Montana FWP Sees Strong Start to General Hunting Season

An Official Journal Of The NRA | More Montana Deer and Elk Hunters Afield on Opening Day

More sportsmen and sportswomen were afield than last year when Montana’s 2025 general rifle big-game season opened to cool and windy conditions on Oct. 25. Despite the increased participation. success rates also improved.

General hunting season opens with variable hunter turnout, harvest in south-central Montana

The 2025 big game general hunting season opened with warm temperatures and mild wind in south-central Montana. Hunter numbers varied significantly across the region, as did animal harvests.

Montana FWP sees strong start to general hunting season

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FWP sees strong start to general hunting season

(Photo courtesy of Pixabay | Public domain). The 2025 big game general hunting season began Oct. 25 and hunters across western and central Montana saw mixed weather conditions but still headed out in droves, reporting increased harvest numbers compared to last year’s opening weekend, according to data collected by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Across Regions 1, 2, 3,  and 4, hundreds more hunters stopped at FWP check stations on Oct. 25-26, …

Above-average Hunter Participation and Success rates for General Season in SW Montana

Montana’s general hunting season for deer and elk kicked off on Saturday with seasonably mild weather and high hunter participation in many areas of southwestern Montana. Wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex, and age class of harvested animals. This supplements data collected...