Slow season start for elk hunters in west-central Montana

MISSOULA – After the first two weekends of big game season, west-central Montana hunter check stations show that elk harvest is off to a slow start, but hunter traffic through the stations is up from last season.

The number of hunter trips through the Darby, Bonner and Anaconda check stations totaled 3,387 for the first two weekends of the season, up eight percent from this point in the 2020 season. Those hunters checked enough deer to keep deer harvest on track with last year, while the 92 elk reported so far marks a five-year low.

At the check station near Darby, the tally of 59 elk is 31 pe...