Elk and moose were more observable from the air than 

 either species of deer. The relative abundance of elk as 

 compared to deer was likely a factor of this observability 

 (Table 3) . Nearly 70 percent of the elk were observed from 

 August through October. Observability of elk at this time 

 was related to rutting behavior, the use of higher elevations 

 which provide a cooler climate and the availability of suc- 

 culent vegetation (Joslin 1975). Since the ABLA habitat 

 types are found at higher elevations and have a relatively 

 sparce forest canopy which afforded greater observability, 

 84 percent of the elk were observed in this series (Appen- 

 dix 2) . 



Mule Deer 



Mule deer occur throughout Montana and are found in 

 more diverse habitats than any other native ;ingulate (Egan 

 1971). Ninety-four mule deer observations and over 1,300 

 instances of deer sign (tracks, pellet groups, beds, etc.) 

 were recorded. Information collected for each mule deer 

 observed from April 1977 through July 1978 is presented in 

 Appendix 9. Deer sign collected during October 1977 through 

 March 19 78 is summarized in Table 2 and was used to develop 

 the map of ungulate winter distribution (Figure 6) . Distri- 

 bution of mule deer observed during the study is plotted in 

 Figure 9. 



Sex and age classification of mule deer observed during 

 the report period according to month is given in Table 3. 

 Summer fawn: doe ratios were not calculated for either species 

 of deer because the secretive behavior of these animals com- 

 bined with the dense vegetational cover of the area appeared 

 to influence observability of fawns. Approximately 95 per- 

 cent of the observed adults were classified to sex. Nearly 

 60 percent of all mule deer observations were recorded during 

 the May through July period. Environmental parameters at 

 each observation site are presented in Appendices 2 through 6. 



During April and May mule deer were observed along 

 Keeler Creek, Stanley Creek and Ross Creek. Ten does, four 

 of which were accompanied by fawns of the previous year, were 

 noted in Stanley Creek during May and early June, and were 

 thought to be utilizing the area for fawning although no fawns 

 of the year were observed. The area at and below the pro- 

 posed lower plant site in particular received use by female 

 mule deer during the fawning period. As June progressed the 

 elevations at which mule deer were observed increased and 

 Mount Vernon appeared to be the route used to gain access to 

 the ridge between Mount Vernon and Spar Peak, Although Stanley 

 Creek and Mount Vernon were used throughout the summer, nearly 

 80 percent of the mule deer observations were made above 

 910 m (3,000 feet). The paucity of fall and winter mule deer 



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