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(1) Seasonal habitat use patterns by deer, elk, and cattle <br />and competition for browse between these species. <br />(2) Condition of range and browse and trends in habitat <br />carrying capacity (i.e., increasing or.decreasing). <br />(3) Interspecific differences in utilization of browse <br />species and intraspecific differences in utilization <br />under different conditions at various sites. <br />(4) Impacts of mining and habitat management measures to <br />maintain total browse availability. <br />The techniques used to provide this information included intensive <br />and extensive browse utilization transects and pellet group plot <br />counts. <br />Methodoloav <br />Eight intensive browse transects were established in fall 1974, and <br />two extensive browse transects were established in spring 1975. <br />Three additional extensive transects were run in 1976. Both <br />intensive and extensive browse transects were used also as pellet <br />group transects in addition to the pellet group plot transects <br />established in the habitat improvement areas in summer 1975 and <br />1976. Transect locations are shown on the Big Game Use Information <br />Map (Map 13). (See CDM report for additional information) <br />Each intensive transect was comprised of ten stations along a 1000 <br />ft. transect line. Each station consisted of a plant of the <br />species which the transect was sampling. A major stem of that <br />plant with 10 to 20 young shoots was designated for measurement and <br />identified by a metal tag. All shoots above the metal tag were <br />measured in centimeters and converted to inches. Measurements were <br />made in the fall (October) after the growing season had ended, but <br />before the deer and elk moved into the range, and again in the <br />spring (late April - early May) after the deer and elk moved off <br />the range but prior to the start of the growing season. <br />• 2.04.11-3 <br />