Region 2 anticipates better than average hunting opportunities for the fall hunting season. Western Montana had another mild winter in 2024-2025, on the heels of a mild winter in 2023-2024, and biologists observed good recruitment for both deer and elk. Winter/spring elk counts in the Upper Clark Fork and Blackfoot were higher than recent years. Early summer conditions were abnormally dry, but we are now seeing increased precipitation, which should benefit animals heading into the fall.

Big game check stations will be open in FWP Region 2 on weekends during the general season in Darby, Bonner, Anaconda and at the mouth of Fish Creek west of Missoula. Region 2 had its first CWD detection in 2023 in HD 213 near Deer Lodge. No new CWD detections were found in 2024, but Region 2 will continue

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