Northwest Montana Deer Harvest Dips This Season
Check station counts show fewer white-tailed deer reported than at the same point last year, while mule deer bucks rose.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hunting
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Hunters reported 269 white-tailed deer through Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, which is 80 fewer than at the same point in 2025. Overall hunter success was 7.2%, down from 8.3% last season, across four regional check stations.
Why it matters
The drop in whitetail reports reflects warm weather that kept deer bedded during the day and moving mostly after dark, making them harder for hunters to find. Hunters in northwest Montana should expect the harvest to pick up as temperatures cool and the rut approaches.
Check stations recorded 48 mule deer bucks, up from 42, and 32 elk, down from 37, through Nov. 8. Success rates ranged from 5.5% at Swan Lake to 9.1% at Thompson Falls.
The details
Warm conditions kept deer bedded down during daylight hours, moving mostly after dark. Thompson Falls reported 25 white-tailed deer, up from 20, even as the Olney station's success rate fell from 10.7% to 8.4%.
Timeline
Nov. 8, 2026: Third weekend of the general season harvest tally
2025 general season: Comparison harvest totals at the same point last year
Seasonal Patterns
Compared with the 2025 general season tallies at the same checkpoint, this year's whitetail numbers run 80 deer behind, while mule deer reports rose from 42 to 48. The gap suggests the warm-weather effect shifted harvest patterns rather than reflecting a broader change in deer numbers.
Hunters planning trips in northwest Montana may find better success as cooler weather pushes deer into more active daytime movement. Checking current station reports before heading out can help time trips around the expected pickup in harvest.
The takeaway
Warm weather can shift deer movement enough to lower harvest numbers even when populations remain steady. Hunters should adjust their strategy to dawn and dusk when temperatures stay high.
Further reading
For more on seasonal hunting conditions, browse Hunting coverage across the state.
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