How Many Bagged the Big One So Far in Montana

Montana hunters are hitting the trails and mountains in search of big game, and it appears that they are finding success in them hills.  Milder weather and windy conditions haven't dampened spirit or aim in Central Montana.

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The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 4 office in Great Falls is reporting higher than usual numbers in the opening weekend from the Augusta check station for 2025.  Even Montana wildlife saw success, with reports of bear claiming a carcass!

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How Many Bagged the Big One So Far in Montana

MFWP Region 4 is reporting Central Montana hunters were way up for the opening weekend of October 25th.  According to statistics from the station, "a total of 226 hunters in 105 parties were checked at FWP’s Augusta check station during the opening weekend. This is a 14 percent increase compared to hunter numbers during the opening weekend of 2024."  Those numbers were also 4% higher than the 10-year average.

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Those same hunters and hunting parties also scored more game this year on opening weekend.  Numbers for harvested animals increased with approximately 20 percent of hunters having success bagging deer and elk.  Those rates are also higher than the 10-year average.  MFWP added that the "overall elk and deer harvest was 30 percent and 9 percent above average, respectively."

Beware of Bears; Make Sure to Stop at Check Stations Across Montana

In a scary report from the MFWP Augusta station, wardens reported a hunter losing his kill to a bear.  The incident happened in the Gibson area with the hunter stating that a "bear claimed the elk carcass that he harvested but had to leave overnight."  While not confirmed, MFWP is reminding hunters that bears (even grizzly) are still active across the state.

The general deer and elk seasons run through Sunday, November 30, 2025.  The check station along Main Street in Augusta is the only biological check station in region 4 and operates seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.  As a reminder, hunters must stop at any check station they pass while hunting, whether or not they have harvested game.