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were found during the spring and summer. 1000 random points were placed on <br />vegetation maps (Table 12). The second method was more specific as to what was <br />available within calving home ranges. It involved taking the average percent of <br />each vegetation type within calving home ranges of that specific group of elk <br />(Table 13). <br />For purposes of comparison, elk were divided into 5 different groups (see <br />Appendix) Similar to groups used for home range size and fidelity comparisons. <br />In addition, because of differences in the control group, it was divided into 2 <br />groups (Control 1 and Control 2). In Control Group 1, elk were trapped at the <br />same sites as Mine elk and had similar habitat use and selection patterns. Most <br />of Control Group 2 were trapped at a location further from the mine site and <br />showed some significant differences in habitat use and selection. <br />Calving habitat is characterized predominately by aspen and secondarily by <br />mountain shrub (Tables 12 and 13). Aspen makes up approximately 20% of the <br />general region, but makes up approximately 45% of most calving home ranges (the <br />exception being Control 2 elk) and approximately 60% of all observations were <br />made in aspen (the exception being Control 2 and Yearling elk). Mountain shrub <br />makes up approximately 25% of the general region and about 25% of calving home <br />ranges and is used in that proportion 6y elk during calving (exception Control 2 <br />and Yearlings). Control 2 elk were the major exception. Mountain shrub rather <br />than aspen was selected by these elk. Mountain shrub made up approximately 50% <br />of their calving home ranges and_ approximately 60% of their observations were <br />made there. Aspen made up only 25% of their calving home ranges and was used <br />proportionately. Yearlings had 30% aspen and 40% mountain shrub in their home <br />ranges and they were used proportionately. ' <br />Approximately 78% of the elk in this study selected aspen during the <br />calving period and used mountain shrub according to its availability. However, <br />the reverse is true for Control 2 elk (22% of the elk in the study). Most other <br />vegetation types were selected against except reclaimed areas which were used in <br />proportion to availability (Tables 12 and 13). <br />8 <br />