General hunting season numbers continue to top last year in Libby area

The second week of hunting season brought 261 hunters through the Canoe Gulch check station according to officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). So far this season, 636 hunters have been through the mandatory check station.

Of the 261 hunters, 22 reported harvesting a white-tailed deer — 10 more than were reported last week. Canoe Gulch check station officials counted five harvested white-tailed bucks.

Mule deer numbers were up from last week as well, with 14 reported harvests.

FWP also reported elk harvests are climbing for the Libby area. Canoe Gulch check station has counted seven elk kills so far this season. At this time last year, there were four reported elk harvests.

Across the state, check stations have reported more than 4,800 hunters with 219 reported white-tailed deer harvests, including 121 bucks, as well as 36 mule deer and 32 elk.

FWP officials sought to remind hunters that the counts at the hunter check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken. Hunters must stop at all check stations (excluding CWD sampling stations) that they pass, even if they have not harvested any animals.

Hunters continue to utilize the chronic wasting disease sampling station located at the Montana Department of Transportation shop off Highway 2, near mile marker 35.

FWP reported that 129 hunter-harvested samples have been collected. The haul includes archery, youth hunt and start of rifle season.

FWP regional information and education program manager, Dillon Tabish, said, “We’re awaiting test results, but there are not any new positive detections as of now.”