Montana’s general big game hunting season ended on Sunday, Dec. 1. In south-central Montana, biological game check stations operated on both Saturday and Sunday in Big Timber, Columbus, Lavina and Billings. Hunters in the region experienced mild, sunny weather with some wind.
Success rates for hunters over the last weekend were below average for all check stations and were some of the lowest on record for three of the four check stations. At three of the four check stations in the region, cumulative mule deer harvest for the season was the lowest on record.
Throughout the season, a total of 4,400 hunters visited the 4 check stations in the region with 451 total harvested mule deer, 398 total white-tailed deer, 271 total elk and 54 total antelope. The general antelope season closed Nov. 10.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 100 percent fatal disease that infects members of the deer family, including both species of deer, elk and moose. Although testing harvested animals for CWD is voluntary in most places in Montana, hunting is the primary tool for monitoring and managing the spread of CWD and hunters are critical to conservation efforts across the state. Many CWD sampling stations have now closed for the season. In south-central Montana, hunters can still get their harvested deer, elk and moose sampled at the Region 5 office in Billings (2300 Lake Elmo Dr.), Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Animals must be thawed for CWD sampling. Hunters can also submit their own samples.
Muzzleloader Heritage Season opens Dec. 14
Muzzleloader heritage season opens on Saturday, Dec. 14, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 22. This season is for heritage muzzleloaders only; no other means of taking game, such as archery, is allowed. Note that some areas have elk shoulder seasons through Feb. 15, 2025, where firearms and archery equipment may be allowed.
Hunters should check the hunting regulations to make sure they are compliant with all rules and regulations for this season (see pages 24 and 25 of the Deer, Elk and Antelope regulations). The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the following regulations, most of which are based on language from the statute:
A person may take a deer or elk with a license or permit that is valid on the last day of the general hunting season.
Any unused license-permit valid on the last day of the general season (Dec. 1) is valid during the muzzleloader heritage season.
Any license that can still be purchased is valid. For example, if a person had not already purchased a general deer tag, they could purchase one for the muzzleloader heritage season.
Hunters can use plain lead projectiles and a muzzleloading rifle that is charged with loose black powder, loose Pyrodex or an equivalent loose black powder substitute and ignited by a flintlock, wheel lock, matchlock or percussion mechanism using a percussion or musket cap.
The muzzleloading rifle must be a minimum of .45 caliber and may not have more than two barrels.
During the muzzleloader heritage season, hunters may not use a muzzleloading rifle that requires insertion of a cap or primer into the open breech of the barrel, is capable of being loaded from the breech or is mounted with an optical magnification device. The season is for heritage muzzleloaders only; inline style modern muzzleloaders are not allowed.
Use of pre-prepared paper or metallic cartridges, sabots, gas checks or other similar power and range-enhancing manufactured loads that enclose the projectile from the rifling or bore of the firearm is also prohibited.
Hunters should also note that many of Montana’s Block Management Areas (BMAs) may be open for upland bird or waterfowl through Jan. 1 but are not allowing the harvest of deer or elk during the muzzleloader heritage season. Make sure to check BMA rules before you hunt.
To watch a video about the rules of muzzleloader heritage season, click here.
Big Timber Check Station
At the Big Timber check station, cumulative harvest for all species—mule and white-tailed deer, elk and antelope—were all below the harvests from last year. Cumulative elk harvest for this year was above the long-term average of 72 total elk, while cumulative harvests for all other species were below long-term averages. Hunter numbers and success were also below both last year and the long-term averages.
A cumulative total of 117 mule deer were checked throughout the season at the Big Timber check station. This is the lowest cumulative mule deer harvest on record for this check station. The long-term average cumulative mule deer harvest is 188 for Big Timber.
Of the 75 total elk that were checked at the Big Station this season, 41 were bulls and 34 were antlerless. A majority of these elk (69%) were harvested on private land not enrolled in the Block Management program. Two elk were harvested on private land within the Block Management Program, and 19 elk were harvested on either federal or state public land. Elk checked at the Big Timber check station came from FWP regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
The Big Timber station had the highest hunter success rate in the region. Success was highest over the fifth weekend of the season, during which 42% of hunters at the check station had harvested game. However, hunter success at this check station was below the long-term average for the season.
Columbus Check Station
At the Columbus check station, cumulative harvests for white-tailed deer, mule deer and antelope were all below long-term averages, but comparable to harvests in recent years. Cumulative elk harvest, however, was slightly above the long-term average.
Hunter success for the season at the Columbus check station was the lowest on record, at just 29%. The long-term average hunter success rate for this check station is 40%.
Throughout the season, 828 hunters visited this check station. This is up from the 715 hunters that visited the check station last year, but below the long-term average of 1,102 hunters.
Lavina Check Station
The Lavina check station saw the most hunters over the final weekend of the season, at 392 hunters. This check station also had the highest cumulative number of hunters for the season at 1,594, which is slightly below the long-term average of 1,877 hunters. Hunter success rates, however, were the lowest in the region at this check station.
Cumulative harvests for all species—white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope and elk—were all below long-term averages. A total of 103 mule deer were checked at Lavina, which is the lowest number on record for this check station. The long-term average cumulative mule deer harvest for the Lavina check station is 236.
White-tailed deer were the most abundantly harvested species at this check station; this is the first year that mule deer were not the most abundantly harvested species. At all other check stations in the region, mule deer were the most abundantly harvested species.
Of the 100 total elk checked at Lavina, 57 were bulls and 43 were antlerless. This check station had the highest total number of elk throughout the season, which follows long-term trends. Elk harvests in this region were more evenly split between private and public land: 44 elk were harvested on private land not in Block Management, 47 elk were harvested on either federal or state public land and 9 elk were harvested on private land enrolled in Block Management. Elk checked at the Lavina check station came from FWP regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.
Billings Check Station
At the Billings check station, cumulative harvest for all species—mule and white-tailed deer, elk and antelope—were all below long-term averages. Elk harvest for 2024 were up from the 48 harvested throughout the 2023 season. The Billings check station was the second busiest for the region throughout the season, at 1,121 hunters.
Billings had the highest cumulative mule deer harvest in the region at 121. However, this is below cumulative mule deer harvests for recent years, and well below the long-term average of 270. Hunter success was near average for the season at this check station.
