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Lek STG-3 was located by the sound, rather than sight, of dancing <br />sharp-tails. Tall standing dead grass made it impossible to accurate- • <br />ly count the number of birds at STG-3. Even a flush count was not <br />totally reliable, as some birds could be heard moving off through the <br />grass as observers approached. At least 17 birds were present on 18 <br />April, and at least 9 were at the lek on 1 May. <br />Although STG-4, like STG-3, was in a CRP pasture, a sizable area <br />of grass on the knoll was beaten down; probably, in part, from the <br />birds' dancing activity. Because this lek was ad,)acent to, and visi- <br />ble from, a paved road, a good count could be made from inside a <br />vehicle without disturbing the birds. On 2 May, 15 grouse (12 males <br />and 3 females) were observed at STG-4. <br />The CDGW defines sharp-tailed grouse production areas as lands <br />within 2 km (1.24 miles) of a dancing ground. Plotted strictly by • <br />distance, the production area for STG-1, STG-3, and STG-4 would in- <br />clude a sizable part of the proposed permit area, encompassing most of <br />Sections 8 and 16, and part of Section 17. However, topography and <br />habitat can rule out most, if not all of Section 17, as well as most <br />of Sections 8 and 16, from serious consideration as brood habitat. <br />Columbian sharp-tailed grouse depend on an interspersion of grass- <br />lands, brush or shrublands, and often hay or grain fields in spring <br />and summer. The extreme north part of the proposed permit area would <br />meet these requirements. Higher, steeper portions of the permit area <br />are characterized by tall, dense brush and aspen, with very few open- <br />ings or meadows. Such areas are not considered typical for sharp- <br />tailed grouse brood rearing. In fact, no sharp-tailed grouse were <br />observed on or near the proposed permit area after the breeding season • <br />22 <br />