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Hunter harvest rates in southwestern Montana were mixed during the general deer and elk hunting season, according to data gathered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists. Mild weather during much of the general season made it challenging for hunters to find game at some lower elevations.
The general season was held over five weeks and six weekends from Oct. 25 through Nov. 30. During that time, FWP staff operated game check stations at various times and locations in Region 3, including stations in Alder, Cameron, Canyon Ferry, Divide, Gallatin Canyon, Lakeside and Silver City. Collectively, they met with 7,069 hunters who harvested 49 white-tailed deer, 174 mule deer and 355 elk.
Biologists use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. Check station data captures a portion of hunting activity on weekends in specific areas. Hunter numbers and harvest rates can be influenced by weather, changes in hunting regulations from one season to another, and other factors. Biologists also rely on information collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year.
The Alder check station was open on the first, third and sixth weekends of the general season. Over those three weekends, wildlife staff met with 719 hunters who collectively harvested six white-tailed deer, 28 mule deer and 47 elk. The hunter harvest rate for the final weekend was 14 percent, below the long-term average of 20 percent but an increase from the 11-percent harvest rate over opening weekend.
The Cameron check station was open each weekend during the general season. Wildlife staff there met with 2,635 hunters who harvested 25 white-tailed deer, 45 mule deer and 159 elk over the six weekends. Hunter harvest rates ranged from 5.7 percent on Nov. 8-9 to 10.8 percent on Nov. 22-23. The number of hunters checked was above average, but the number of elk checked and hunter success rates were below average. Warm and dry conditions for most of the season kept elk dispersed throughout their range and difficult to track. This year, 73 percent of elk checked were harvested on public land. Whitetail and mule deer harvest were average for this area.
Biologists operated a check station at Canyon Ferry on the first and final weekends of the general season. They met with 602 hunters who harvested one white-tailed deer, 14 mule deer and 15 elk. Hunter harvest was about 7 percent on both weekends.
The Divide check station was also open each weekend during the general season. Wildlife staff there met with 1,464 hunters who harvested four white-tailed deer, 57 mule deer and 64 elk over the six weekends. Hunter harvest rates ranged from 6.3 percent on Nov. 8-9 to 13.4 percent during opening weekend. Hunter numbers were 11 percent greater than in 2024 and 8 percent greater than average. Hunter success was equal to last year and 7 percent below average.
The Gallatin check station operated during the first, third and sixth weekends of the general season. Wildlife staff there met with 457 hunters who harvested four white-tailed deer, three mule deer and 21 elk. Hunter success was highest over opening weekend at 7.5 percent and lowest during the final weekend at 3.2 percent. Overall, this season showed average numbers of elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer harvested, with the number of hunters being below average.
The Lakeside check station was open during the third weekend of the general season, where wildlife staff met with 191 hunters, about 8 percent of whom harvested game.
The Silver City check station operated on opening and closing weekends of the general season, with hunter harvest rates of 6 and 7 percent, respectively. Staff met with 1,001 hunters who harvested four white-tailed deer, five mule deer and 16 elk over the two weekends.
The Toston check station was open on Nov. 9, which brought 73 hunters and a harvest rate of 8.3 percent. Those hunters harvested six mule deer.