Mild Season Opener Brings More Hunters and Success to Much of South-Central Montana

Montana’s big game general hunting season opened on Saturday, Oct. 24, under mild and sunny autumn skies across the south-central part of the state.

State wildlife officials operated biological check stations in Big Timber, Columbus, Lavina, and Billings throughout Saturday and Sunday. Across all four locations, staff recorded 1,077 hunters over the weekend, a figure virtually identical to the 1,087 hunters who stopped by during the 2025 opening weekend.

Yet while total participation held steady, the actual volume of harvested game told a different story. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) staff checked 81 harvested mule deer, up from 64 the previous year, alongside 78 elk, 63 white-tailed deer, and 41 antelope. By comparison, the 2025 opening weekend yielded 84 elk, 51 white-tailed deer, and 25 antelope.

Regional Breakdown at Check Stations

Mandatory for all hunters regardless of success, FWP biological check stations are designed to capture broader wildlife management trends rather than sample every animal taken. Success rates across the four regional posts ranged from a low of 18 percent up to 35 percent.

The Big Timber check station recorded the region’s highest number of harvested elk at 29, a total that aligns with recent years and sits comfortably above the long-term average. Big Timber also boasted the highest success rate in the region at 35 percent, with white-tailed deer, mule deer, and antelope harvests all above harvests from last year on opening weekend.

Down the road in Columbus, hunter numbers remained nearly identical to last year but hovered below the long-term average. Even so, the Columbus success rate climbed to 32 percent, marking its highest point since 2021. Columbus staff checked 23 mule deer—the highest opening weekend count there since 2017—while elk harvests stayed consistent with long-term averages.

Lavina Draws the Crowds

Lavina saw the heaviest traffic of any station in the region, drawing 474 hunters over the weekend. That turnout outpaced the historical weekend average of 449 hunters, continuing a long-term trend for the area. Lavina’s hunter success rate hit an above-average 18 percent, driven by spikes in white-tailed deer and antelope harvests that exceeded both recent years and long-term benchmarks.

Meanwhile, the Billings check station experienced a dip in visitor volume. Only 241 hunters stopped by Billings this year, down significantly from 326 during the 2025 opening weekend. Despite the lower foot traffic, Billings recorded its highest success rate since 2021, with 24 percent of checked hunters carrying game. White-tailed deer and antelope numbers rose in Billings compared to last year, while elk and mule deer counts dropped.

Hunters seeking specific regulations for deer, elk, and antelope can review current rules through the official Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks portal.