Hunting District 424 reaches quota and will close to antlerless elk harvest

Through the first full week of the general rifle season both the number of hunters stopping at FWP’s game check station in Augusta and their success rate have been near normal, despite mild weather and less than ideal hunting conditions.

Just over 20 percent of 662 hunters stopping at the station had harvested an animal, which is slightly higher than the ten-year average of 19 percent, but lower than this same time period last year. In 2024, 632 hunters stopped at the check station during the first week of the general rifle season.

As of Nov. 2, a total of 145 elk and deer have been brought to the check station, which is 4 percent above the recent average, but 7 percent below last year. The combined number of white-tailed and mule deer checked is 91 animals, which is 7 percent above the ten-year average, but down 13 percent from 2024. Total elk harvest to date is 54 animals, slightly above the ten-year average of 53 elk.

After an initial surge of elk migration activity into the Sun River WMA due to early snow and cold weather in October, moderating weather conditions has reduced elk movement, and hunting success within HD 442 has declined. The district remains open to harvest of antlerless or brow-tined bull elk on a general elk license.

By order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, Hunting District 424, in a portion of Lewis and Clark County as described in the legal description in the 2025 Montana Deer, Elk and Antelope Hunting Regulations, shall be closed to all hunting of antlerless elk, effective one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Hunting District 424 will remain open to hunting brow-tined bull elk only through the end of the general rifle season on Nov. 30, and also during the heritage muzzleloader season Dec. 13 – 21.