvests in order to determine hunter success and overall herd numbers. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) officials in charge of the Region 4 check station, which monitors harvests for the Rocky Mountain Front, say that elk harvests are trickling in, but definitely below average. Fortunately, that’s not the case for those harvesting whitetails or mule deer.

According to The Great Falls Tribune, biologists have determined that the mule deer harvest is at its highest since 2013 with a harvest rate 11% above the 10-year average. Whitetail deer harvests show similar positive numbers with a harvest rate at 10% above the 10-year average. This is great news for those after a big game buck.

Yet, while elk harvest numbers may be lower than usual, MFWP biologists don’t believe that’s necessarily bad news, suggesting that bad weather and limited access are likely the reasons behind the low numbers.

“The elk harvest is 14 percent below the 10-year average, but slightly above the last couple years at this time,” Brent Lonner, A MFWP wildlife biologist, said in a news release, according to The Great Falls Tribune. “The bull harvest is up but antlerless harvest is down. Weather and access continue to play the largest role in harvesting elk in this area.”

Also, it should be noted that these numbers only reflect Region 4, which covers just a few units. Other regions could have different results.

As of last week, 767 hunters have checked in with the Augusta-based Region 4 check station, which, according to The Great Falls Tribune, is actually 2% higher than average.

The 2016 Montana deer and elk season ends Nov. 27. Good luck!