Weather slows hunting activity in west-central Montana

MISSOULA – Hunter numbers through the west-central Montana wildlife check stations were down through the first two weekends of the big game hunting season. Hunter success held above average at the Anaconda and Darby stations and fell below average through Bonner.

Overall, Motana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) biologists checked 3,131 hunters with 118 elk, 24 mule deer, 87 white-tailed deer, two black bear, one sheep, one goat and one wolf in the first two weekends at the three longest running check stations in the region. Last season, 4,029 hunters, 146 elk, 22 mule deer and 114 whitetails passe...