223 



Use of vegetation: Nearly all antelope were observed in grassland 

 habitats (Table 123). Xerlc grassland, big sage-grassland and 

 skunkbush grassland may have been underestimated in spring 1980 

 because this type was not separated from xeric grassland during 

 that season. Use of sagebrush was highest in spring and summer. 

 Use of agricultural types was highest in fall. 



Activity: Most of the antelooe were already running from the 

 airplane when observed (Table 124). The proportion of antelope 

 observed runnine; was partly dependent on the proportion of 

 antelope observed during ground surveys (which were less likely 

 to spook). Antelope which were farther from the aerial flight 

 line were less likely to be running when spotted. Antelope were 

 more likely to be stationary when observed during spring and 

 winter. This agrees with the findings of Martin (198Ca) in the 

 Otter Creek and Hanging Woman Creek areas. 



Use of topography: Most antelope were observed on dissected mid- 

 slooes or mesa-butte tops (Table 125). Antelooe were observed 

 only on large, fairly flat-topped mesas which afforded them good 

 visability. Alluvium areas along creek bottoms were occasionally 

 used in spring and summer. 



Use of exposure: Antelope were observed on nearly all exposures 

 in every season exceot winter (Table 126). The 100% use of 

 east exposures in winter cannot be considered significant, since 

 only two herds were sighted in winter. Antelope choice of 

 exposure is probably not significant on gentle slopes, which were 

 heavily used during most seasons. 



Use of slooe : The majority of antelooe were seen on flat or gentle 

 slopes in all seasons except fall (Table 127), when the majority 

 of observations were on medium slopes. Antelope were never observed 

 on steep slopes. 



Sharp-tailed Grouse 



Sixteen sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds were located in or 

 near the study area (Figure 103). Attendance by male birds on 

 known grounds averaged 11.8 in 1980 and 9.1 in 1981 (Table 128). 

 These figures are nearly identical to attendance on grounds in 

 the Birney study area (Table 101). Average attendance on the 13 

 grounds located in 1980 was 9.8 in 1981, indicating a decrease 

 in numbers. Since the winter of I98O-81 was very mild, the 

 decrease probably was caused by poor production and recruitment 

 during the summer of 198O. 



There are approximately 0.17 grounds per square mile in the 



study area. This compares favorably with 0.I8 grounds per 



square mile in the Birney study area, 0.12 grounds per square 



mile in the Colstrip area (Schwartzkoph pers. comm) and 0.22 grounds 



per square mile in the Otter Creek area (Martin 1980a). All 



except two of the grounds were located in the western half of the 



