District of the Jefferson Division on the Lewis and Clark National 

 Forest (Fig. 2). The Kings Hill Ranger District lies in the Little 

 Belt Mountains of central Montana. The Little Belt Mountains are 

 dome-like with smooth rounded tops flanked by valleys. They are 

 composed of an igneous rock core with sandstone, limestone, and 

 shale exposed on the higher ridges. The north and south facing 

 slopes are uplifted and tilted limestone beds (U.S. Forest Service 

 1986) . Elevations range from 4500 ft. along the Smith River to 9200 

 ft. at Slide Rock Point. 



Lower elevations of the district are dominated by Douglas fir 

 ( Pseudotsuqa - menziesii ) forest with small grassland parks on 

 exposed ridges and steep south facing slopes. Middle elevation 

 areas are dominated by lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta) . Aspen 

 ( Populus tremuloides ) , Douglas fir, and spruce (Picea enqlemannii ) 

 are also found. High elevation areas are severely affected by high 

 winds. Trees tend to be shorter than normal, big boled with dense 

 limbs extending to the ground. Lodgepole pine mixed with stands of 

 whitebark pine ( Pinus albicaulis ) , spruce, Douglas fir, and 

 subalpine fir ( Abies lasiocarpa ) are the major tree types at high 

 elevations. Alpine meadows are interspersed with trees along the 

 ridges. 



Annual precipitation ranges from 14 in. on the lower slopes to 

 50 in. on the higher peaks. 



METHODS 

 Forest Service technician Bob Gliko and I surveyed* owls using 



