The annual spring surveys found that adults fared relatively well, but fawn survival was more spotty.

The North Fork of the Flathead’s deep snow and severely cold temperatures proved to be the hardest on fawns in the region. Hunting districts in the Thompson Falls and Eureka areas also didn’t fare quite as well in terms of fawn survival as other areas.

Anderson said the state backed off the number of doe tags it offered this year in those areas in an effort to help alleviate losses to this year’s fawn crop.

“If you want to shoot a doe, there are a lots of other places that should still be good,” Anderson said.

For instance, fawn survival was better in the Libby and Kalispell areas despite deep snow during the winter months.

Hunters in northwestern Montana can hunt does during the first week of the season, which begins Saturday, Oct. 21. They also can hunt does on the last week of the season on private land other than industrial timberlands.