Elk Harvest Down at Augusta Check Station, Deer Numbers Same as Last Year
Contact: Bruce Auchly (406) 454-5840
Hunters this fall on a portion of the Rocky Mountain Front west of Augusta took home the fewest elk in nine years, said a state wildlife biologist.
“The total elk harvest was 37 percent below the 10-year average, and the lowest since 2008,” said Brent Lonner, Fish, Wildlife and Park wildlife biologist. “The reduced harvest is in large part due to mild weather conditions not making the elk more accessible.”
For deer, both mule deer and white-tailed numbers were almost identical to last year; however, the mule deer harvest was down 21 percent from the 10-year average, while whitetails taken were five percent above the long-term average.
The numbers were collected at the Augusta check station – Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 4’s sole biological check station – and apply only to a handful of hunting districts on the Rocky Mountain Front.
The general big game season ended Nov. 27.
Elk hunters this year brought in 218 animals (106 bulls, 101 cows and 11 calves) compared to the 10-year average of 343 elk.
Mule deer numbered 234 bucks and 16 does for a total of 250. Last year the total was 249, but the 10-year average is 316.
With whitetails, the count in Augusta was 301 (208 bucks, 76 does and 17 fawns). Last year the total was 302, while the 10-year average is 287.
“This year went real smooth at the Augusta check station,” Lonner said, “mostly because of the four seasonal workers there: Russ Christianson, Alan ‘Chico’ Kinkaid, Bonnie Griffis and Ted White. Their attention to detail, good communication skills and help with hunters was appreciated.”