GLASGOW – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists completed 2026 spring aerial surveys of deer population trends across Region 6 in northeastern Montana. The surveys indicate general increases in most districts.
The 2026 winter across northeast Montana was fairly mild, but some areas in the extreme northeast corner had more difficult conditions with heavy snow. However, an early warming event in January melted most of the existing snow and the area experienced an open and mild winter from mid-January to spring, which is often the most challenging months for big game animals.
Mule deer densities in all 11 deer trend areas this spring indicated an increase of 32% from 2025 and overall were slightly above the long-term average. Region-wide fawn to adult ratios show a slight increase from 2025 and are 21% above the long-term average.
