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Section 779.20 (c) Continued. • (Map 20)) found animals still on their winter range, but beginning to move toward their summer range. The last survey (June) found elk on the calving grounds near the upper end of their winter range (See Twentymile Park June Elk Observations (Map 21)). Table 50, Aerial Survey Observations, summarizes data obtained during these surveys. Significantly fewer animals were seen in March as compared to February and April. Reasons for this are unknown as conditions, timing, and transects were nearly identical from one survey to the next. After each aerial survey over the study area, elk summer range between Fish Creek and the Dunckley Flattops was checked for evidence of activity. No activity was noticed until the April 24 survey where one or two animals and a few tracks were observed (probably older bulls). Much more activity was noted in this area during the June 11 flyover as more animals made their way to summer • range. Wintering numbers of elk in 1979 are much the same as these re- ported by the CDOW in 1975. In that survey they reported an estimate of 6 elk per square mile. In 1979, elk populations over the entire mine plan area averaged just over 8 elk per square mile. The 30 animals reported using, Mine No. 1 in the summer of 1975 appear to be slightly lower than the 50 elk that were calving in the area just to the west of the existing mining operation in 1979. The exact number of cows that remain in the area following calving is not known. The USFWS (19,'8) shows an elk migration route which starts in the headwaters of Bear Gulch, proceeds south across BLM property (Section 36), crosses Fish Creek Road, and follows Fish Creek into the Routt National Forest and up toward the Dunckley Flattops. This corridor is fed by three smaller "tributaries" shown on Twenty- . mile Park June Elk Observations (Map 21). These "tributaries" are 779-163