(Havre) – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Havre hunter check station recorded the highest number of hunters checked the in recent history over the weekend of the general deer and elk opener. Marc Kloker the region six communication education program manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks talks about how big of an increase in carcass collection there was.
“So, for the most part mule deer numbers was pretty high that were brought by the check station this opening weekend and even through the first few weeks of the check station. Actually, over all though for the number of hunters we had the number of mule deer was actually kind of a lower deer per hunter if you will than we’ve seen in the past, but you know a lot of hunter means there’s going to be a lot more deer harvested. So, that what we think we saw over that opening weekend for sure. And definitely the other noteworthy item I’d say is that upland game bird numbers brought by the check station have been better than they have in the last several years. Just with the couple years of drought we had in 21 and 22 we’ve had a much better snow melt and spring rains this past year in 23 which apparently led to a lot better survivability pheasants and Hungarian partridge and sharp tailed grouse because we’ve definitely seen an increase of them being brought by the check station. So, that’s been nice to see.”
He went on to give advice for hunters for the coming weekend.
“Since we got all this moisture, all in the for of snow now but we look like were about to have above freezing temperatures next week. Roads will start getting a little a slippery a little messy. We just really want folks to just use their best judgment when trying to traverse, especially when roads get thawed or muddy because nothing will lose access for hunters than tearing up a landowners road. So, just be very mindful to just walk if you don’t feel like you can’t drive without tearing up roads and again to just try to be safe out there. Dress and prepare for the elements and honestly weather like this can sometimes lead to very good hunting so just good luck out there and be safe.”
