observations do not allow interpretation of seasonal habitat 

 use. It is probable that mule deer were using the higher 

 elevations (which the investigator did not frequent during 

 the winter months) because they were not observed as commonly 

 as white-tailed deer, elk or moose. 



White-tailed Deer 



White-tailed deer concentrations in Montana have always 

 been greatest in the northwest portion of the state but 

 recently whitetails have increased their range along major 

 river systems east of the Continental Divide (Allen 1971) . 

 One hundred-nineteen whitetail observations were recorded 

 during the report period. Information collected for each 

 whitetail observed from April 1977 through July 1978 is pre- 

 sented in Appendix 10. Distribution of white-tailed deer ob- 

 served during the study is plotted on Figure 10. 



Sex and age classification of white-tailed deer observed 

 each month is given in Table 3. Over 70 percent of all white- 

 tailed deer were classified. Sixty-five percent of all white- 

 tail observations were made during April and May. Environ- 

 mental parameters at each observation site are presented in 

 Appendices 2 through 6. Over 9 5 percent of the whitetail 

 observations were recorded below 910 m (3,000 feet), primarily 

 along Keeler Mountain, Grouse Mountain, Stanley Mountain and 

 Highway 56. Distribution of white-tailed deer did not appear 

 to change significantly during the spring, summer, fall and 

 winter periods. Eighty percent of all whitetail observations 

 were noted within the TSHE-THPL Series, observed use of which 

 was significantly greater than by the other ungulate species. 

 The north slopes of Stanley and Keeler mountains were used 

 extensively by deer during the late fall and winter. Both 

 sites are important deer wintering areas which were omitted 

 from the KNF winter range map (Figure 6) . 



Bighorn Sheep 



Historically bighorn sheep were numerous in Montana, but 

 with domestic livestock range competition, contraction of 

 disease from domestic sheep, and hunting, wild sheep decreased 

 markedly. Evidence indicates that bighorn sheep are not 

 native to the West Cabinet Mountains. In 1969 and in 1975, 

 bighorns were released by the Montana Department of Fish and 

 Game on Berray Mountain, 11 aerial km (7 mi) from Mount Vernon, 

 Two female bighorns, both wearing color-coded plastic neck 

 bands, were observed on the south aspect of Mount Vernon within 

 500 m of the south adit on three occasions during May 1977. 

 Identification of these collars indicated that these sheep 

 were part of the Berray Mountain transplant. These observa- 

 tions were made on the road at 1,460 m (4,800 ft) in the 



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