It’s sad. I feel like the antelope hunting is even worse. We were just over near Miles City and didn’t see a single antelope on public land. Very few on private. We got permission to hunt a huge block of BMA, about 40 sections, and there was not a single antelope on the whole place.
MILES CITY – Cooling weather and even possible snow will mark the opening weekend of the general big game season in southeast Montana.
Saturday’s opening day will be slightly cooler, but Sunday is forecast for highs in the low 40s, wind and a mixture of rain and snow.
On Sunday, biological check stations will be operating in the Hysham, Ashland and Glendive areas. Hunters are reminded that they must stop at these check stations even if they do not have game.
Recap of antelope opener, check station traffic
The large amount of precipitation that often accompanies the opening of the general antelope season came a week early this year. But opening day on Oct. 8 was pleasant, and the previous week’s moisture reduced fire danger, making it an attractive weekend for hunters to get out.
At the Hysham check station along I-94, 231 hunters and 180 antelope (155 bucks and 25 does) were checked. It was the most antelope checked at Hysham on the Sunday of the antelope opener dating back to at least 2007. Hunter harvest rates were above average for opening weekend at 79 percent, and most hunters reporting seeing adequate numbers of antelope.
The number of upland bird hunters checked was down, and the feedback from bird hunters was varied. One consistent comment was that the habitat conditions this year are much improved in comparison to last year.
No elk and no deer were checked at Hysham.
At the Broadus check station, workers had 151 hunters come through, and those hunters harvested 96 antelope - 76 bucks and 20 does. Harvest was similar to previous years, and many hunters were reporting seeing a lot of animals afield. A few hunters did come through who harvested some upland game birds, either in addition to antelope or specifically out pursuing them.
The Mosby check station was also on the higher end of antelope being checked in recent years, with biologists crediting that to the nice weather drawing more hunters out to the field. The station saw 135 hunters, with 108 antelope (93 bucks and 15 does). Hunter success rates were up quite a bit at 80 percent, with hunters seeing pockets of areas with good antelope numbers.
I share the same feelings as you on antelope. Looks like the check stations were busy and everyone was happy. Lots of antelope around. I must be doing something wrong. Mule deer are as bad as I’ve seen, even after the huge winter kills after 2012.
