Montana FWP Reports Strong Start to General Hunting Season
The general hunting season kicked off on October 25, 2025, and hunters in western and central Montana embraced the mixed weather conditions, heading out in large numbers. According to data from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), the opening weekend saw an increase in harvest numbers compared to the previous year.
In Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4, hundreds more hunters visited FWP check stations on October 25 and 26 than during the opening weekend of 2024, with slightly improved success rates reported.
“We experienced a bit of wind, rain, and snow this weekend, but it didn’t deter anyone,” said Kirstie Yeager, an FWP wildlife biologist in the upper Clark Fork. “Hunters had a great time in the woods and brought in some impressive animals.”
The Darby check station in the Bitterroot Valley recorded 1,187 hunters, the highest number reported by any check station in the state, exceeding last year’s figures by over 100.
“It was a slower start on Saturday due to the weather, but it turned out to be better than initially predicted, leading to a busier Sunday,” noted Rebecca Mowry, an FWP wildlife biologist in the Bitterroot Valley. “We even had a couple of kids come through the Darby station with their first elk, along with one adult.”
In the west-central part of Montana, specifically Region 2, which includes the Darby, Bonner, Anaconda, and Fish Creek check stations, hunters reported a total of 105 elk, 27 mule deer, 72 white-tailed deer, and four black bears, achieving an overall success rate of 8.9%. Over 2,550 hunters were active in the region during the opening weekend. In comparison, last year’s opening weekend saw 107 elk, 18 mule deer, 60 white-tailed deer, two black bears, and one moose harvested.
In northwest Montana, hunter numbers remained steady compared to 2024, with 1,995 individuals visiting the four agency check stations in Olney, Thompson Falls, Swan Lake, and along U.S. Highway 2 west of Kalispell. Hunters reported 177 white-tailed deer, including 88 bucks, compared to last year’s 163 and 67, respectively. Additionally, they reported 13 mule deer and 22 elk, compared to 21 and 16 from the previous year.
The hunter success rate in northwest Montana was slightly up at 10.6% compared to last year.
FWP reported on Monday that participation in northwest Montana dropped by 7% through the second weekend of hunting compared to last year, but success rates remained slightly higher.
Across the Continental Divide in North Central Region 4, opening weekend numbers increased by 14% compared to last year and were up 4% over the 10-year average. Success rates also exceeded the 10-year average, with around 20% of hunters bringing game through the check stations. Elk harvests were 30% higher than average, while deer harvests increased by 9%.
An FWP press release from Region 4 indicated that early snow in higher elevations prompted initial animal movements, with some migrating to lower elevations, making them more accessible to hunters.
The Augusta check station, the only one in Region 4, operates daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and until 10 p.m. on weekends.
The season began with varied results in the southwest and south-central regions. Region 3, which includes parts of Lewis and Clark County down to Beaverhead and Park counties, reported higher hunter numbers at four check stations, but lower than average numbers at Alder and Canyon Ferry.
Nearly 2,500 hunters in the region achieved success rates ranging from 6% to 13.4%, harvesting 148 elk, 40 mule deer, and 10 white-tailed deer.
In south-central Montana, centered around Yellowstone County, 1,087 hunters visited four check stations in Big Timber, Columbus, Lavina, and Billings. Billings recorded its highest numbers since 2021, while Big Timber reported its lowest ever for an opening weekend.
FWP staff checked 51 white-tailed deer, 64 mule deer, 25 antelope, and 84 elk across these stations.
The 2025 general deer and elk season runs from October 25 to November 30. Other ongoing general hunting seasons include black bear (September 15 to November 30), bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat (September 15 to November 30), mountain lion (fall season without dogs, October 25 to November 30), and most upland game birds until January 1.
Hunters are required to stop at any check station they encounter, regardless of whether they harvested an animal. The counts at these stations reflect a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the total number of animals taken.
Most check stations are open on weekends during the general season from 10 a.m. until approximately 1.5 hours past sunset.
Hunters Encouraged to Participate in Voluntary CWD Testing
Hunters play a vital role in assisting FWP in tracking chronic wasting disease (CWD) and understanding its spread. By having their harvested deer, elk, and moose tested for CWD, hunters contribute valuable insights into the disease’s prevalence and management effectiveness.
CWD testing is voluntary statewide, except in the Libby CWD Management Area, where testing is mandatory due to higher prevalence rates.
Hunters can bring their harvested animals to any FWP check station or regional office, or they can collect a lymph node themselves and submit it to the Wildlife Health Lab in Bozeman. If an animal tests positive for CWD, FWP will guide the hunter on proper carcass and meat disposal and provide instructions for requesting a replacement license.
Source: https://www.kpax.com/news/montana-news/montana-fwp-sees-strong-start-to-general-hunting-season
