Courtesy MT FWP
• Destination: SOUTHEAST MONTANA
• Southeast Montana is typically dry and hot heading into fall, but this year conditions are especially dire. All of Montana is experiencing extreme drought, and fire danger is incredibly high.
• The Missouri Breaks (HD 700) and Custer Forest Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, 705) remain the two “core” elk populations in southeast Montana. Outside of these areas, elk numbers are generally low, but numbers have been increasing at a moderate rate, accompanied by a gradual expansion into previously unoccupied habitat.
• FWP biologists typically observe strong calf recruitment and an excellent composition of bulls.
• Branch-antlered bull hunting is by permit only in HDs 700, 702, 704, 705 and the far-western portion of 701. But even if you didn't draw a special permit this year, Region 7 offers opportunities to hunt elk with a general license. The general elk license is valid for spike bull or antlerless elk in HDs 702, 704 and 705 (but not valid on the Custer National Forest during the general rifle season). Allowing spike bulls to be harvested increases opportunity for hunters and prevents accidental violations when spikes are mistaken for antlerless elk.
• In HD 703 and the eastern three-quarters of 701, hunters can pursue either-sex elk with a general license, but hunters should be aware that elk are scarce in these districts, often highly transient or occurring in small pockets of habitat, and primarily found on private land. The estimated elk harvest in HD 703 for 2020 was 65 elk, compared 4,000 for the relatively abundant mule deer.
• Harvest estimates suggest about 180 elk were harvested in HD 701, 650 in HD 700, and about 750 in the Custer Forest Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, and 705). Hunters can expect elk to be distributed a bit differently this year due to drought.
• The drought will undoubtedly impact deer hunting this fall, but biologists expect to see a bigger impact from the coming winter and hunters should expect to see even fewer deer next season (2022). Region 7 began 2021 with below-average mule deer numbers.
• This year’s drought means animals are going into winter with little to no fat reserves, and winter is a season during which deer struggle to eat enough to meet their energy needs even in good years. If they can’t store enough fat during the summer, they can struggle to survive the winter.
• Mule deer observed during spring survey flights were 28 percent below last year and 17 percent below the long-term average, a result of drought in the southern portion of the region that began last fall. The recruitment rate for mule deer fawns this spring was just below average at 55 fawns per 100 adults, and was generally poorer further south in the region.
• In response to drought and poor habitat conditions, biologists in southeast Montana reduced antlerless quotas for 2021 by 50 percent. Previously, these licenses had been selling out during about the third week of the season. This year, they are expected to sell out much sooner.
• Mule deer numbers had been increasing since about 2012, a result of mild winters and good spring/summer moisture. The good news for hunters is that each good year for deer production and survival equals a solid year-class recruited into the population, so Region 7 currently has a good dispersion of age classes on the ground with a mix of young, middle-age and older animals. Buck-to-doe ratios remain good, averaging 41 bucks per 100 does in the region.
• Whitetail numbers remain variable but are generally up, depending on the area of the region. Overall, their numbers are 12 percent above last year. Whitetails in core river bottom habitat are well above long-term averages. (Ed: The recent proliferation of EHD, or blue tongue along the local river bottoms has no doubt reduced whitetail numbers) However, in upland and agriculture habitats, numbers vary from below average to well above.
• Buck harvest was 28 percent above long-term average last fall. Fawn recruitment this spring was a little below average at 51 fawns per 100 adults.
• Pronghorn populations have dropped considerably from last year across southeastern Montana.
• Overall, the pronghorn population in this region is 39 percent lower than in 2020, and 20 percent below the 10-year average. Much of this decline is due to the severe drought, as well as overabundant grasshoppers in area that depleted vegetation.
• While the decline occurred throughout the region, in general pronghorn numbers remain better in the southern third of the region (primarily HDs 704 and 705). During summer surveys, biologists observed more than five pronghorn per square mile in the very southeast corner of the state. That transitioned from more than two pronghorn per square mile in the central portion of HD 705, and from less than one to just over one pronghorn per square mile throughout most of HDs 700, 701 and 703.
• The good news is that buck numbers are healthy going into this hunting season, with 59 bucks per 100 does across the region. Hunters can find better success in remoter areas with good public land opportunities.
• FWP is offering fewer Region 7 either-sex and doe/fawn rifle licenses than in the last few years. A newer opportunity is the 799-30 doe/fawn license, which is valid only in HDs 704 and 705. It is a second opportunity license that is available only to those hunters who drew a 007-20 and/or 007-30 pronghorn license (which are valid in all of Region 7). The 799-30 license is available one per hunter. Sportsmen may hold up to three pronghorn licenses in a given year, only one of which may be an either-sex license.
• During weather extremes, animals may often distribute differently compared to most years. Hunters should be prepared to have backup spots in case pronghorn have shifted away from their usual fall use areas; finding anywhere with green vegetation is a good place to focus. Given the hot and dry conditions, archery pronghorn hunters targeting water holes may have quite a few encounters; however, be aware that many reservoirs are very low or are completely dry, so hunters may have to search for ones with water remaining or focus on stock tanks.
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