GREAT FALLS – The third weekend of the general rifle season was the busiest so far at FWP’s biological check station in Augusta, with just over 300 hunters and 62 animals checked. At just past two full weeks of the season, the total number of hunters checked there is 1,182 individuals, which is slightly above average.

Despite the mild weather in place, which tends to limit movements of wildlife, the overall big game harvest remains near average for the southern Rocky Mountain Front area. Through the third Sunday of the season, a total of 261 deer and elk have come through the check station, which is 3 percent above average, but 15 percent lower than last year. Overall harvest success remains near the ten-year average, with the total deer and elk harvest evenly split at 87 elk, 87 mule deer, and 87 white-tailed deer. The rut, or breeding season for deer will soon begin to increase deer movement, and hunters hoping to tag an older-age buck often focus their efforts on the final weeks of the general season.

Antlered bucks make up 66 percent of the 174 total deer harvested and brought to the check station thus far, with antlerless deer at 33 percent of harvest. Overall elk harvest continues to be slightly above average with approximately 63 percent antlered bulls and 37 percent of the harvest being antlerless elk.

The hunting district 424 elk quota is now closed but will remain open to brow-tined bull harvest through the remainder of the season. The hunting district 442 elk quota remains open to antlerless and brow-tined bull hunting opportunity. For up-to-date quota status information contact the Augusta check station at 406-562-3467.

In addition to the recorded deer and elk harvest, six antelope, one bighorn sheep, one black bear, one mountain goat, one mountain lion and a variety of upland game birds and waterfowl have been brought through the station. The antelope hunting season is now closed. Hunters are reminded to be bear aware given ongoing observations and activity of grizzly bears in the area.

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. Biological check stations like the station in Augusta are intended primarily for biologists to gather trends and statistical information about animals and hunters. Hunters are reminded that they must stop at any check station they pass while hunting, whether or not they have harvested game.