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• the expanded survey area. In addition to elk, one golden eagle was recorded in the vicinity of <br />Yoast on 24 February. <br />All of the elk seen in the Yoast area were in mountain brush habitat. During all <br />previous surveys, elk have been far more abundant in mountain brush than any other habitat. <br />In all yeazs, expect 1998, elk density recorded in the Yoast area during the aerial <br />surveys was less than or just equal to the density recorded in the expanded survey azea (Figure <br />1). In 1996, 1997, and 1999 elk density around Yoast was considerably less than in the <br />expanded area. Elk are usually very scarce in the improved pastures and agricultural fields <br />along the Yoast haul road corridor; snow builds up in those pastures and reduces forage <br />availability. The scarcity of elk along the corridor lessens the overall density of elk azound <br />Yoast. Other portions of the Yoast survey area generally support elk at densities compazable <br />to those seen over the expanded survey azea. <br />UPLAND GAME BIItDS <br />All three leks in the Yoast area were active in 1999. However, only Annan's 20-mile <br />• #2 lek could be censused. CDOW personnel were trapping grouse at the other two leks on 27 <br />April and we did not want to compromise their efforts by approaching the leks too closely. <br />During the initial count of Annan's #2, 35 males and 1 female were seen; later in the morning, <br />43 birds were flushed from the lek. <br />Each year from 1995 through 1998, except in 1997, Annan's #2 had the highest <br />attendance (Table 2). Peak male attendance at that lek was fairly constant from 1993 through <br />1998 and ranged from 15 to 22 males each spring; in 1999 male attendance increased sharply <br />to a[ least 35 birds. Annan's #3 is in a conservation reserve program pasture, where tall <br />vegetation makes accurate counting and sexing very difficult. The peak number of birds seen <br />at Annan's #3 was 17 in both 1993 and 1998. Attendance at Annan's #1 was relatively low in <br />1995, but has increased since then. <br /> <br />GOLDEN EAGLE NESTING <br />Two golden eagle nests have been located at a site within 0.25 miles of the Yoast <br />• permit boundary in SWt/a SEV4 Section 7, TSN, R87W (Exhibit 1). Those two nests are on a <br />1999 Yoas[ Minc Wildlife Moniuiring Page 7 <br />