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• (1) Seasonal habitat use patterns by deer, elk, and cattle and competition for browse <br />between these species. <br />(2) Condition of range and browse and trends in the habitat carrying capacity (i.e., <br />increasing or decreasing). <br />(3) Interspecific differences in utilization of browse species and intraspecific differences <br />in utilization under different conditions at various sites. <br />(4) Impacts of mining and habitat management measures to maintain total browse <br />availability. <br />The techniques used to provide this information included intensive and extensive browse <br />utilization transects and pellet group plot counts. <br />Methodoloay <br />Eight intensive browse transects were established in fall 1974, and two extensive browse <br />transects were established in spring 1975. Three additional extensive transects were run in <br />1976. Both intensive and extensive browse transects were used also as pellet group transects <br />in addition to the pellet group plot transects established in the habitat improvement areas in <br />summer 1975 and 1976. Transect locations are shown on the Big Game Use Information Map <br />(Map 13). (See CDM report for additional information) <br />• Each intensive transect was comprised of ten stations along a 1000 fr. transect line. Each <br />station consisted of a plant of the species which the transect was sampling. A major stem of <br />that plant with 10 to 20 young shoots was designated for measurement and identified by a <br />metal tag. All shoots above the metal tag were measured in centimeters and converted to <br />inches. Measurements were made in the fall (October) after the growing season had ended, <br />but before the deer and elk moved into the range, and again in the spring (late April -early <br />May) after the deer and elk moved off the range but prior to the start of the growing season. <br /> <br />2.04.1 I -3 <br />