Mild weather most of the weekend may have affected hunting
(AUGUSTA) – STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY THE OPENING WEEKEND OF THE
GENERAL BIG GAME HUNTING SEASON RESULTED IN FEWER ANIMALS HARVESTED
THAN IN THE LAST 3 YEARS ON OPENING WEEKEND.
BRENT LONNER, FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS BIOLOGIST SAYS MILD WEATHER LIKELY
CAUSED THE LOWER HUNTER PARTICIPATION FOR THIS YEAR’S OPENER ALONG THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT.
AT THE AUGUSTA CHECK STATION, HUNTERS BROUGHT 17 ELK COMPARED TO
THE AVERAGE OF 23 OVER THE PREVIOUS 3 YEARS.
14 MULE DEER WERE CHECK IN, COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE OF 15 OVER THE
PREVIOUS 3 YEARS.
AND ONLY 10 WHITETAIL DEER WERE CHECK IN, COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE
OF 14 IN THE PREVIOUS 3 YEARS.
WHITETAIL HUNTERS ARE REMINDED THAT HERE IN REGION 4, ANTLERLESS
WHITETAIL LICENSES PURCHASED AFTER OCT. 18TH ARE ONLY VALID FOR ANTLERLESS
WHITETAILS, SOUTH AND EAST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER.
THE SAME ANTLERLESS WHITETAIL LICENSES BOUGHT BEFORE OCT. 18TH ARE
GOOD THROUGHOUT REGION 4, EXCEPT FOR HUNTING DISTRICT 455.