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highest elevations. Rolling rangeland and agricultural fields are in the north-central, extreme <br />northwest, and southeast portions of the azea. Bottomland habitat occurs along major creeks-- <br />Grassy Creek, Sage Creek, Dry Creek--and their larger tributary draws. <br />On the Seneca II-W permit azea, elevations range from 7000 to over 7,700 feet above <br />sea level. The terrain is highest on the east side of the permit azea. Much of the area slopes <br />down to the west towazd Hubberson Gulch; the north part of the area slopes northwest toward <br />Dry Creek. Mining activity is largely confined to the southern two-thirds of the permit azea. <br />Mountain brush and sagebrush are the two most common native habitats on the permit <br />area. A few aspen stands occur on the area, primarily on the east side. Bottomland is very <br />limited on the permit azea. <br />• <br />METHODS <br />Big game--elk (Cervus elaphus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and pronghorn <br />(Anti[ocapra americans)--were counted during an aerial survey completed on 23 January 1995. <br />The survey was coordinated with Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) personnel and <br />coincided with CDOW's schedule for surveying big game in the region. The same helicopter <br />and pilot (High Country Helicopters, Montrose, CO) used by state biologists were used during <br />the Seneca survey. The 84.5-miZ survey area was searched by systematically following each <br />drainage and thoroughly covering adjacent slopes before moving to the next drainage. The <br />survey was started on the east side of the area at 09:30h completed in the west at 14:1Oh. <br />Two PRF.S biologists were in the helicopter with the pilot. The locations of all big <br />• game, mammalian predators, and raptors sighted during the survey were plotted on a 1:24000 <br />topographic map. The habitat animals were in and their activity were also recorded. <br />1995 Seneca II•W Mine Big Came Attial Survcy Page 2 <br />