General hunting season down to final week

KALISPELL — The big-game hunting season is down to the final days across Montana, and the general hunting season ends Sunday, Nov. 25.

Activity continues to increase across Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ five game check stations in northwest Montana (Region 1), although overall numbers remain down from previous years for reported hunters, white-tailed deer and elk, according to a press release from Region 1 Regional Information and Education Program Manager Dillon Tabish.

So far, 11,574 hunters have checked 583 white-tailed deer, including 388 bucks, as well as 82 mule deer and 52 elk. Overall hunter success is 6.2 percent compared to 7.5 percent a year ago.

“The final week of hunting season is always exciting,” said Neil Anderson, FWP Region 1 wildlife manager. “Hopefully the weather will improve for hunting conditions. We hope everyone enjoys a safe time in the woods as the season wraps up.”

The counts at the hunter check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken. Hunters are required to stop at game check stations they encounter, even if they have not harvested an animal.

Either-sex white-tailed deer can be harvested across most of the region from Nov. 19-25 on private lands, excluding private timberlands such as Weyerhaeuser, Stoltze and Stimson property. Check the hunting regulations for more district-specific information.

Mule deer buck hunting in the North Fisher portion of Hunting District 103 near Libby is permit-only.

This year there are new regulations and carcass transport restrictions surrounding the threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD). FWP has established CWD positive areas and transport restriction zones (TRZ) in parts of the state where the disease was found. To prevent the spread of CWD, no brain or spinal column material from animals taken in positive areas are allowed outside the transport restriction zones. For information about positive areas and TRZs, visit fwp.mt.gov.

Properly dispose of carcasses. Once an animal with CWD dies, any part of the carcass can transmit the disease for at least two years. Safely dispose of all animal parts in solid waste landfills to help keep our local herds clean of CWD.

“Be Bear Aware” and properly store food and manage carcasses. More safety information is available on the FWP website, fwp.mt.gov. Residents can call FWP regional offices for more information. In northwest Montana, call (406) 752-5501.