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• Riparian and wetland habitats were inventoried and searched during ground <br />and aerial surveys described below. Other habitats of limited regional <br />extent and potential significance to wildlife, especially as important nest <br />sites for birds (e.g., cliffs and areas where standing dead trees were <br />abundant) were also identified and searched during field surveys. <br />3.3 GAME AND OTHER STATE-MANAGED SPECIES <br />Intensive ground and aerial surveys of the Danforth Hills study area were <br />conducted during spring and summer (May - August) of 1984 to assess the <br />distribution and relative abundance of deer, elk, sage grouse, blue grouse, <br />and waterfowl. Ground and aerial monitoring surveys of the Danforth Hills <br />study area were also completed during April-August 1983 and May-June 1985, <br />in conjunction with the Meeker PRLA Elk Baseline and Monitoring studies <br />(CDM 1984a, 1985a, 1985b). <br />Ground surveys were conducted on foot and horseback by two to four <br />• biologists. A complete search of the area was attempted during four days <br />of effort within each two-week interval, during June through August 1983 <br />and 1984. Sightings and sign of game species were mapped on USGS <br />7.5-minute topographic quadrangles. <br />Intensive aerial searches of the study area were conducted from a <br />helicopter during December 1983; January, February, March, April, and <br />November 1984; and during January, March, and April 1985. A Bell Jet <br />Ranger III helicopter, manned by a pilot, the Principal Investigator, and <br />at least one additional observer, was used for these surveys. Locations at <br />which elk groups were observed were mapped on USGS topographic maps (15 <br />minute or 7.5 minute series) and the number of animals counted, predominant <br />vegetation type, and time of day for each observation was read into a <br />cassette tape recorder. Relocations of any collared elk (CDM 1984a) <br />encountered were also recorded during these surveys. During most months, <br />surveys began shortly after first light and continued through the daylight <br />hours until complete coverage of the study area had been achieved. Air <br />• speed and altitude of the helicopter varied with wind velocity and <br />3-3 <br />