Deer and Elk harvest in northwest Montana picked up over the past weekend, according to results at Region One check stations. At the Swan check station, Wildlife Biologist John Vore reports that white-tailed deer harvest has caught up with last year’s totals after a slow first two weeks.

At the six check stations through Sunday, November 9, a total of 11,789 hunters checked 593 white-tailed deer, 90 mule deer, and 87 elk. Overall, the harvest of whitetails and mule deer is still down from last year, while the elk harvest is about the same. The counts at the six northwest Montana check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken.

Hunters are reminded that it is now buck-only for whitetails in northwest Montana until the last four days of the season, November 27-30, when antlerless whitetails are again legal game in most hunting districts. Antlerless whitetails remain legal game for youth 12-15 years of age and disabled hunters with the Permit to Hunt from a Vehicle. Mule deer are buck-only for the entire season. Hunters should refer to the hunting regulations for the hunting district they plan to hunt.