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3. It was felt that mining may result in abandonment of high quality <br />calving areas. Some studies have shown the importance of high quality <br />spring and sunnier range to reproductive potential in deer (Robinette <br />et al. 1955, Julander et al. 1961) and it was felt that elk may be <br />displaced into less desirable habitat. <br />4. It was felt that mining could result in disturbances that would cause <br />increased movement and harassment of calving elk resulting in stress <br />at a time when energy demands are already at their peak due to late <br />stages of gestation, lactation and growth of calves. <br />All of the above were thought to be factors which would result in lower <br />productivity of the elk presently using the mine area. In order to determine <br />what impacts mining may be having on calving elk, four (4) null hypotheses were <br />tested: <br />1. Reproduction of elk using active mine areas was not different from elk <br />using areas undisturbed by mining; <br />2. The size of calving home ranges for elk using active mine areas was <br />not different from elk using areas undisturbed by mining; <br />3. Fidelity to calving home ranges of elk using active mine areas was not <br />different from elk using areas undisturbed by mining; and <br />4. Habitat utilization and selection patterns of elk using active mine <br />areas were not different from elk using areas undisturbed by mining. <br />Based on July cow:calf ratios for the past 3 years, no significant <br />differences could be found in reproduction between elk using mine ar control <br />areas. Based on 4 years of calving home range size, fidelity, and habitat <br />utilization and selection pattern data, no significant differences could be <br />10 <br />