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. 18^TH ARE ONLY VALID FOR ANTLERLESS

WHITETAILS, SOUTH AND EAST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER.

THE SAME ANTLERLESS WHITETAIL LICENSES BOUGHT BEFORE OCT. 18^TH ARE

GOOD THROUGHOUT REGION 4, EXCEPT FOR HUNTING DISTRICT 455.