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on either the Seneca II or Seneca II-W permit areas during the surveys; more herds have been <br />observed at Yoast. <br />Yoast and 1-mile Perimeter <br />Table 1 lists observations made on the Yoast permit area, 1-mile perimeter, and haul road <br />corridor (21.4 mi2). Eleven sightings of elk were made within that area; five herds (25 animals) <br />were on the permit area and six herds (44 animals) were in the perimeter. Elk density in the area <br />around Yoast was 3.2 anirnals/miz. That was approximately 58% less than the density on the <br />expanded survey area. One golden eagle was recorded in the vicinity of Yoast on 30 January. <br />All of the elk seen around Yoast were in mountain brush habitat. The vast majority of elk <br />observed during all previous winter surveys were in mountain brush also. <br />Elk density recorded in the Yoast area during the January 1997 survey was considerably <br />less than the densities noted the two previous years (Figure 1). During each survey completed <br />since December 1994, elk density in the vicinity of Yoast has been equal to or less than the <br />• density recorded in the expanded survey area (Figure 1). While the area around Yoast supports <br />wintering elk, the habitats there might not be as attractive to elk as habitats in other portions of <br />the expanded area. <br />Upland Game Birds <br />All three leks in the Yoast area were active in 1997. In previous years, STG-1 had the <br />highest attendance; in 1997, grouse attendance was greatest at STG. That year the peak counts <br />of males and females at STG-1 were 15 and 8, respectively. In other years peak male counts have <br />ranged from 17 (in 1995) to 21 (in 1993). At STG-4, peak counts of 19 males and S females were <br />made on 20 and 23 April, respectively. The previous high count of males at STG-4 was 15 in <br />1993. Lek STG-3 is in a conservation reserve program pasture, where tall vegetation makes <br />accurate counting and sexing very difficult. On 23 April 1997, seven males and one female were <br />at the lek. This lek had higher attendance in 1993, with a peak of 17 males attending. <br />• <br />1997 Yoast Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 6 <br />