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South Central Montana Antelope Season Off to Slow Start

October 15, 2010.

From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:

Antelope harvest was relatively slow in south central Montana during the opening weekend of the 2010 season, despite an extra day to gather statistics at check stations.

For the first time in recent history, Montana’s antelope season opened on a Saturday this year – a day earlier than the traditional Sunday opening. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials operated three south central Montana check stations for both days, Oct. 9 and 10.

While the number of antelope checked by biologists was above the past two years, it remained well below historic averages. Hunters reported that muddy roads limited access to some areas on Saturday. And residual effects of a 2007 disease die off apparently continue to limit the number of antelope in the eastern districts of FWP Region 5.

At the Big Timber check station, FWP wildlife biologist Justin Paugh reported that heavy rain on Friday and muddy roads on Saturday were the main topics of conversation by hunters. Conditions improved on Sunday as sunshine and warm temperatures dried the roads.

Hunters who arranged permission ahead of time on private lands seemed to be satisfied with access, Paugh said. However hunters who tried to gain access by knocking on doors Saturday morning had virtually no luck finding a place to hunt.  

At Billings, more hunters stopped at the check station than last year, but they reported the same number of harvested antelope as in 2009.

At the Broadview check station, the number of hunters and harvested antelope was higher than last year, but still well behind the long-term average. Only in 2009 and 1997 were   fewer antelope checked at Broadview

FWP wildlife biologist Jay Newell of Roundup, who ran the Broadview check station, said the number of antelope licenses issued for districts north and east of Billings was lower this year than in previous seasons. Biologists continue to notice the residual impact of a 2007 blue tongue outbreak in the antelope herd, he said. That disease, spread by tiny gnats, may be responsible for low reproduction north of Billings. License numbers were reduced this year to reflect fewer antelope in the field.

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