Hunting season begins next Saturday

This year’s general hunting season will see a host of changes, including a bucks-only take on whitetail deer for almost all hunters and a Saturday opener.

The bucks only regulation comes after a drop in deer numbers in Northwest Montana, particularly after the harsh winter of 2008-2009, which saw heavy snows and predation from other animals like wolves and mountain lions, FWP biologists note.

Deer numbers this spring, however, showed a significant increase, with 37 fawns per 100 adults, compared to just 24 fawns per 100 adults in 2009. A string of mild winters from 2003 to 2007 had fawn-to-adult ratios in the 40s.

The ratio of fawns to adults is a way biologists gauge the overall size and health of the herd and how they fared over the winter. The higher the number means more deer survived the winter.

“This year’s (fawn/adult) number is not quite where we want to see it, but it’s pretty good,” said Region One wildlife manager Jim Williams.

A cool, wet summer with plenty of lush growth should bode well for those looking for a trophy buck. In years with good plant growth, bucks generally grow larger antlers, Williams noted.

“We’ve checked some pretty phenomenal whitetail bucks (from archery hunters),” Williams said.

Mule deer numbers appear to be steady and elk numbers have also been stable, Williams said. Mule deer fawn to adult ratios this year were 39 fawns to 100 adults and elk were 25 calves to 100 cows.

“We observed five times as many calves in the South Fork of the Flathead this spring (compared to 2008-2009),” Williams noted.

The general deer and elk hunting season opens Saturday, Oct. 23, but there is a catch — youth hunters can take a deer Oct. 21-22. Hunters are urged to read their regulations carefully. The youth hunt applies to hunters between the ages of 12 and 15 only.

These dates coincide with Montana’s annual two-day teachers’ convention, which are no-school days for most public school students. The Saturday opener was devised to help businesses and hunters, who said they often get into hunting camp on Saturday, only to have to a wait a day for the season to open. The Saturday opener also extends the season a day.

Hunters are reminded they must stop at checkpoint stations. The only local checkpoint station is up the North Fork Road, where the pavement ends.