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4 - 23 • The habitat types most important to deer were evaluated primarily by deer pellet group counts, and by track counts on fresh snow. These were quantitative sampling efforts which serve an important function, that is, to augment unstructured field observations. Pellet-grou counts were conducted in four habitat types. At each site all distinct pellet groups were cou within circular quadrats of 50m2 each. Twenty-five quadrats, spaced at lOm intervals, were positioned through homogenous vegetation at each of the sites sampled. The data obtained from the pellet-group counts (fable 4.3.1) are useful for comparison relative differences in habitat use. They are not appropriate for estimates of deer density of deer-days-use, since pellet-groups were of uncertain age. It should be noted that sampling adequacy, expressed by the standard error or the mean (SE) will not permit rigorous statisti comparisons of differences among the four sites. Nevertheless, it is believed that the relati differences shown are useful for general habitat evaluations. The DOW input in the West-Ce Colorado Coal EIS Nolume 2) included the statements: "Pellet group transects indicate an average of 42 deer days of use per acre in the area near the lease tracts", and muledeer wi • populations have been estimated at about 50 deer per square mile. This would indicate a to deer population within the GVC lease area of about 700 animals during the winter months". A deer pellet-group density of 2,112 groups per hectare (855 per acre), as found in the pinyon•juniper/bottomland sagebrush ectone, would be considered indicative of very heavy by deer if these pellet accumulation occurred within, for example, a normal six month winter period. The data presented, therefore, tend to exaggerate deer use of this habitat, since, a stated above, many of the pellet-groups were of uncertain age. Also, this habitat is a thin ectone, or edge, between the pinyon-juniper and the bottomland sagebrush. Such edges a these between larger, more homogeneous vegetation types, typically tend to concentrate wildlife. Winter track counts were conducted in January, 1978, following a snow storm. Approximately 15 CM (6 inches) of snow had fallen the two pervious nights, with the night preceding the counts being relatively mild and clear. These conditions are optimal for conducting track counts since deer are active after a storm and aft tracks observed in each sample area represent deer activity that occurred over and equal time period. Results of de . track counts (Table 4.3-2) are basically similar to those of the pellet-group counts. M~ P nted s of cal ve ntral nter tal use s s er Volume 1 4.29-96