the seasonal use of dense cover types by elk (X 2 =51.9, 3 df, 

 P<0.005). The greatest use of dense cover occurred during 

 autumn in association with the hunting season. The lowest use 

 of dense overhead cover types by elk was during winter when 

 use of dense overhead cover was highest by mule deer. 

 Campbell and Knowles (1978) reported similar findings from 

 their study of elk in the "River breaks" habitats north and 

 east of our study area. 



Habitats used by mule deer and elk also differed 

 significantly in the number of cover types occurring per block 

 during all seasons (Chi-Square tests, all P's <0.0001). 

 During summer and autumn, mule deer used more diverse areas 

 (more cover types/block) than elk. During winter, however, elk 

 used areas with more cover types/block than mule deer. 

 Although number of cover types in blocks used by mule deer and 

 elk were significantly different during spring, interpretation 

 of the results was difficult. Elk used areas with 1 and 3 

 cover types/block more than mule deer, while mule deer used 

 areas with 2 cover types/block more than elk. Use of areas 

 with 4-8 cover types/block was similar between mule deer and 

 elk. These results observed for blocks with 1-3 cover types 

 may have occurred because, during spring, elk ranged further 

 into the open sagebrush-grassland type. When not in the open, 

 they were well within the timbered types. Mule deer, on the 

 other hand, generally used the sagebrush-grassland type in 

 close proximity to timbered cover. This "edge effect" 

 resulted in mule deer distribution in blocks containing 2 

 cover types while elk were more likely to be either in the 

 open (1 cover type) or well within timbered habitat (3 or more 

 types ) . 



Differences in the number of cover polygons among blocks 

 (Chi-square tests, all P's <0.0001) were similar to 

 differences in numbers of cover types/block. The only major 

 difference between the 2 parameters occurred during winter 

 when mule deer used the most diverse and the least diverse 

 areas more than elk, and elk used the middle spectrum of 

 diversity more than did deer. During all seasons, mule deer 

 used areas with greater topographic relief than elk 

 (Chi-square tests, all Ps <0.0001). 



During dry autumns, mule deer and elk were not 

 distributed differently in relation to distance to water 

 sources (X 2 =6.22, 3 df, P=0.10). During all other seasons in 

 both wet and dry years, mule deer and elk were distributed 

 differently (Chi-square tests, all P's <0.005) in relation to 

 distance to water sources. During both wet and dry summers, 

 a significantly greater proportion of elk than mule deer were 

 within 0.805 km of water. During wet summers, more elk were 

 also observed at 1.61 km or more from water. A greater 

 proportion of mule deer than elk was from 0.805-1.61 km from 



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