Laserfiche WebLink
Deer <br />Trapper Mine's mine plan area is mapped as both important and critical deer <br />winter range by the U.S. Fish and [Jildlife Service (1973). tia~oever, lines on <br />• these maps showing wildlife use are more a flagging device than intended to be <br />absolutely accuratz. (S7hittakec, 1981). Critical win*_er range may b•e defined <br />as those areas where: snow dapths are not so excessive as to preclude animal <br />movements, a:!equate thermal cover exists, and suitable quality and quantity of <br />forage are available c1+,ring thn most sev:re winters 4~he~: winter haSitat is <br />especially limiting. <br />Pellet gru~lp census data from Trappe: Afine ar.d adjacent areas (Tables 1 and 2) <br />show an incrzase of deer usage in winter months in both the safe-grass and <br />mountain shrub vegetation types. Kling (1S75) described a pattern of deer <br />activity bzsed on aerial surveys during the winters of 1973 and 1974. This <br />study indicated that mule deer numbers on the mine plan area were generally low <br />during the first census each year, increased for a short period as snow levels <br />increased or, higher elevations, decreased after snow levels on the mine area <br />became too deep Eor the animals to tolerate, then increased again in the springy <br />when snow melted off the slopes. During the periods of heaviest snow accumula- <br />tion, the dyer concentrate at the base of the slope or on areas with less snow, <br />• such as southfacing slopes or windswept areas. During periods when snow is not <br />deep enough to Limit deer mobility, the animals were usually observed scattered <br />throughout the census area. <br />• <br />-12- <br />