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Section 780.18(b) Continued. <br />. Specific wildlife management considerations regarding hig game, i,e., mule deer and <br />antelope, and sage grouse are discussed in the following sections relative to this <br />request. Each wildlife section needs to be considered in light of the fact that the Kerr. <br />Mine Area will be utilized as summer habitat for both antelope and mule deer, winter <br />range for sage grouse, and as a spring, summer, fall use area for livestock grazing. <br />Big Game (mule deer and antelope) <br />Plummer, et. al. 11968) reported that the goal of game range restoration is the <br />development of a productive stand of desirable shrubs and herbs. Sagebrush stands <br />with densities approximating 20,000 stems per acre will impair the development of <br />grasses and (orbs. In fact, Plummer noted that dense stands of sagebrush supporting <br />tew perennial grass and (orbs are undesirable and "must be destroyed or greatly <br />reduced to allow establishment of desirable species." <br />Plummer also found that improvement of big game ranges without seeding is <br />acceptable when at least one desirable shrub and 10 desirable herbs per 100 square <br />feet are present. According to these recommendations, areas containing desirable <br />shrubs at a minimum density of 436 plants per acre are acceptable on critical big-game <br />winter ranges. Kerr proposes a shrub density of 1,500 stems per acre„ with high <br />density shrub stands interspersed with low density stands and open meadows on a <br />site that is utilized by big game but which is not considered critical range. Kerr's <br />proposed shrub stocking rate is greater than the level considered by Plummer, et. al. <br />(1968:2) as being satisfactory on critical range. <br />In addition, summer carrying capacities of sagebrush range on similar sites in Western <br />Colorado has been reported by Wallmo, et. al. 11977) to be on the order of 150 deer <br />per section. Kerr feels adequate justification has been presented to justify the shrub <br />stocking rate with regards to mule deer, particularly given historic mule deer use of <br />this area (refer to Section 779.20). <br />Sage Grouse <br />A considerable amount of research has been conducted on the habitat requirements of <br />sage grouse in North Park. As discussed under Section 779.20, the segment of sage <br />grouse habitat considered most likely to be adversely impacted by mining is that of <br />wintering areas. Fortunately, the occurrence and behavior of wintering sage grouse in <br />TR-19 780-78e Revised 12199 <br />