BILLINGS – The general antelope hunting season opened Saturday, Oct. 12, with sunny, mild weather across south-central Montana. Hunter numbers and success throughout the region were relatively consistent with recent years for the same weekend but both were below long-term averages, despite the good conditions.
FWP operated biological game check stations in Big Timber, Broadview and Billings on both Saturday and Sunday for the opening weekend for the general antelope season. The general antelope season is open until Nov. 10.
The youth deer hunt is this Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18. These two early days of deer hunting are open to legally licensed hunters aged 12-15 and properly certified apprentice hunters aged 10-15. For more information on youth hunting in Montana, visit: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/youth.
All hunters are required to stop at game check stations, regardless of success. No biological check stations will operate this weekend, Oct. 19-20. In south-central Montana, check stations in Billings, Lavina, Columbus and Big Timber will operate on both Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27, for the opening weekend of the general deer and elk season.
Hunting regulations for deer, elk and antelope are available online here.
Big Timber Check Station
Hunter success was highest at the Big Timber check station at 70%. Over the weekend, 185 hunters visited the check station, which is down slightly from opening weekend last year and well below the long-term average of 288 hunters for the same weekend.
FWP staff checked 111 antelope—95 males and 16 females—at this check station. Thirteen of these males had horns 14 inches or longer.
Upland bird hunter numbers at this check station were similar to opening weekend last year at 43 hunters. Three elk and one mountain goat were also checked at the Big Timber check station.
Broadview Check Station
The Broadview check station saw the highest number of hunters but the lowest success rate for the region. Of the 204 hunters that visited this check station, only 29% had harvested big game. Hunter numbers were up slightly from last year, while hunter success was lower this year.
Fifty-seven total harvested antelope came through the Broadview check station. Of these, 50 antelope were males and 2 of these had horns 14 inches or larger.
FWP staff also checked 27 bird hunters at the Broadview check station, which is consistent with the number of bird hunters at this check station over the same weekend last year. Two mule deer and one elk were also checked at the Broadview check station over the weekend.
Billings Check Station
The Billings check station had the fewest number of hunters over the weekend at just 137. Of these hunters, 39% had harvested big game.
FWP did not operate the Billings check station for the opening weekend of the general antelope season last year due to staffing shortages. Over the same weekend in 2022, 94 hunters visited the Billings check station.
In addition to antelope, FWP staff at the Billings check station checked 1 moose, 3 elk and 21 bird hunters with a mix of harvested pheasants, grouse and Hungarian partridge.
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