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Section 779.20 (c) Continued.. <br />calves in sagebrush meadows, 33 percent in the timber, and 25 percent <br />at the edge of timber. Similar patterns were found to exist in the <br />study area. Birth beds as described in Seidel (1977) were found <br />in close proximity to the sagebrush meadows shown on Twentymile <br />Park Wildlife Seasonal Use (Map 24). Boundaries of the calving <br />ground were delineated with regard to observations concerning <br />calving habitat suitability (CHS) and an elk sign index (ESI). <br />Table 50, Aerial Survey Observations, presents the results of these <br />qualitative indices. The CHS was highest for the eastern portions <br />of the study area (8.58) as compared to the central (2.50) and <br />western (1.38) portions of the study area. Portions of the transects <br />falling within the defined calving area had an average CHS of 8.50, <br />while all other portions of transects showed a CHS of 2.11. The <br />ESI showed relative utilization of the eastern area to be highest <br />with a rating of 7.71. The central area rated 4.25 and the western <br />side a 3.00. The CHS was very low for the central and western <br />• portions of the study area, however, the ESI did not decrease <br />proportionately. Pregnant females as well as a few yearlings <br />utilize the calving area thereby keeping the ESI value high (ESI = <br />7.75). The remaining elk herd utilized the adjacent (larger) area <br />during this period. Therefore, the intensity of activity per unit <br />area was not as great (ESI = 3.44) as found in the calving area. <br />The other main factor for delineation of the calving area was <br />direct observation of pregnant elk or elk calves. (Note: Peak <br />parturition apparently occurred around June 9 or 10 this year. A <br />late spring was most likely the cause of this delay.) Fifteen <br />confirmed observations of pregnant elk and five elk calf sightings <br />occurred within the area designated as prime calving habitat. Only <br />one confirmed pregnant cow and one calf were observed elsewhere and <br />these were both off the study area. <br />As discussed above and as indicated from observations in other <br />• parts of the study area and general vicinity, the remaining segment <br />779-166 <br />