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• RESULTS <br />BIG GAME <br />The sky was mostly clear during the aerial survey on 7 February. Snow cover was nearly <br />complete, and approximately 3 feet in depth (range -2 to 4 feet). Steeper south and west facing <br />slopes had minimal snow cover. In general, snow fall was average for the area during winter <br />2001-2002. Visibility during the survey was rated as good. <br />Expanded Survey Area <br />All wildlife observations from the aerial survey are listed in Appendix I. Big game <br />observations are also illustrated on Exhibit 1. A total of 682 elk (7.6 /mil) in 43 herds were seen <br />during the survey. Thirteen herds of mule deer (53 animals) were also observed. Additional <br />animals recorded included five sharp-tailed grouse and eight coyotes (Canis latrans). Elk herds <br />ranged in size from I to 31 animals, and averaged 7.3 individuals. Elk were widely distributed <br />throughout the area, but were notably absent from the north-central portion and the Seneca II <br />• pennit area. Elk were sparse in the southwest, southeast, and extreme northwest corners of the <br />area (Exhibit I ). The predominant habitat types in those portions of the survey area, except in <br />the southwest, are agricultural fields, reclamation, and flat grasslands. <br />Ninety-five percent (647) of the elk observed were in mountain brush habitat. The <br />remaining elk (35) were observed in trembling aspen stands. <br />TWC has surveyed the expanded area nine times: December 1994, each January from <br />1995 through 1998, and each February from 1999 through 2002. With the exception of three <br />years (1994, 1996 and 1998), elk densities in the expanded area have remained relatively <br />constant, averaging between 7.3 to 8.8 elk/miZ (Figm'e 1). The low density recorded during the <br />December 1994 survey was likely due to poor ground conditions (patchy snow cover) and the use <br />of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey. Both of [hose factors affected the observers' ability to <br />detect animals and resulted in under counting. Considerably more elk were observed a month <br />later, .lanuary 1995, when the area was surveyed from a helicopter. The high elk density <br />observed in 1996 was likely influenced by excessive snowpack that year in the higher elevations <br />of [he Williams Fork Mountains. The deep snow probably pushed more animals out of the <br />i higher elevations and north into the survey area. The elevated density in January 1998 of 14.2 <br />2002 Yons't M{ne ~1'ldlife MuniUiring Pugc 4 <br />