Hunters should continue to practice bear safety

BOZEMAN – Montana’s general hunting season kicked off on Saturday with seasonably mild weather and mostly below-average hunter participation and success in several areas of southwestern Montana.

Wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. This supplements data collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year.

Over opening weekend on Oct. 26 and 27, biologists operated six check game check stations in the region: Alder, Canyon Ferry, Cameron, Divide, Gallatin and Silver City. They met with 2,288 hunters, who collectively harvested 137 elk, 18 mule deer and 10 white-tailed deer, among other species.

The Alder, Divide and Canyon Ferry check stations saw lower-than-average hunter numbers for opening weekend. Hunter numbers were about average at the Cameron and Gallatin check stations. Participation ranged from 544 hunters at the Silver City check station to 226 hunters at the Gallatin check station.

Hunter success was below average at the Alder, Canyon Ferry, Divide and Gallatin check stations, and within the long-term average at the Cameron check station. Hunter success ranged from 9.7 percent at the Alder check station to 3.9 percent at the Canyon Ferry check station.

Weather over the weekend was sunny and warm in most areas of the region, with snow only at the highest elevations.

Be bear aware

FWP reminds hunters that bears will remain active throughout the general season, and hunters should be prepared for bear encounters. Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.

People who hunt in places that have or may have grizzly bears—which includes much of the western two-thirds of the state—should take special precautions:

• Carry bear spray and practice to be prepared to use it immediately.
• Look for bear sign and be cautious around creeks and areas with limited visibility.
• Hunt with a group of people. Making localized noise can help alert bears to your presence.
• Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.
• Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible.
• If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.
• Upon your return, make noise and observe the meat with binoculars. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.

For more information and resources on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.