2024 Hunting Forecasts

It’s fall and hunting season is upon us. Soon the mornings will be crisp and cold and the leaves will be turning. Under the Big Sky, this is the season many of us spend the whole year looking forward to. In the following forecasts, FWP outlines what hunters can expect for deer, elk and pronghorn seasons around the state. We also have a fairly in-depth upland game bird forecast. Along with this great information, we have some tips on being safe in bear country and the importance of being good stewards when hunting on private lands.

Destination: Northeast Montana (Region 6)

A couple years of drought and the long winter in 2022-23 have reduced deer and elk populations. FWP adjusted license quotas in many districts as needed.

The winter of 2023-24 was fairly mild, however, and habitat conditions in much of northeast Montana have improved considerably. Abundant spring and early summer rainfall earlier this year resulted in good recovery of range plants.

Elk

Surveys in the Missouri River Breaks showed elk numbers about 56 percent below long-term averages and population at 41 percent below the objective identified in the Montana Elk Management Plan. In reaction, biologists reduced antlerless (cow) licenses by 550 licenses (69 percent) in hunting districts (HD) 620, 621, 622 and 630, and removed the late elk shoulder season for 2024.

In the Bears Paw area, elk remain within population objectives and no changes were made to license quotas.

Mule deer

Overall, spring surveys showed the region-wide mule deer densities at 16 percent below the long-term average. Surveys in 2024 revealed a significant decrease from both the 2023 surveys and the historic high population observed in 2021. Biologists reduced antlerless Mule Deer B License quota levels by 3,375 (54 percent) across the region from 6,200 in 2023 to 2,825 in 2024.

In HDs 621 and 622, a more restrictive hunting season initiated in 2023 will continue in 2024. Buck-only harvest, and no B Licenses, will be valid in these districts. The 620-00 antlerless Mule Deer B License will only be valid in HD 620.

Additionally, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission passed regulations that restrict antlerless mule deer harvest to occur only on private land in FWP Regions 6 and 7. Like always, please read and follow all hunting regulations.

White-tailed deer

White-tailed deer densities remain low across the region, but there are some relatively higher densities in the far northeastern corner and western edge of the region.

Region 6 Antlerless Whitetail B Licenses will again be available for over-the-counter purchase, with a limit of three per hunter. These licenses are valid across all of Region 6 to allow hunters to use the license where whitetail numbers may be higher.

Pronghorn (Antelope)

In general, pronghorn populations have slowly increased during the past 13 years across the region from historic lows in 2011. Total antelope numbers across the region during summer surveys were near average, as were fawn and buck ratios.

Biologists observed an increase in antelope population in HD 630 and a decrease in HD 650, and adjusted quotas accordingly. Other hunting districts’ license quotas in the region remained the same as the 2023 license allocation.