While the warm, dry weather during much of the 2024 general big game hunting season has not been favorable for hunters who typically hope for colder, snowy weather, success rates for hunters along the southern Rocky Mountain Front remains above average, despite the number of hunters dropping to lower than average levels.

Through the fourth weekend of the season, just over 1,600 hunters have come through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park’s check station in Augusta, which is approximately 10 percent below the recent average. Overall hunting success remains above average though, with approximately 27 percent of hunters reporting harvested deer and elk.

A total of 434 deer and elk have been brought through the check station this season, which is approximately 10 percent above recent average and 11 percent above last year at this time. After nearly average elk harvest for the first two weeks of the season, elk harvest has now dropped to 13 percent below average with a total of 132 elk checked, primarily due to mild weather benefiting elk and their ability to remain in difficult to access areas and at higher elevations.

Sun River elk hunting opportunity is now limited since the hunting district (HD) 442 quota has been met and is open to brow-tined bull only for the remainder of the season. The HD 424 quota has not yet been reached and still provides for antlerless and brow-tined bull hunting opportunity. For quota status updates, hunters can contact the Augusta check station at 406-562-3467.

Total deer harvest remains above average with 300 deer checked this season. 106 antlered and 38 antlerless mule deer have been recorded, which is 37 percent above average. 67 antlered and 89 antlerless white-tailed deer have been recorded, and overall deer harvest continues to have good distribution across the primary areas covered by the check station. Both white-tailed and mule deer bucks have become much more active with the onset of the deer “rut”, or breeding season, with some hunters targeting older and larger bucks during this time.

In addition, 2 bighorn sheep, 11 antelope, 1 moose, 1 mountain goat and a variety of game birds have also been checked through the station so far this season.

The general deer and elk seasons run through Sunday, Dec. 1. The check station operated by FWP along Main Street in Augusta is the only biological check station in Region 4 and operates seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. Biological check stations like the station in Augusta are intended primarily for biologists to gather trends and statistical information about animals and hunters. Hunters are reminded that they must stop at any check station they pass while hunting, whether or not they have harvested game.