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Observations made on or within one mile of the Seneca Mine permit area are listed in <br />Table 1. Five sightings of elk were made within that area; two herds (57 animals) on the permit <br />area and three herds (7 elk) in the perimeter. As noted above, one herd of 13 elk was recorded <br />in reclamation at Seneca. The other herd on the permit area consisted of 44 animals in mountain <br />brush near [he west side of the permit. That herd was more than twice as large as any other <br />herd seen during the survey (Appendix I). Although the density of elk on the permit area (10.4 <br />animals/mil) was considerably greater than the density in the entire 84-mil survey area (1.9 <br />elk/miZ), the small size of the data set prevents detailed comparisons of the two areas. <br />The number of animals and herds seen during the 28 December 1994 survey appeared <br />to be relatively small. Ground conditions and survey methods were two factors that probably <br />affected our ability to detect animals during the survey. Patchy snow conditions on 28 <br />• December produced a camouflage effect that undoubtedly caused us to miss some herds. Using <br />a fixed-wing aircraft also prevented us from searching for animals in deeper draws and ravines. <br />In addition to visibility biases, it is very likely that there were fewer elk in the area than normal <br />for late December. Mild winter weather prevailed in the region through the end of 1994, and <br />its probable that many animals that might winter in the survey area were still in the higher <br />reaches of the Williams Fork Mountains to the south on 28 December. <br />~~ <br />1994 Seneca Atine Big Gamc Aenal Survey Page 4 <br />