GREAT FALLS – At the end of the third full week of general rifle season, both the total harvest and hunter numbers continue to remain low at FWP’s check station in Augusta. Although numbers in both categories began to increase towards the end of the week, the increase was not enough to offset the slow start to the season. Just over 1,300 hunters have been checked this season, which is 33% below recent averages. The last time hunter numbers were this low was in 2001.

The arrival of snow and cold weather has helped with hunter success however, so the hunters who are venturing into the fi...