Entering the final week of the 2025 general season, an above-average deer harvest is making up for a below-average elk harvest at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks check station in Augusta.

Through Sunday, Nov. 23, more than 2,200 hunters have visited the check station, approximately four percent below the ten-year average, but seven percent above this same point of the season last year. Overall hunter harvest success for deer and elk remains near average with 23 percent of hunters reporting harvested animals.

The total harvest for all big game animals is six percent below both average and last year at this time. A total of 541 big game have been checked so far this season, 97% of which are deer and elk. Other big game animals checked have included pronghorn, black bear, wolf, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat.

So far this season, mule and white-tailed deer harvest constitutes more than 75 percent of the total animals checked and is 18 percent and 7 percent above the respective 10-year average. Antlered deer comprise 73 percent of the harvest, with antlerless making up 27 percent. The deer rut is in full swing, and hunters are reporting an increase of buck activity.

Elk harvest is approximately 38 percent below average, which is similar to last year. This is largely due to mild weather allowing elk to be dispersed into more difficult to access areas, along with a strong number of Sun River elk arriving early to the Sun River WMA where designed hunting regulations are in place to limit harvest on elk the latter part of the general rifle season. Bull and antlerless elk harvest comprise 39 percent and 61 percent of the total elk harvest.

Sun River elk from hunting districts 424, 425, and 442 comprise nearly two thirds of the elk harvest. The hunting district 424 quota has been met, reverting the season to brow-tined bull only hunting opportunity through the end of the season. The hunting district 442 elk quota has not been met and remains open for brow-tined bull or antlerless elk hunting opportunity. For quota status information or other local area hunting information, personnel at the check station can be reached at 406-562-3467.

Hunters are reminded that they must stop at any check station they pass while hunting, whether or not they have harvested game. Biological check stations like the station in Augusta are intended primarily to gather trends and statistical information about animals and hunters. Although biological check stations sample a relatively small portion of the overall hunter effort and harvest, they capture important hunter and harvest trends and other information, and by stopping to report a harvest and other information, hunters are helping with wildlife management in Montana.

The general deer and elk seasons run through Sunday, Nov. 30. The check station operated by FWP along Main Street in Augusta is the only biological check station in Region 4 and operates seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.