• Latest News
• Archive

Updates

2010 Montana Antelope Forecast

September 24, 2010.

From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:

Antelope hunting prospects in Montana will be generally good in the western and some central portions of the state. Antelope numbers in FWP Region 7 near Mile City are down due to a long, difficult winter that reduced adult and fawn winter survival and recruitment. FWP Region 5 near Billings also has had recent population declines in some areas.

"Antelope hunting will be somewhat improved compared to last year in a large portion of central Montana and to the west, but hunters are likely to notice fewer antelope in the southeastern   and south central portion of the state,” said Quentin Kujala, FWP fish and wildlife division wildlife management section supervisor.

“Reports are that antelope numbers are mostly good in FWP Region 2 in the Deer Lodge Valley and in FWP Region 3 in western Montana.   In FWP Region 4 headquartered in Great Falls, hunters can expect good hunting opportunities, but not the high antelope numbers seen in some areas in recent years,” he said.

In FWP Region 5 antelope populations north and east of Billings continue to suffer low recruitment that may be the consequences of a 2007 outbreak of blue tongue, a gnat-borne virus that is fatal to deer and antelope. No new instances of viral blue tongue infection have been found, but fawn recruitment and total numbers have yet to rebound. In other areas of FWP Region 5 antelope numbers have increased and the hunting outlook is good.

Antelope production in FWP Region 7 is low compared to the previous 10 years and about 37 percent below the long term average for the southeastern Montana region.

Kujala said beginning Aug. 15 many archery antelope hunters were already afield with a 900 series license to archery hunt antelope in any hunting district starting with a 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The 900-series season runs until Nov. 14. The antelope archery season opened Sept. 4.

Montana’s general rifle season for antelope is Oct. 9—Nov. 14.

Antelope hunters must apply in advance for licenses.  Here’s a rundown on what hunters can expect to see out there this season:

Region 6 & 7—Eastern Montana near Glasgow, Glendive and Miles City

In the northern portions of Valley, Phillips, Blaine and Hill counties, numbers are down by more than 20 percent, but appear to be stable in the southern portions of these counties.

In Richland and McCone counties, in the southeastern portion of FWP Region 6 near Glasgow, pronghorn numbers remain good. One of the brightest spots in the region is hunting district 650, where it should be relatively easy to find animals.  

In southeastern Montana, antelope numbers are 37 percent or more below the long-term average. Either sex and doe/fawn quotas have been reduced in this area.

Region 5-South Central Montana near Billings

In the eastern hunting districts of FWP Region 5, antelope numbers continue to lag well behind the long term average numbers. Biologists believe the populations north and east of Billings may still suffer from the consequences of a 2007 outbreak of blue tongue, a gnat-borne virus that is fatal to deer and antelope.

In the western districts of FWP Region 5, where blue tongue was not present, both antelope numbers and spring antelope fawn production are at or above last year’s numbers and the long-term average.

Regions 2, 3 & 4—Western and Southwestern Montana near Missoula, Butte, and Bozeman

FWP Region 2’s lone antelope population, generally located in the Deer Lodge Valley, is increasing in size and distribution, with more than 300 head of antelope. While once concentrated on the east side of the valley, antelope are expanding north of Highway 12 between Drummond and Avon.

Antelope populations in FWP Region 3 look good, with numbers high and stable. FWP counted record high numbers of antelope recently in several of the FWP Region 2 districts where doe/fawn permits were increased to help stabilize or reduce population growth.

Numbers of antelope in FWP Region 4 are generally good compared to last year’s population levels.

More Updates from Hunt The West ...