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resulted in an increase in the herd's population numbers to approximately 23,000 at present (White, 1976) from popu- -~:~~ lation lows of less than 4,000 prior to 1900 (Felter, 1961 and Soyd, 1970).• Although seasonal hunting is now permitted, close management by the Colorado Division of Wildlife is aimed at increasing the size of the herd to 30,000. The summer range of the White River herd 2s in the Flat Tops Primitive Area, where most of the herd's elk will concentrate. In winter the elk move off plateaus to lower altitudes. A majority of the•'herd move to the west, down the White River, but about ten percent of the herd (2,000) migrate northward into the Williams Fork Mountains (White, 1976). It is this groua of elk that will us.e the study site, chiefly for grazing and cover. These elk move back and forth along the east-cvest axis of the ~villiams Fork Mountains from mid-Deceabez to early April. Their winter movements are confined to an area roughly between Hamilton on the west to Oak Creek oa the east. A small number of elk, approximately 80 to 100, spend the summer in the Williams Fork Mountains (White, 1976), but most elk follow the retreating snow line back into the Flat Togs Primitive Area. _ The nunber of elk wintering in the Williams Fork Mountains has been increasing in recent years, partly due ~"~,• to an overall increase in the Y7hite River elk herd. In addition, the quantity of good winter range elsewhere has decreased and increased recreational use of the Flat Tops Primitive Area has disrupted seasonal movements of elk (Hector, 1976, and iv'hite, 1976). Elk are social animals and move in groups which average in number about 30 in suimner and 100 to 20'0 in winter. Herds of 150 elk have been seen foraging in the Williams Fork Mountains (Hector, 1976). During heavy snows ~ahen crusting makes movement difficult, elk are restricted to areas where either the snow is blown free, such as ridge tops, or where the snow does not have a heavy crust, such as bases of south facing cliffs. Elk wintering in the Williams Fork Mountains range as far north as the Yamna River. However, most of the _ Yampa River Valley has been plowed and is unsuitable for elk forage. Movements of elk are usually concentrated along the Hayden Divide, north of the study site, or along the broken cliff areas in Hayden Gulch west of the site as well as south of the site alena south facing cliffs. ~~ -70-