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bear and mountain lion will not use areas near human habitation except • in extreme cases, while other species make use of the areas year-round (e.g., most small game and nongame wildlife) or seasonally (e.g., big game and migrants). Mule deer is the most abundant and economically important big game animal in the region (BLM 1979). The majority of mule deer populations are migratory. Movements are generally from one elevation to another, brought about by seasonal changes and weather conditions and photoperiod. Sparse year-round resident populations are found along major riparian areas and throughout the irrigated farmland. Elk are second only to mule deer in numbers and economic importance in the region. They are migratory throughout the region, moving from one elevation to another in response to seasonal changes, snow conditions, • and photoperiod. DOW estimated a population of 42,416 elk in the region in 1977. There are about 2,942,800 acres of deer winter range in the region of which about 401,720 acres are considered crucial. About 3,314,550 acres of elk range are also present. Some of these acres are not access- ible or valuable to deer and elk due to human developments, severe topog- raphy changes in microenvironments, and vegetative patterns. Sixteen occur in the four buteos, legged hawk, • months. The though the r~ species of the order Falconiformes (hawks, eagles, and fal;:ons region, including one vulture, one harrier, three accipiters, two eagles, and four falcon species (BLM 1979). The rough- osprey, and merlin occur only during the fall or winter red-tailed hawk is the most common buteo in the region, al- w gh-legged hawk is a common winter resident. The golden 46