MILES CITY – The trend of milder weather continued for hunters passing through southeast Montana check stations Sunday. Hunter traffic was a bit slower than average, but harvest rates were a mixed bag.

Hysham check station

Overall the number of hunters passing through the Hysham station was down. Although harvest was down, hunters seemed to be enjoying the pleasant weather, and most hunters had an opportunity to harvest an animal.

A total of 107 hunters came through, which is about 30 percent below the 10-year average for the closing weekend of the antelope season. The harvest success rate was 52 percent, about 7 percent below the 10-year average. The harvested animals FWP was able to collect biological data on included 11 antelope (four bucks, seven does), two elk (two bulls), 27 mule deer (25 bucks, two does) 14 white-tailed deer (11 bucks, three does), one turkey, 32 pheasants, six Huns and one sharp-tailed grouse.

Ashland check station

A total of 133 hunters came through the Ashland check station, which is 25 percent below the 10-year average for this weekend of the season. The harvest success rate was 40 percent, which is the highest rate from 2014-2024 during antelope closer at Ashland.

Harvest included nine pronghorn (two bucks, seven does), 11 elk (six bulls, five cows), 27 mule deer bucks, eight white-tailed deer (six bucks, two does), and one sharp-tailed grouse.

Most hunters enjoyed their time afield, although cooler weather would have improved big game activity. Many hunters had an opportunity but decided to hold off.

Mosby check station

The weather over the weekend was warmer during the day but cold at night, making for some great hunting conditions. The Mosby check station saw 82 hunters in 47 hunting parties, with a harvest success of 45 percent. This is about average for this check station.

Biologists checked 22 mule deer (20 bucks and two does), three white-tail bucks, six cow elk, four buck antelope, and a handful of pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge.

Hunters were generally happy with the time out and surprised with the number of animals they encountered. It did snow a few inches last week in the breaks, and the snow melt has caused some roads to become muddy and made travel more difficult.

Hunters are reminded that they are required to stop at all game check stations even if they have not harvested an animal.

CWD sampling services available

The first CWD-positive elk in southeast Montana was recently reported in Hunting District 704, on private land just north of Custer National Forest. FWP is encouraging hunters to have both deer and elk tested so it can get a better idea of disease prevalence in both populations to help guide management decisions. In both species, the retropharyngeal lymph nodes in the neck area are extracted and submitted to state labs, with results available within about two weeks.

FWP provides assistance with CWD sampling at its Miles City headquarters during business hours, and at several CWD sampling stations located around the region (see fwp.mt.gov/cwd for locations, hours). Please bring animal heads with a portion of the neck still attached. FWP will cover the cost of these samples. Hunters also may follow instructions to collect samples themselves (fwp.mt.gov/cwd) and mail them to state labs at their own cost.