Big game season going well, bird population affected by drought

With big game hunting season in full swing, hunters have been seeing and harvesting game aplenty, wildlife officials say.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Havre-area biologist Scott Hemmer said Wednesday that 151 hunters have brought their mule deer to the check station this season, a number that's up about 20 percent from this time last year.

FWP posted on its website Monday that the Havre hunter check station was fairly active over the Oct. 21-22 weekend of general deer and elk opening, with an increase in hunters compared to last year.

Since it's in Havre, Hemmer said, the hunters who...