The whitetail deer harvest in Northwest Montana is down 25 percent compared to last year, but the elk harvest has been slightly higher going into the final week of the five-week big game season.
Statistics collected at six game check stations over the weekend indicate the percentage of hunters with game was at 6.2 percent compared to 7.2 percent at this point in the 2008 season.
After four weeks, 852 whitetail have been checked compared to 1,135 last year; 152 mule deer compared to 181 last year; and 132 elk compared to 123 last year.
The number of whitetail bucks checked is at 549, the lowest since 478 were checked after four weeks in 1997.
The U.S. 2 check station west of Kalispell has been the busiest with 5,976 hunters checking 228 whitetail, 41 mule deer and 30 elk. So far 2,266 hunters have stopped at the Thompson Falls station with 94 whitetail, 17 mule deer and 40 elk.
The North Fork check station has been the slowest, with 1,234 hunters stopping with 51 whitetail, 11 mule deer and nine elk.
Wildlife biologist John Vore noted that whitetail bucks are now fully in rut, and it would be a good time for hunters to try antler rattling or grunt calls to draw in a buck.
The harvest is expected to pick up during the last week, especially if hunting areas receive precipitation.
Northwest Montana game wardens remind hunters that whitetail deer hunting is buck-only in most Region One hunting districts through the end of the big-game hunting season.
The season ends Sunday, Nov. 29, at half-hour after sunset.
michael
Balanced isn't seeing deer. He says "There are miles & miles of real estate that are devoid of deer even though it's superior habitat". Hmmmm, have you thought about maybe having your eyes tested? Ya know, as we age the eyesight and ability to get around in the woods just ain't what it use to be.
What else is the difference there? More hunters? More area logged? I have deer in my yard everynight, as I always have had. No wolves tho. Everywhere I've driven I see deer in the woods, in the fields. It makes sense to me that the wolves would keep the deer and elk more on the move, but......doesn't that mean you have to work a little harder hunting them? Maybe that's what you don't like?
Chewy
Wow, some of you are beyond hyper sensitive. I like Elk meat as much as the next person. But if someone doesn't like hunting that is fine with me. I don't see where anyone in this thread mentioned banning hunting or called a hunter something insulting.
I like wolves and hunting. Deer and elk have lived and died with wolves for tens of thousands of years. While the wolves will obviously reduce game numbers, they will not kill off their food source. Yeah, bagging game will be more of a challenge, but so what. I like a challenge. That is why I hunt.
I can see where David s is coming from. Some animals are so beautiful that I hate to see them killed. Especially if you see an individual animal almost daily and have developed an appreciation for them. It's like someone destroying a piece of art. But since they are so tasty I also see the art in a finely prepared meal of yummy Elk steaks.
I feel that the anti-hunting crowd has as much right to be here as the hunting crowd and vise-versa.
MTlove
You know I hate ignorant people that are so against hunting. This is what some of us do in Montana. This is how we feed our families. If people have a problem against it then MOVE or get over it. Tough if you don't like it...ADAPT. Three months out of the year we get to hunt for an animal and HIPPIES throw a fit. Get into the real world. I'm sure all those people are vegetarians because if not shouldn't you be mad if you eat a cow or a pig? Or are they the kind of person who thinks its hurting the plant taking from it? Or does it hurt the tree picking off the fruit? Go away people leave us hunters alone. MOVE.The insensible statements are truly amusing.
deerhunter
momof4, If you new someone would post a statement about wolves impacting the hunting, your obviously aware of the impact they have. "Ah yes".. sounds like you just want someone to argue with. And "fauna", sure, i guess your bringing balance to this comment strip. What goes up must come down.... A simple law of physics. The wolves were mostly killed off in previous decades allowing the deer to populations to grow without reproach. Reintroducing the wolves due to politics has played it's part in record low numbers of deer. My guess is there will be a larger number of wolf tags next year.
Flovilla
David S Poachers are not hunters or hunting. Hunters are not poachers. It is like saying a speeder is a race car driver or a guy beating his wife is a boxer just because he punches somebody with his fists..
Do not equate hunting with illegal activity.
JT
DavidS, hunting is a part of our heritage and actually supports good wildlife numbers and healthy populations. If you don't like it, don't hunt. Poachers are such a ridiculously small percentage of the hunting population that for you to mention them so prominently shows you are not at all informed. Indoctrinated people always think they are enlightened because they read sierra club propaganda, get the HSUS newletter, and watch an Al Gore movie. Seattle or Portland are nice this time of year, you'd fit in marvelously.
JT
Photoguy, to my knowledge, a lot of the wolf spread in MT has been the result of relocation of troubled wolves from other areas. Such as in 1999 when 4 wolves were taken from Pleasant Valley and relocated to Spotted Bear. Relocations have now stopped since all suitable areas have wolf populations. Certainly some was also natural due to fast breeding and peripheral spreading of other populations. Wolves are particularly devastating to whitetail because they are not herd animals and in the spring the wolves (as do coyotes) follow the pregnant does and consume the fawn when it drops. Where mule deer and elk tend to be in a herd, and thus have better defense, whitetail does are often solo and cannot protect their young. I have read studies that put the number from 30-45% of all whitetail fawns are killed by wolves and coyotes in their first month of life. Are wolves the only source of low whitetail numbers? No, but they are a factor in the equation, and need to be kept in control. Also consider taking to the hills and thinning the coyote population this winter.
photoguy
DavidS,
The wolves are not being hunted any longer, remember the season for them are closed, hunting is a way of life in NW Montana as well as the rest of the state, so if you don't like it, I don't know what to tell you and apparently a majority of people in the state agree with hunting, or they would not have urged the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment to make it a right and not just a privilege...spelled right out, plain and clear in our state constitution that we have that right...
DavidS
It sure will be nice when the hunting season ends on December 1. We've had two gorgeous bucks hanging around here since early fall, and they are both still alive out there. Just a few more days and they'll be home free. Of course, the poachers will still be out there hunting illegally too, but that goes on all the time. It'll also be good that the wolves aren't being molested any more except by the poachers.
photoguy
Balanced, I would like to see the documentation that they were placed in various places around the state, wolves were re-introduced into Yellowstone National Park, and Central Idaho, they are very prolific breeders hence the higher numbers now being seen.
I am also a hunter and in favor of the hunts being held, so my dollars as a sportsman is also involved, but trying to say, everything is the wolves fault, is a claim that cannot be backed up by the science involved..
Balanced
Photoguy, They were placed in various areas through out the state and yes I know there has always been a few wander in here from up north I personally saw them in the 70's & 80's but there were very few and had little impact on the deer. Now they are many, too many. I wish to argue with no one but I have read all the studies and statistics and I'm here to say the numbers in the stats do not take Albert E. to caculate. it's a shame that after the sportsman thru conservation efforts restored these herds from near non existance to be thanked in this mannor.
photoguy
Balanced, the wolves in NW Montana were not introduced, there have been no wolves introduce around here, these wolves migrated into the area on their own.
Balanced
My season was good, my tags are filled and so is my freezer but the other folks I have visited have not been so lucky. I did hunt very hard and my taxidermist gets to make a buck to help feed his family but with only 2 deer from this area in his shop I don't know how many meals they will have. When judging the numbers please look beyond the last couple seasons. I would also recomend a website for you to expand your database www.saveelk.com The site is not posted by hunters but a concerned citazen from Idaho. Oh, every thing is intertwined from the economy to the forest and animals and all effects the other. The introduction of non native gray wolves is what upset the balance to begin with.
momof4
Ah yes, I knew someone would blame the wolf population for the low hunting numbers. Get a grip - Balanced. Why would the elk harvest be up and the mule deer harvest close to last years numbers if the wolves were to blame? Maybe the wolves are picky and prefer to eat whitetail?!?! Maybe the wolves have thinned out the herd a bit, but that just means if you want to eat - hunt harder. It's not called harvesting - it's called hunting for a reason. Don't blame mother nature. If left alone the fauna would be in perfect balance. We're the ones that are screwing it up, not the wolves...
Balanced
Get used to it. even if we have a easy winter and good spring weather it won't improve until they get aggressive with the wolf management. personally I hunted west of Kalispell for 32 years and I'm appalled by the sheer devestation of these parasites. There are miles & miles of real estate that are devoid of deer even though it's superior habitat. I just about wore out a pair of boots this season & the majority of the places I went there is fresh wolf sign. Cross your fingers, say a prayer, whatever you wish but unless we act soon you will be applying for your tags, all of them.