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<br />, <br /> <br />[" 'C')/IO <br />L', . '",:. '\: <br />;... _ .... r...;. <br /> <br />Small Game and Upland Game Birds <br /> <br />The area provides year- round habitat for cottontail rabbits, snowshoe <br /> <br />ha re and pine squi rrel. <br /> <br />Hunting pressure for these species is light although <br /> <br />good populations exist in the area. <br /> <br />Cottontails,in particular, are subject <br /> <br />to frequent fluctuations in population and a re apparently increasing, <br /> <br />They <br /> <br />are found at lower elevations where brushland is dominent. <br /> <br />The snowshoe hare frequents higher elevations compa;ed of timber <br /> <br />and are found throughout the area. The pine squirrel is also found in the <br /> <br />timbered areas higher in elevation. Their presence can easily be identified <br /> <br />by their unmistakable chatter 'and the presence of middens of cone-scales <br /> <br />and other debris. <br /> <br />Upland game birds present include blue grouse, sage grouse and ptar- <br /> <br />migan. <br /> <br />Blue grouse are the most abundant and are common throughout the <br /> <br />area. <br /> <br />One concentration is present near Buffalo Ridge. Their primary <br /> <br />habitat is found in open stands of lodgepole and spruce-fir forests interspersed <br /> <br />with aspen pockets. <br /> <br />The understory often is composed of juniper, sage- <br /> <br />brush, grasses and forbes. <br /> <br />Breeding areas a re typically located at <br /> <br />moderate to lower elevations where small open areas and rocky outcrops <br /> <br />are present. <br /> <br />Nesting and brood areas occur along the river and tributary streams aspen <br /> <br />and willow are prevelent where succulent vegetation and inse~ts are concentrated <br /> <br />to supply food, cover and water. <br /> <br />Broods have also been observed in mature <br /> <br />coniferous forests close to water. <br /> <br />.4- <br />